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Hands Up for Kids in Nairobi

It all began in 2009. Based in Lamu, Kenya as an Art of Living Part 1 and Art Excel teacher, Monika Fauth organized the Art of Living Stand Up and Take Action supporting the Millennium Development Goals. Inspired by the results Monika, together with the International Association of Human Values (IAHV) and The Art of Living Foundation, founded “Hands Up 4 Kids”.

Hands Up 4 Kids empowers the children of Kenya, providing the tools for managing mind and emotions, alleviating poverty and building a healthy, sustainable environment.

Projects

One of the many projects The Art of Living Foundation, IAHV and Hands Up 4 Kids are involved in, is with the Nairobi
 Children’s Garden Home & School. This is a children’s home for abused, mistreated, exploited, exposed to child labour, abandoned children and orphans. The home is in the Kawangare slum, Nairobi and houses more then 200 children. The home also provides free schooling and reaches out to more than 350 children from the slum.

From September to November 2010 Art of Living Netherlands, with Hands Up 4 Kids started teaching special stress, trauma releasing and youth empowerment programs using breathing and yoga techniques, as taught in the Art of Living courses for the staff and children.

hands up for kids

  • The director of the home and complete staff compliment completed the Art of Living Part 1 Course
  • 120 Children completed the Breath Water Sound Course
  • After regular sessions of techniques of the Breath Water Sound Course, the Art Excel courses and YES Courses were held for the children and teenagers

As a result of the ART Excel and YES! courses, a three month program has been scheduled at the school including morning sessions incorporating Yoga, breathing techniques, meditation and singing. Through these projects these children are able to deal with trauma, manage their negative emotions, advance their education, successfully complete school and lead a more meaningful happier life.

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Testimonials

 
M.,
age 26
“I had decided to go back to my anti-depressants before this (The Art of Living) course, but now I don’t need them. I will practice these techniques every single day for the rest of my life. I only hope other people are lucky enough to take this course. It has given me more help than I could have ever imagined possible. Thank you.”
Course participant

“I’ve been suffering from a loss of concentration, weak memory and extreme anger. Now I feel as if something heavy has been lifted from my back.”
Course Participant

“I found that this training of breathing is so useful and its benefit shows when I do it. I feel that my heart is stronger and younger. When I can’t sleep I just do the breathing and I feel energy in all parts of my body.”
Dr. Venus

“I feel peace with myself and have less stress. I think if I continue with the practice, this feeling of peace will continue to grow.”
M. Ali Bankat

"Before this experience, I was sad, depressed and starting to lose hope because of the situation here in Iraq. Now, after only four days, I feel confident in myself – happier, have hopes and dreams again and I feel that life is so beautiful. I have started to love everyone and physically I have much more energy and am able to do more things. I want to thank you very much for helping all of us feel better.”
M. Fahdil

“I had a wonderful experience in these four days. I feel better, like my head is clear and that oxygen is entering every cell in my body… thank you for sharing this experience with us.”
T.M.

“I’ve been chronically depressed and on medication for years. I’m no longer depressed or take medication. Since taking the Art of Living Course, I’ve learned to live in the now… less concerned about the past and the future.”
S.L.

“I feel like I went through a mental shower. Before, I was very angry and very sad about everything in the past. Now I’m just filled with joy and gratitude.”
A.K.,
age 24
“I can’t really begin to tell you the emotional and psychological feelings I’m having now after the course. The peace, serenity, and exhilaration I have got from doing the breathing techniques have me more euphoric than any drug I’ve ever taken, and I know that if I continue this in my daily life I’ll never use drugs again.”
Ramia Sagban
Baghdad
"We are grateful to Sri Sri. He is very wise and has a lot of knowledge. And he stands for peace, which is very important for Iraq"
A village women at a UNIFEM center
Afghanistan
These courses are the best. I want more of these. I have not slept in years and I have been sleeping every night since I started doing these techniques.
Afghan Attorney for International Law with the Ministry of Women
Afghanistan
The course is wonderful. I feel years younger.
Ban Ki - Moon
United Nations Secretary-General
We need more than ever the contribution of men and women of faith who defend and promote the human values that bind us together. The values you (Sri Sri) champion, including non-violence, compassion and the sanctity of all life, go to the heart of what the United Nations stand for.
Sri Sri
Amarnath
The civil society should come forward for resolution of the issue so that peace is restored in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sri Sri
Amarnath
Wherever Hindus are in majority, they need to protect the Muslims and vice versa.
A survivor of the carnage to Sri Sri
Ghodra Riots
We needed to get back our faith and courage to survive, and we got this from the workshops. What Art of Living has done is more than enough.
A reporter from a national daily to some volunteers conducting a workshop at the Jahangir Nagar relief camp
Ghodra Riots
I was scared to walk down these roads even though these are familiar to me and I am a journalist. How did you reach here?
Afet Billali
Disabled war veteran, Kosovo
I heard them calling me for help. I often jumped from my bed searching for the gun, and afterwards I could not sleep. After the program, I sleep much better, and flashbacks and nightmares have reduced.
S. Dawood Naderi
President, Kayan Construction Company
I recommend the Art of Living course to others who are dealing with the many stresses of working and living in a high tension areas. The natural and easily learned techniques are effective in lessening the effects of daily stresses as well as the effects of pent up stresses in the body and mind.
Sayeed Mansoor Naderi, Ismaili Khan,
Member of parliament, Islamic Rebublic of Afghanistan, Former vice-president, Republic of Afghanistan
Since learning the knowledge and techniques in the Art of Living course, I notice increased energy, feelings of peacefulness and calmness, improved concentration and greater physical flexibility. I strongly and whole heartedly commend the program for the people of Afghanistan.
Lipika Chandra
a teacher at Lokpuram School, Mumbai 26/11
I am seeing the change in my students. Earlier, they were restless in class. They have been discussing the terror attacks and there was a certain amount of anger, a strange fear in their sub-conscious that it could happen here too. The meditation program has helped ease tensions and the students feel calm throughout the day.
An Art of Living volunteer from one of the affected localities
Mumbai Terror Attacks
Although people were evacuated from the area, they could hear the firing and bombing. We are trying to remove the fear through yoga, meditation, satsang [community gatherings] and counseling techniques.
Lipika Chandra
a secondary school teacher at Lokpuram School
I am seeing the change in my students. Earlier, they were restless in class. They have been discussing the terror attacks and there was a certain amount of anger, a strange fear in their sub-conscious that it could happen here too. The meditation program has helped ease tensions and the students feel calm throughout the day.
Vehbi Rafuni
Retired director, Association of Disabled KLA Veterans
I have experienced great relief from anger, irritability, sleep disorders and depression and have witnessed more healing in many veterans who have attended the program.
Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Yaqubi
Shia leader
We welcome the delegation (Art of Living) with open arms and hearts. We welcome you (Sri Sri) as our brother and we are ready to work hand in hand with you.
Nouri al Maliki
Iraqi Prime Minister
There are big powers who have big might, but they are not able unite the hearts and mind of people. This work can be done only by a spiritual leader.
His Excellency Sir Anerood Jugnauth
President, Mauritius
The teachings of H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar provide the world with a roadmap for love, justice and harmony. His spiritual and humanitarian actions are worthy of praise since it is rare to find people so dedicated to the human cause. His legendary charisma, knowledge, service and unwavering commitment to peace, drive thousands of volunteers towards community service.
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak
Founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organization, India
I have been working for several years for the upliftment of Dalits. Now I have full confidence that with Sri Sri's leadership, my effort is will get new vigour and inspiration.
Prof. Dr. Peter Eigen
Founder & Chairman of Advisory Board, Transparency International, Germany
My NGO, Transparency International, is fighting corruption all over the world, and it has been energized, inspired, and strengthened by H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Shri T. N. Chaturvedi
Ex-Governor of Karnataka, India
H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's message, while rooted in the spiritual heritage of this country, distills the essence of various religions that always aspire for the good of each individual and mankind as a whole. Let spirituality pervade our thinking. Let human values be at play in our lives, hearts and actions.
Joe Biden
Vice President, United States of America
The Art of Living foundation is one of the India's stars. It has an actually incredible--following that cuts through all religions, cultures and backgrounds, a very, very difficult thing to do in today's world.
Prof. Gesine Schwan
candidate for the 2009 German presidential elections and Dean of Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance, Berlin.
It is admirable with what a gentle resoluteness, with what a calm dynamic, with what full concentration, with what incorruptible kindness, Sri Sri Makes people understand that they can only contribute to peace by overcoming their own inner fear and prejudice against others.
Mr. Ruud Lubbers
Former Prime Minister, the Netherlands
I have met many NGOs - representative of indigenous people & they have made it clear that economic development alone does not sufficient. The common future of our one world family is rooted in the awareness that we have only borrowed mother earth from generations to come. The Art of living is not the end, but it is the beginning for everybody and everything. It is the way to harmony.