Martine, leads a group of Art of Living youth leaders
She emailed a report and pictures of the street children the group is working with. She signed off with I love you. Big kisses. This email was sent just hours before the earthquake ripped open her neighborhood. Martine, 22, wants to dedicate her life to empowering her people. For some days, volunteers had not heard from her and were unsure of her fate. Then came the news. Martine survived. She lost her home, and had no relatives to stay with. Through our Indian Art of Living family, we (the American volunteers) found an Indian family who have taken Martine, her mother and brother into their home. Her text this morning said: "Thank you. You don't know how you've helped us by finding us refuge. I love and thank you with all my heart."

Priyadarshini
"Priyadarshini, is one of the children who attended the IAHV-Art of Living Child Care Centre in Nambiar Nagar village. She lost her younger sister in the Tsunami. The memory of the incident still terrifies this sensitive and impressionable young child. For a long time Pradarshini’s dreams of dancing and becoming a doctor were clouded by the trauma of Tsunami; she was terrified and claims that she would have discontinued her education had it not been for the teachings of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. She recalls this and simply smiles plan".

Taiyal Nayaki

Taiyal has trained in jute bag tailoring under the regular workshop conducted by the IAHV-Art of Living Vocational Training center for Women.

Whitney Bank, Katrina Survivor

The course gave me much more than I expected. I was able to feel free and relaxed. I was able to find some peace where I had none. I had a feeling of peace, greater awareness and relaxation- something I didn’t think I would feel again.