tsunami

SERVING SOCIETY BY STRENGTHENING THE INDIVIDUAL

"I always feel the world is a global family and during such disasters we can
learn from one another… These are moments when we have to address the
stress and loss of confidence people have experienced as result of the
disaster. Unless the trauma is released, attending to the material needs will not
be sufficient. I welcome more and more people to come forward to bring about
that sense of belongingness."
– Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Tsunami – India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, December 2005

The tsunamis generated by the earth's most powerful earthquake in more than four decades off the coast of Sumatra left
untold catastrophe in their wake, as a 30-to-40-foot-high wall of water raced and raged ashore on December 26, 2004.
The regions affected most severely were the coastal areas of Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. There were over
150,000 deaths, thousands of people were missing and almost 5 million people displaced. Within 3 hours of the tsunamis
making landfall, over 500 volunteers of the AOLF and IAHV began direct relief work in worst affected areas.

“...for the hundreds and thousands of survivors, this group is providing much more than just food and water”
- Fox News, Austin TX

“...it was in this atmosphere of confusion and frayed tempers that the Art of Living volunteers were not only providing relief
materials, but also conducted courses for the affected people that would help them maintain their composure.”
- The Hindu (newspaper), Chennai

The work so far:
Over 440 tons emergency relief collected and distributed, including food, clothing, medicines, daily supplies, temporary
housing materials.
Relief camps set-up serving tens of thousands of people.
First NGO to set up a trauma care center. Over 40 trauma care centers set up for short term relief.

Long Term Rehabilitation:
Sri Lanka: Building orphanage, vocational training center and 3 primary schools.
Providing trauma relief and vocational training.
India: Setup vocational training centers in jute bag making and incense sticks, a computer training center. Building homes,
vocational training centers and a school.

Providing Aid to Tsunami Survivors