Feels nice to catch up with you after a long break! And that too on a day when our beloved Guruji (H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) is celebrating his 54th birthday. The New Age Dynamos are rocking like never before and take this opportunity to extend their heartfelt wishes to Him. And now here’s a quick update on what we were up to, in case you thought, we had disappeared into thin air.
Well ,our lives were chock-a-block with events. We were doing seva on a war footing, meeting people in the slum areas, giving them a helping hand, organising camps and workshops and finally managing to yield some amazing results! Yes, guys, we have finally broken the ice with many of the marginalised people in the interiors of Thane city. With a close-knit team of 20 spirited volunteers and teachers, we conducted 6 Navchetna Shibirs, (a special spiritual workshop and better known as sound-breath and water workshop), a Medical Camp and a very unique residential course for youths called as YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM (YLTP). After doing the workshops, people have found respite from problems as serious as arthritis and breathlessness. Some of them have been relieved of their chronic back pains, yet others have got rid of their stress and mental anxiety. However YLTP turned out to be a big hit with the youths! Yes, for the first time in Thane, in the Swami Vivekananda Ashram in the Yeoor hills, an 8-day intensive training program was conducted for the youths, in which 34 youths from the slum areas of Thane and Mumbai underwent a life-transforming experience. If some of them have given up on drugs and alcohol, others have got a new lease of life. One participant, who was from a Thane slum, has resolved that he will never get involved in anti-social activities again. Mind you, he was a small- time goon, but was perhaps a big criminal in the making. He has put behind his past firmly behind him to build a dignified life for himself. He now wants to associate himself with the Art of Living activities and reach out to other victims with his incredible experience. It is hard to believe that only a month ago, these youths were so noisy and unruly, resorting to drugs and alcohol, whiling away their time in gambling and anti-social activities and wandering aimlessly in search of a goal. Today you find them singing, meditating, doing satsangs and more. The youths have become calm, composed and have even expressed their desire to do something worthwhile for society. We are currently helping them to take the baby steps! Thanks to all the volunteers and the Ashramites who took special efforts in housing the 34 participants in the Ashram for free.
YLTP Experience Video
What next?
Inspired by the success of our first youth program, we have decided to organize the second YLTP course from May 22- May 30 at the same venue: Swami Vivekananda Ashram, Yeoor Hills. If you are interested in doing the course you may write a mail to us at snehsanjeevani@gmail.com or you may also recommend this course to youths who are seeking personal growth or are looking to make a difference in society.
Cheers,
Indrani Sarkar
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