Category: Uncategorized

Relief efforts for Yazidi refugees

Post author By iahv
Post date November 2, 2014

IAHV is working in partnership with Art of Living Foundation to bring relief to refugees and internally displaced people (IDP). From its base in Erbil, the team has brought relief in the form of food, water and hygiene products to 5 different camps, each camp sheltering 550 Iraqi families. IAHV has reached more than 2,000 families.

Click here to download the report on relief efforts by IAHV

The living conditions of the refugees are extremely poor. In Duhok there are 100,000 refugees, and only one small camp. Most of the refugees are not living there but on the streets or in unfinished buildings because the camp is in terrible condition. It is very unhygenic; there are no blankets, coolers or food. There are no bathrooms or toilets. The children are all getting skin disease because of the unhygienic conditions. Currently, they lack even the most basic items for survival, such as food, clothing and hygienic kits. They are in a very poor psychological state. One such example is of a refugee who had 37 people in the family taken by ISIS. Thousands of women are abducted, gang-raped and sold in markets. Duhok needs additional camps with conditions that meet basic human needs to be lived in.

The IAHV team also went to Mount Sinjar to visit the camps where Yazidis have taken refuge. Two graduates of IAHV’s Community Leadership Training program interviewed Yazidi families to document their plight and need for immediate aid. One of the graduates and her father, Bareza, are taking much needed action to aid the Yazidis. Additionally, three Kurdish Members of Parliament who recently participated in IAHV’s TLEX training in late June 2014 also came to the aid of refugees visiting the camps, meeting refugees and assessing their needs and distributing relief items (see below photos).

IAHV is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are fully tax-deductible.

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Please mail checks to: IAHV, 2401 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20009

Uncategorized

Newtown School Tragedy

Post author By iahv
Post date December 19, 2012

Our deepest prayers and condolences go out to the families of Newtown. The tragic shooting last week in Connecticut has shocked us as a nation. Families all over the country have been struggling with grief, disbelief, and anger. As we mourn, we also realize that violence isn’t just found in our inner cities – it can erupt anywhere, at any time.

Please watch this message from our founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

In the coming months, IAHV will offer its trauma relieving and resilience-building programs to Newtown families and children. We welcome donations for this effort, and will post updates about the Newtown Trauma Relief on our website.

Let’s all share healthy ways for people to manage their stress, anger, frustration, and jealousy at their core. Let’s build human values back into our families, schools and communities.

Together, let’s create a violence-free, stress-free America.

Hurricane Sandy Relief

Post author By iahv
Post date November 5, 2012

Hurricane Sandy has taken lives and devastated people’s homes, flooded subways and bridges, and cut people off from steady electricity, medicine, food, and water. As agencies and volunteers fan out throughout the region, bringing much-needed materials and supplies, IAHV is serving those living in shelters with something that will help them think clearly, rebuild and recover: peace of mind.

Starting on Friday, Nov 2nd, New York and New Jersey volunteers began offering trauma relief techniques shelters in Monmouth and Manhattan. Just over the weekend, about 300 evacuees were reached by IAHV volunteers, and 80-90 evacuees learned IAHV’s simple and effective breathing and relaxation practices.

“I have been worrying when they will finally let me go home. But just 10 minutes of this practice has calmed my mind down. Accepting this situation was a constant struggle. Now I feel grateful for what I have now, as I see many people here in an even worse situation. Thank you” – Hurricane Sandy evacuee.

“You don’t know how much happiness you are bringing to me by doing this. Thank you.” – Hurricane Sandy evacuee.

“I am so grateful for the last 3-4 days. There is a deeper meaning and reason for our being here at this time.” – IAHV volunteer.

IAHV’s Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort plans to scale up over the coming week by training more IAHV volunteers to deliver the Breath Water Sound trauma relief program.

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Values are a key part of the agenda at the World Economic Form (WEF) meeting known at Davos.

Post author By iahv
Post date January 26, 2011

“The Annual Meeting will convene under the theme Shared Norms for the New Reality. This reflects the foremost concern of many leaders – namely, living in a world that is becoming increasingly complex and interconnected and, at the same time, experiencing an erosion of common values that undermines public trust in leadership as well as future economic growth and political stability.”