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AMURT Haiti 2015 Update

The ongoing activities of AMURT-Haiti continue full speed with several new programs joining the wide scope of long-term initiatives.

The Center for Innovative Continuing Education completed in close collaboration with the University of Quisqueya has graduated the first two cohorts of 400 teachers who have learnt how to apply in their schools Neo-Humanist pedagogical processes and tools. The Center will begin expanding the scope of its trainings in September through a scale-up model of training other institutions in NHE methodologies, with the goal of integrating these in the curriculum promoted by the Ministry of Education for all schools in Haiti.

AMURT-Haiti is preparing to rebuild from scratch the infrastructure of the destroyed La Felicite Learning Center, which will strive to be a model demonstration lab allowing workshop participants to experience first hand the process of student-centered learning. The center will contain a model school and environmental lab, and a training and office spaces to be used by AMURT in Haiti.

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Drawing: view of the project plan showing the main school, the sports field, the garden, training center, and rooftop pavilions.

A vocational training program is building the capacities of 400 women and men over 6 months in several professional disciplines including electricity, sewing, plumbing, construction, cosmetology, etc. The participants will also learn how to apply integrated breath-work and mindfulness to resolve conflicts and set personal goals.

Meanwhile in the NW of Haiti the rural programs continue with the expansion of the 3,000 women strong network of Self-Help Groups. This Proutistic model has already reached 300,000 USD in self-generated savings invested weekly in loans for small business activities. The model gained national recognition when the Digicel Foundation awarded it its special 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year award in the category of emergent ventures. Parallel with business and literacy skills the women learn leadership and mind-body practices such as integrated breath-work, yoga asanas, and non-violent communication.

(Reprinted from amurt.net website)

AMURT in Nepal: Womens Empowerment

In total 176 participants were provided training on awareness on Gender Based Violence, Legal Education, and Girls Trafficking whilst 77 participants participated in Food Processing Training and 15 participants are enrolled for 3 months tailoring course.
Legal rights workshop in Tekanpur, Sindhupalchok district

Legal rights workshop in Tekanpur, Sindhupalchok district

Initial work for one stitching centre has been established.  Process for selecting the participants for vocational training is on the way. The training program for the women on vegetable is in planning stage and will be implemented during the next rainy season starting in July.

Process of Interaction in community outreach program:

Outreach Program staff have interaction with the community during the community assessment visits and meetings in the target villages. The staff have interactions with the community leaders, school teachers, structured women groups, social workers and local institutions like VDC office, village resource centre, health post, local police post etc. To facilitate the interaction process, we have hired community mobilizers in each VDC since 1st January 2016. These mobilizers help the women groups in their respective areas to organize their monthly meetings, plan to participate in skill training and involve in different income generating activities. The mobilizers are trained on how to interact with the women groups and to support them in empowerment training activities. We also emphasize to promote local resources and production whilst discussing with them.

Participants at girls trafficking awareness session at AMURT field office, Karitok, Sindhupalchok district.

Participants at girls trafficking awareness session at AMURT field office, Karitok, Sindhupalchok district.

Beneficiaries profile

Most of the families in our target areas are low income families. Their children have receiving benefit from education support program from AMURT. About 85 % families are the victims of the mega earthquake of April and May 2015. Most of them are staying in temporary shelters with difficulties. Most of them have lost their job opportunities. The introduction of hands on skill training to start small scale business has helped them to plan and implement some small business activities. There are some women groups and they are functional. They could be effective in implementing grassroots community level programs and also small business activities.

Women are trained in food processing of pickles and potato chips they are now selling in the local market.

Women are trained in food processing of pickles and potato chips they are now selling in the local market.

Level of Participation by the stakeholders:

During the interaction program with the focus group, the women discuss about change and improvement in their life situation. They also identify the needs which included skill training such as food processing, tailoring, soap making, candle making, vegetable cultivation and marketing of the products. Moreover, they asked AMURT to help them to acquire information on legal education, human trafficking, gender based violence and also other useful skill training. AMURT responded to their needs and helped them to organize the training on awareness program and food processing training and basic equipment to one group as requested.

Advanced tailoring workshops in full swing near Kalika Primary school

Advanced tailoring workshops in full swing near Kalika Primary school

Blankets distribution on 1st January 2016

Baba Nam  Kevalam

Dear All
Namaskar!
Wonderful  program of blankets distribution in Anandanagar by AMURT Global took place on 01-01-2016
With my best wishes and regards to all
Always In Baba
Acarya Ramananda Avadhuta
Global AMURT Secretary
AMURT Bhavan, Ananda Nagar
Post-Baglata, District Purulia, W.B., INDIA
Email:
acaryarama@yahoo.com
Tel (Mobile): +91 9334002238

Free Food Distribution – AMURT Chennai – India

Baba Nam Kevalam
Dear Brothers and sisters
Namaskar!
We are extremely happy to know the Chennai Chennai AMURT Unit has already started relief to help the people who have been badly hit by sever rains in Chennai.
Baba Nam Kevalam
 
An appeal for rain hit people in Tamil Nadu.
 
Every one are now well aware that due to unprecedented heavy rains in Tamil Nadu particularly in Chennai people need food. water, shelter and medicines immediately. AMURT Global has already distributed 1000 food packets in Vellachary slum affected area. and they are still continuing. The details of our activities are given below

From: AMURT CHENNAI Chennai <amurtchennai@gmail.com>

Namaskar!

 
We would like to inform you that on 28th Nov 2015 at 1 to 2 pm AMURT Chennai Unit has distributed around 900 to 1000 FREE FOOD Packets to the flood affected areas of Chennai.
   AREA: KALKUTTAI  (Near PERUNGUDI Railway station)
The above services were provided by the following AMURT TEAM:
  1.  Acharya LOKAMAYANANDA Avt., (Diocese Secretary of Ananda Marga Chennai Unit) ,
  2. Acharya LOKENDRANANDA Avt.,
  3. Acharya from URAPAKKAM Unit
  4. V.JEY GOPALAN, Chairman AMURT CHENNAI Unit
  5. M.POYYAMOZHI, Secretary AMURT CHENNAI
Along with all AMURT Members and  15 AMURT Volunteers were present during Food distribution.
We have future plans to organize such activities near future by distributing needy materials for the Flood Victims of Chennai.
This is for your kind information and we request you to kindly publish in your esteemed publication for the awareness of public so that interested volunteers and likeminded persons can join our team to extend such services.
Thanking you,
With Best Regards
M.POYYAMOZHI  (M: 93627 79888)
Secretary – AMURT CHENNAI
 
Note: Similar services were provide on 19th Nov 2015 at Velacherry area
 
AMURT CHENNAI UNIT ADDRESS  
VELACHERRY –  ANANDA MARGA ASHRAM
3 / 5, 9th Cross, 3rd Main Road, Dhandeeswaram Nagar, Velacheri, Chennai – 600042
Swamiji Incharge at Chennai: Acharya LOKAMAYANANDA Avadoot  M: 94980 50130
Chennai : Chairman Mr.Jey Gopalan: 9380 545400
& Secretary Mr.Poyyamozhi: (M: 93627 79888)

Donations to AMURT Global are exempted under 80 G act of Income Tax

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. Donors can avail this opportunity by helping and supporting to chennai rain victims. Checks can be sent to the following banks below.

 
1 . Name of the Bank- Allahabad Bank ,Pundag Branch, Purulia (W.B.)
Name of the Beneficiary- AMURT Global,
Account Number-50208935426, IFS Code- ALLA0211282,
2. Name of Bank – IDBI BANK , Pune , Maharastra , India
Name of the Beneficiary- AMURT GLOBAL,
S B account no 04901040000101417
IFSC IBKL 0000490/ MICR: 411259024
 
With my best wishes and regards to all of you
Your’s in HIM
Acarya Ramananda Avadhuta
Ac. Ramananda Avadhuta
Global AMURT Secretary)
Ananda Nagar P.O. Box Baglata Dist. Purulia (West Bengal) India

Tel: +91 09334 002238 (mobile)

Mama D continues to feed the homeless

“When I went undercover in New York City as a homeless man, no one noticed me. I felt what it was like to be a homeless man. People would just past by me and look at me in disgrace. Only one lady was kind enough to give me some food. It was an experience I’ll never forget. So many times we forget how blessed we are. We should not take that for granted. And if we can help someone in need, we should. That’s why after I was done, I walked around and gave food and $100 to every homeless person I saw. They cried and were so grateful. Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Richard Gere

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Sometimes service goes unnoticed when it is continuous, relentless, day in and day out. Those who really serve don’t make so much news. The food distribution for the homeless in Los Angeles is now happening almost every day. Dada Muktatmananda and his team under the banner of AMURT – Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team is there always on call. To get the latest news I go on their facebook page which is also featured on the front page of Crimson Dawn right below. I find inspiring pictures and quotes not only of the service they do. It is important to raise the consciousness about homelessness. Any person that has the experience to be homeless even for a short time knows that it might happen to anybody, wealthy or not, educated or uneducated. Just a day it happens and it changes the perspective from which you see the world.

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I read under the most recent images: “Another Sunday morning w/ our friends ‪#‎skidrow‬ ‪#‎mamadfeedsthehomess‬. Thank you to all our volunteers”.

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“A long line of hungry people getting a little well deserved relief.”

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I wonder what Dada is thinking. Where is his mind?

A drunken’s night

Fasting in the late moonless night,
the summer day simmered through
the light in to night roofs,
the golden coins all trammeled in to
dark trunks;
I am heading to the mountain like a drunk,
who found his way;
I will sit on the rough grass,
and hear a bird sing,
like a wind of my own heart.
I will think until love overtakes thinking,
much faster than any idea of paradise.
And as the city went tiny like a jewel
shinning down the ravine,
I offer again myself to you!
This counting entrances me,
like singing,
from this fingers instrument;
Where has time gone?

This is the latest poem I find on his personal facebook page. I look for more:

I was found

And you set out
looking for things,
searching for completing
yourself..
The habit you have built
to never yield until it is found,
nothing else could be felt;
Till your deepest need,
go haywire,
burn you like fire,
your inner thirst filling with mirages
in your head;
You could touch insanity with your finger,
from these states you find yourself in,
and in the height of confusion,
you have no illusion you will ever find that
teacher,
on this earth or elsewhere;
But then, he finds you!

And I forget about my little petty things.

Kiirtana and seva parikrama by AMURT

AMURT special service program has started in Ananda Nagar. We have decided to cover all 52 villages with our service activities such as providing them Saris Dhotis Gamachha, mosquito nets, mattresses and umbrellas along with kiirtan to all of them.