Overview

Mission

Our mission is to directly provide holistic education with an emphasis on social responsibility and human values to children in underserved communities. Care for Children, a program of the Art of Living Foundation, partners with rural and tribal areas primarily in India and other underdeveloped countries, to establish schools and other educational infrastructure. The Care for Children program uniquely adds yoga and meditation to the primary educational program, and combines it with meals, transportation, clothing and healthcare, in order to meet all of the needs of the child. We also engage parents and others in the community through adult skill development programs such as organic farming, sewing and crafts, reading, mediation and other practices, all of which strengthen and uplift the socio-economics of the child’s community.

About The Art of Living Foundation

The Art of Living Foundation offers programs to uncover the strength, peace, and joy that lie at the core of every human being. By nurturing the spirit and compassion of every individual, the Foundation seeks to help build a global society that is free of stress, violence, and misery - and full of service, wisdom, and celebration.

The Art of Living Foundation was inspired by the programs of spiritual leader and humanitarian His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that began in 1982. It has been a nonprofit charitable organization registered with Canada Revenue Agency as an educational and humanitarian organization.

United Nations- Art of Living has been in consultative status with the United Nations since 1996, it is now one of the UN's largest volunteer-based NGOs, participating in a variety of committees and activities relating to health, education, sustainable development, conflict resolution, and disaster relief. It has joined in a partnership with the UNCEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) in October 2007.

The Foundation celebrated its 25th year of service to the world in 2006, with a program in India attended by heads of states, cultural leaders, and more than 2.5 million others. In Canada, this Silver Jubilee has inspired a renewed commitment to a Stress-Free, Violence-Free Canada. So far, the Art of Living Foundation’s service projects, trauma relief, and stress-reduction and self-development programs have benefited more than 25 million people on six continents, in more than 140 countries around the world.

Future Expansion

With over 100 million children not currently enrolled in primary school and millions of others not currently in secondary school, the need for the Care for Children program is vast. Care for Children is committed to expanding geographically. Our expansion plans include:

Continued Expansion within Asia — While we have many schools in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, we believe the demand for our program is significant in these countries. Our goal is to have over 200 schools in India and 30 schools each in Sri Lanka by 2010.

Africa - In 2006, Care for Children opened its first school in South Africa, and will continue expanding into the African continent. Our goal is to be operating schools in five countries by 2010