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Education - Home

Free school Education Program

Imagine a world in which children from rural areas, tribal areas and slums are able to receive free school education. Well, imagine no more. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has set up more than 210 free schools in the tribal and rural belts of India where child labor and poverty are widespread. 24,935 children benefit annually from the education imparted by the free school. Children are not only provided with free education but also skills which will enable them to go forward in life. 

  • 210 free schools in the tribal and rural belts
  • Tribal, rural and slum
  • 24,935 children benefit

 Our Vision

 Our schools provide free, value based education in a stress-free student friendly environment that:-

  • Enables the students to discover their inner talents and to blossom them to the fullest potential.
  • Broadens the vision and deepens the roots by enabling them to appreciate the cultural heritage of their own country and yet have a global vision.

Free Schools

The Art of Living’s free schools are located in various rural, tribal and slum areas across India. Each school has its own set of challenges based on the geographical and cultural set-up of the land and its people.

Some areas are extremely remote, surrounded by forests and no roads or electricity. In some of the places, the children are more familiar with guns than soap! The need to impress education and schooling, as a means towards a future is imperative.

In rural areas which are more accessible parents prefer to send their children as domestic helpers onto the farms to earn a few rupees, rather than opportune them with an education. This is even more so for a girl child. It is common practice that when she turns 14 she gets married, by 20 has 5 children, has no education behind her, no money and further more no self-confidence and no self-esteem.

Slums have their own set of challenges. Located in the hearts of cities, the disparity between the urban and slum dwellers is a constant impression on the young minds. Lack of availability of free education forces them to look for other means to earn the quick buck. Drugs, violence, alcohol, tobacco are easier to come by than books.

These facts have made it pertinent to broaden our vision and deepen our roots by bringing education to each child in need.

The Art of Living volunteers, inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have laid the foundation and created structures to facilitate this vision of free education to children in such areas. Starting from awareness campaigns to providing free transportation, uniforms, mid-day meals, books and accessories, building free schools in the remotest of areas a revolution has begun, - a revolution in school education!

Videos

 
 

Donation

Testimonials

 
Dilraj Bedi, In-charge, IAHV Child Care Center

Setting up the project in Srinagar was a great inspiring, learning experience. I discovered the inner strength of commitment against all adversaries, In spite of facing skepticism and breakdowns at various levels; I realized that if work becomes a passion then nothing can stop you from achieving your dreams.
Seema Raksit, Teacher at Banskopa School

I have been teaching in the school since the last 3 years and the satisfaction I accrue after teaching is incomparable. Children are naughty, and teaching them makes me forget everything in the world.
A teacher, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir,Dharavi

Rahul's mother tells us that his father is an alcoholic. She is the breadwinner and works from 8am to 10:30pm. It's no wonder that Rahul used to come to school with unkempt clothes and had an attention deficit disorder. We nurtured him all the same. In fact, when it came to exam time, a volunteer sat with him through the test time and prodded him to reveal the answers we knew he knew. He performed brilliantly and Encouraged. Rahul now takes far more responsibility for himself than ever before. He takes pride in coming to school. His mother says he wakes up on his own and is ready for school at 5am! When she visits school her eyes well up with tears of gratitude.
Ravi Kumar, a parent who accompanied the children from the Purkhoo refugee camp

With having to live in 10 X 12 feet rooms with no source of income, we don’t have the means to educate our children. We feel bad that their future is permanently frozen in the refugee camps, but we are helpless.Sri Sri has come to our help by taking the responsibility of 87 children. We hope more children will be brought here in future.
Vasanthy Ravichandran, Teacher, SSVM School

I have been the principal of this school since 2007. Sri Sri Vidya Mandir (SSVM) was started on 26th July 2007. The school started with 177 students and increased to 198 students within the first year. At the beginning the classes were up to 6th standard only but now it has grown to standard 8.In 2007 there were only 11 teachers and now we have 17 teachers. The parents of the students studying here are illiterate and financially poor. This year we have given students free books, as well as provided them with free afternoon meals.We are giving more importance to discipline than studies; we teach them how to keep their environment clean. We tell them that we must throw all the garbage in the dustbins. We also conduct yoga and meditation classes twice a week. I want to develop the school in such a way that it will be able to give a life equivalent to the life of students in cities.
 

Upcoming Programs

 

Eternity Process

May-25-2013
7:00 AM
Weekday Timings: 07:00AM - 10:00AM
Mr.Srinivasan,No 37
Chennai

Sri Sri Yoga Level 1

May-25 to May-29, 2013
Weekday Timings: 07:00AM - 09:00AM
god dod rd
Surat

 

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