PEACE

Today when our society is clogged with aggression and depression, it is critical that we recognize the value of an individual’s mental peace and mental health, which in turn brings peace to families and societies

Proudly Serving veterans:

Project Welcome Home Troops: In the last 12 years, in 30 cities around the US, a unique program for 2500 war veterans was conducted.

Changing Paradigms in Schools:

In the last 9 years, over 110,000 students and teachers in 209 schools across 25 cities in the US have experienced the SKY for Schools program which provides youth with a healthy body, healthy mind, and a healthy lifestyle, offering practical tools and life skills.

In times of need:

Over 2,600 aid workers and survivors benefited from trauma relief in the US. Projects include the 2017 Las Vegas shooting; 2017 Sonoma county wildfire relief; 2017 Mexico earthquake relief; 2017 Texas Hurricane Harvey relief; 2017 Puerto Rico hurricane Maria relief; 2017 Florida and northern Caribbean hurricane Irma; 2009 refugee integration; 2006 hurricane Katrina; and 2001 9/11 relief.

Changing the face of the judicial system:

In Panama the entire judicial system including judges and lawyers are required to complete The Art of Living workshop for equanimity and clarity. In Mexico, the partnership with the government includes teaching of mental well-being techniques to 150,000 youth while in Brazil the program is offered to the entire police force.

The armed conflict that killed 200,000 people, ended with a Peace Treaty between the FARC and Colombian government on September 26, 2016 in the presence of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

TIMELINE:

• 26 June 2015: The Art of Living founder and international peace ambassador Sri Sri Ravi Shankar convinces parties to embrace the Gandhian principle of non-violence.
• July 2015: FARC declared a unilateral ceasefire.
• June 2016: Peace delegation FARC leader Iván Márquez thanked Sri Sri Ravi Shankar & The Art of Living for the Colombian peace initiative. Colombian Government and FARC announced a bilateral and final ceasefire, putting an end to armed clashes.
• June 24, 2015, the Government of Colombia conferred its highest declaration award ‘Orden de la Democracia Simon olivia ren el grado de cruz Caballero’ to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar resolved a 500+ year old conflict, over which 71 wars have been fought and over 2 million lives have been lost.

· From 2003-2019, Sri Sri leads the resolution of a 500-year emotive conflict between Hindus and Muslims in India. Coalescing interests of 1,200 stakeholders; thus bringing peace and stability in a nuclear-armed region.

· Mar 8, 2019, The Supreme Court of India officially appointed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as one of the three mediators to explore a negotiated settlement of the Ayodhya dispute.

· The courage, tolerance, and statecraft needed to not only heal but also resolve issues between the two communities, for whom tension has been a persistent way of life, could only have been done by Sri Sri who commanded the faith and trust of all the parties. He worked in the background building consensus with every single faction on both sides thus ensuring no backlash.

Reconciliation between 140 families:

A moving moment of reconciliation and forgiveness as 100 families of slain militants and 40 families of soldiers who sacrificed their lives, together, give a clarion call to the youth of Kashmir to walk the path of non-violence during this event.

Supporting 50,000 Iraqi citizens:

A moving moment of reconciliation and forgiveness as 100 families of slain militants and 40 families of soldiers who sacrificed In any long-drawn conflict, the victim turns into an oppressor and the oppressor becomes a victim. We have supported Iraqi citizens through trauma relief programs, holistic medical care and women empowerment projects.

Sensitizing 3,000 soldiers in Iraq:

National Taskforce Members underwent the transformational program in Iraq which resulted in a National Action Plan to counter gender-based violence, emphasize women’s role throughout the policy development process, provide legal assistance to women victims of violence, find peaceful solutions to conflict, and elevate women into leadership positions.

Bridging racial tensions in Ivory Coast:

30 members of warring tribes of Deula and Guere came together for the Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) in Ivory Coast.

Over 7,400 fighters lay down arms across the world:

Across the world from Kashmiri militants, Naxalite terrorists, FARC rebels, Kosovo Liberation Army veterans, the LTTE in Sri Lanka, militants in Assam, Maoists in Nepal lay down arms and embark on the path to peace.

· Children from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan receive basic training in stress relief and resilience tools, while children most at risk of violent behaviour, self-harm, suicide, aggression or recruitment, receive deep trauma-relief, empowerment and human values training.

· Specially trained Youth Peace Ambassadors design and implement awareness-raising and peacebuilding projects to prevent and reduce violence in their families, schools and communities.

· IAHV conducted joint introductory peacebuilding workshops in three ISIS- affected areas in Lanao del Sur that brought together the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 160 members of the insurgency group called the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, 36 Maute-ISIS returnees and local government representatives – the first time these groups have been brought together in the same room, according to the AFP.

· We launched the SKY program for Xavier University students in conflict-affected areas to withstand radicalization; for the Philippines Military Academy teaching mental resilience to 1200 cadets and 100+ offices; and conducted Peace building Trainings for 18 muslims youths affected by the 2017 Marawi Siege.