The Satsang Foundation : Educational & Spiritual Awakening Initiative
- To explore the common core, principles and teachings of all religions and to cultivate the habit of living harmoniously with all sects of people.
- To bring together serious seekers of the Truth and investigate the true essence of religious and mystical teachings.
- To engage in charitable activities which benefit the less privileged human beings like, feeding the poor, grant of educational scholarships, providing free medical aid and helping old-age homes etc.
Initiatives by The Satsang Foundation
Satsang Foundation, based on its objectives, has contributed its mite for all-round and holistic improvement of the society. Over the years, Sri M’s efforts as a social reformer and educationist have given rise to many successful initiatives like:
The Satsang Vidyalaya
Satsang Vidyalaya provides free, high-quality, multi-lingual education to children from the tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh. ( More Details )
Satsang Rural School
Satsang Rural School is a rural community-based school at Ma Konda, close to Madanapalle. This school is run in association with the Ramanarpanam Trust. ( More Details )
The Peepal Grove School
Peepal Grove School is a co-educational, residential school committed to providing an environment conducive to an in-depth exploration of knowledge. ( More Details )
Satsang Swasthya Kendra
Satsang Swasthya Kendra provides affordable yet quality preventive and curative health care through holistic and comprehensive treatments.( More Details )
Manav Ekta Mission
Manav Ekta Mission promotes inter-faith harmony and transcending religious, racial, geographical, cultural and ideological differences. ( More Details )
Sarva Dharma Kendra
Sarva Dharma Kendra is a spiritual retreat to facilitate dialogue between religions and serve as an experiment for mankind to realise the essential unity of all religions.
Walk of Hope
Walk of Hope is a 15-18 months long padayatra in 2015-16, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, led by Sri M, spanning 7500 kms across 11 states of India for peace, harmony and tolerance. ( More Details )
The Satsang Vidyalaya—an initiative of The Satsang Foundation—offers free, high-quality, multi-lingual education to the low-income communities of Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh. Founded by Sri M in 1999 in Sugali Thanda, it started with a thatched hut with two teachers and handful of children, and has since grown into an institution of 200 children studying in Classes I – X. The English medium (Andhra Pradesh State syllabus) school has 15 teachers, 11 classrooms, a Library, a Computer Lab with Internet access, and a Science Lab.
The Vision
Satsang Vidyalaya enhances capability of a first- generation learner from a fringe community to join the mainstream society for a lifetime of opportunities and dignity. The Satsang Vidyalaya means many things to the first- generation learner:
- A place where their basic needs for nutrition are met (a mid-day meal, nutritious snacks and regular heath check-ups ensure that the children are in good physical health)
- A place where they are treated with dignity and respect (teachers are like mentors and there is a close relationship between students and teachers)
- A place where they imbibe skills that enable them to get gainful employment that would help them and their entire families overcome poverty
The Birth of an Idea
In 1999, Sri M, while on a walk, saw kids grazing cattle in the nearby fields
of Nakaladinne, a tribal settlement on the outskirts of Madanapalle. In a chat with them, he was dismayed to find they weren’t enrolled in any school! On further prodding, he realised that the Lambani community was indeed willing to educate their children but lacked the opportunities or the means to do so. With a modest capital, he started Satsang Vidyalaya – a school offering free education. Satsang Vidyalaya meets all its expenditure through contributions by friends, well-wishers, and supporters from around the world.
Student Profile
Majority of students, who are first generation learners, belong to the Lambani tribal community, which has been traditionally termed ‘backward’— characterised by zero or low educational background with starvation, undernourishment, and joblessness being some of its perennial issues. In addition to the tribal community, children from low-income Hindu, Christian and Muslim families also study at the school. Traditionally, most children of the tribe and the impoverished local community do not go to school because families can neither afford the fees nor are aware of a good education’s benefits.
Learning Environment
The learning environment at Satsang Vidyalaya is about fun in learning wherein imbibing knowledge is a graceful process. There are no exams for the lower classes, while there is continuous evaluation in the higher classes and children study together— using a peer-assisted model. Games and co-curricular activities are integral to learning and students are taught to take care of the environment in a sustainable way. A model school with consistent 100 per cent results in Class X exams, Satsang Vidyalaya safeguards the ‘right-to-education’ for fringe communities.
The Satsang Rural School at Ma Konda is another initiative of The Satsang Foundation (
Satsang Rural School
Satsang Rural School (SRS), located in the hilly hinterlands of Ma Konda behind Satsang Nagar, was revived and reopened by the Satsang Foundation, in association with the Ramanarpanam Trust (DRRT) in 2012. 38 children from the surrounding villages of Mekalavaripalli, Siriguntalapalli, Diguvapalli and Kattragaddalapalli became the first batch of the revived school which lay equal emphasis to English as well as the local languages.Accordingly the children are nurtured in a multilingual environment, where Telugu and Hindi are also taught along with English. As of today there are 60 children enrolled in the school, in different graded levels of learning, and the network of villages has spread to Ponnutipalem, Mittamarivandlapalli, Patchetlapenta, Madhigakanam, Pichollapalli and Panasmakulapalli – 10 villages in all. The children at SRS are in the age groups of 5 to 10 years.
Satsang Rural School has an unique and innovative approach to education. All lessons are planned based on a community-rights based curriculum that evolves dynamically, founded on the philosophy of making education empowering for the poor and the oppressed, establishing the self-worth of highly alienated children from marginalized and caste-divided villages, and promoting a sustainable model of leadership development. The curriculum is rooted in the inherent strengths of the local rural communities.
Integrating parents’ concerns, views, and inviting total involvement in not only their own child’s development , but guiding them to look at at the Satsang Rural School with a sense of ownership and responsibility is another important aspect of ensuring participatory growth and change. The Ramanarpanam team keeps the community motivated and involved through regular village meetings.
The staff of DRIK Patashala, a similar institution established a decade ago in Chittoor, constantly train, review, and handhold the SRS facilitators on evolving the community driven thematic curriculum. A committee of Satsang Foundation members have also been supporting the vision of the Satsang Rural School.
Satsang Rural School and the Ramanarpanam teams continue to be inspired and motivated in creating an environment of self-development and promoting a sustainable model of leadership development at the Satsang Rural School.
The Peepal Grove School
The Peepal Grove School is a co-educational, residential and alternative school in India (affiliated to the CISCE Board) located in Gongivari Palli village, Sodam mandal in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh (India). The school was founded by Sri M and was inaugurated by the then President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam in December 2006. The student population is 115 ranging from grades 4 to 12 (8.5 – 18 years). It is one of the few schools providing alternative education in India. The Peepal Grove is a four-hour drive from Bangalore, and is spread over 25 acres.
The Peepal Grove School’s vision is to provide an environment conducive to in-depth exploration of knowledge—where children learn to think critically, creatively and independently to achieve academic and personal goals. The school is based on the value system which encourages students to celebrate their cultural roots while embracing a global perspective.
The Peepal Grove School strives to provide an environment conducive to developing values and attitudes through questioning and dialogue. These values and attitudes lead individuals to contribute to society through excellence in one’s chosen field.The emphasis is on collaborative learning (rather than direct teaching), which is student – centric.
The school is affiliated to the CISCE Board, Delhi. The school has students in grades 4 through 12 (8.5 – 18 years). In grades 4 through 8, the school’s focus is on developing the fundamental skills – Explanation, Interpretation, Application, Perspective, Empathy and Self Knowledge.
Class strength is roughly 25 students. The teacher-student ratio of 1:6 ensures individual attention for every student. Students are drawn from all regions of the country and also from abroad. The school focuses on promoting dialogue and exchange of ideas amongst students—emphasizing upon older children mentoring the younger ones.
In terms of recent infrastructure upgrade, Smt. Menaka Gandhi inaugurated a new fully equipped infirmary. The first batch of Class XII students graduated in 2014 and these students are pursuing higher education in renowned institutions.
Getting Involved
Sri M emphasizes upon service to human beings as ‘the most important worship that one is capable of’. Public participation is actively encouraged to support the activities of Satsang Foundation. Revolving around the key objectives of the Foundation, these participatory options are:
Sponsor a Child
One can sponsor the education of children at Satsang Vidyalaya, the school for underprivileged children at Madanapalle, providing free education to rural children belonging to the tribal area of Sugali Thanda.
Contribution
Doctors can contribute towards promotion of health and hygiene among rural children and community at The Swasthya Kendra. A scientist or a musician or a professional ready to volunteer their time can conduct a learning or orientation session for students at the Satsang Vidyalaya and Peepal Grove School at Sadum.
Participate in Talks and Retreats
The Satsang Foundation organizes Sri M’s discourses and retreats from time to time. In these talks, he elucidates on topics of interest to thinkers and seekers and answers their questions. Retreats are usually held in idyllic surroundings away from the din of city life and include activities such as meditation, yoga, satsangs, devotional singing and nature walks.
