YOGASWAMI HINDU GIRLS' HOME, SITTANDY, SRI LANKA

Yogaswami Hindu Girls' Home in Sittandy, Sri Lanka, was established in 1999 for the sole purpose of providing a brighter future for girls who had lost their parents due to the ethnic conflict and natural disasters. The administration of this home is handled by a Board of seven members, under the guidance of the Sivathondan Society. The land was donated by the London Orphanage Trust. Initially the hostel was home to 15 girls and was managed with assistance given by the public, in particular by Tamil businessmen of Batticaloa district. Now home to 37 girls, and 1 boy, Yogaswarmi Home still depends upon help from the public since it has not, to date, received any Government funds. Due to the prevailing economic conditions, the home finds it very difficult to make ends meet. The average expenditure for one child is Rs. 100 (US$1) per day, so they need approximately Rs. 4,000 (US$40) per day. Hence for a month they require Rs 120,000 (US$1,200). US$9,125.00 the endowment yields approximately $365.00 a year, enough to just cover the cost for one orphan. The 38 children are cared for by one matron, two cooks, one clerk and a night watchman. Since the home originally housed 15 girls, it is woefully inadequate for 38 children. That said, the hostel is situated on a reasonably large plot of ground, which could support extensions/outhouses. Study and Sleeping Hall The present building consists of one large room which doubles up as the girls' study hall and sleeping hall. Off this main room is a small reception hall in which the clerk works, and off this reception room is a storeroom (for food stuffs). To the side of the main room there is one small prayer room, and three equally small rooms which contain the girls few possessions, namely clothes and books. The kitchen is to the rear of the building. The cooking is done on an open hearth. The girls eat on the floor in the kitchen area. Well There is one well where the girls bathe and wash their clothes. It is surrounded by a tin wall for privacy. In addition there is one bathroom which the older girls occasionally use. The smaller girls often bathe underneath taps in the garden when the well is too crowded, as it invariably is. There are 4 toilets. However, one has neither water supply nor light fixtures, and one has no light fixtures. Because the home was not designed to accommodate so many girls, the drainage is inadequate and cannot cope with the large amounts of water being used at the well. The dirty water streams into the children's play area where it collects in a stagnant pool. Address: Yogaswami Hindu Girls' Home, Main Street, Sittandy - 30378, Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. Visit the website: YOGASWAMI HINDU GIRLS’ HOME

MANJUNG HINDU ORPHANAGE, MALAYSIA

The orphanage was founded in 1996 by the Manjung Hindu Sabha (MHS), when three siblings were abandoned by their parents in Sitiawan. The Manjung Orphanage now provides a loving home for 30 children (orphans and abandoned) and is responsible for their cultural advancement and education. The orphanage strives to give the best possible education to every child in its care, and to ensure that children who leave it will be able to sustain themselves and their families in a decent and loving way. The Manjung Orphanage likes to think that it is building the foundations of a compassionate society through the love and peace that it offers to the children in its care. The orphanage personnel are striving under harsh conditions to provide joy and happiness for all the children, so they can proudly call Manjung their home. FACILITIES The Orphanage is housed in the Ashram hall complex. The two-story building beside the hall is the temporary home for the children. The top floor consists of two rooms which are the sleeping quarters for the children. They are separated by gender in the two rooms. With the help of various donations, the Orphanage recently purchased a van, essential for the education travels of the children. It is mainly used to provide a secure vehicle for transporting the younger children to and from nearby schools. ACTIVITIES The children partake in a series of indoor and outdoor activities such as: (1) Weekly lessons on Hinduism: The lessons include Basic Hindu philosophy, Meditation and and Hatha Yoga, and are conducted by volunteers. (2) Daily Puja and Bhajans. Every morning the children gather together to participate in a puja. The puja is conducted by the older children. Bhajans are conducted in the evening before dinner. (3) Handicraft Classes. The creativity of the children is encouraged by making handicraft which will be used in various fund raising activities. (4) Dance Class. Classical Baratha Natyam classes are conducted once a week. (5) Outdoor activities include outings with visitors. The orphanage is located in the town of Sitiawan in the State of Perak. It is about 90km from Ipoh, the state capital. Address: Sanathana Dharma Ashram (MHS) 101, Jalan Astaka Kg Serdang, 32000 Sitiawan, Perak, Malaysia FUTURE PLANS The orphanage personnel have many plans for securing a good life for the children that are living in its premises at the moment and the ones that will be part of the Manjung family in the years ahead. All the plans are subject to the amount of money that can be raised through donations and the fund raising activities in which the children partake. One of the most immediate and necessary needs is to build a three-story building that will separate the male from the female children, and give them more space and freedom. The orphanage has already managed to purchase a nearby piece of land and has raised RM29,000-00 (US$7,800) to initiate the project. Unfortunately a lot more funds are needed for the building and to improve the standard of living of the children. The orphanage is a totally voluntary and non-profit organization and can survive only by the generous support and donations which are provided by kind hearted people from all over the world. We hope you will be able to join them in this great cause of keeping the children happy in a place they can call "home" and build solid foundations for their present and future. Any donation, small or large, can provide an improvement to the living conditions of the Manjung children. The Manjung Orphanage Endowment fund was set up in order to provide continuous financial support for the very difficult conditions that the staff and children in Manjung experience every day. We strive to provide the most secure future for the orphanage and the best standard of living for the children. The orphanage is funded by the HINDU HERITAGE ENDOWMENT MANJUNG ORPHANAGE

UDAYAN -- "ETERNAL SUNRISE" It was the dream of young Udayan Modi to bring quality and light, through affirmative action, into the dark world of disadvantaged children. His maker recalled Udayan early; even as he had started his tryst with affirmative action; while still an economics student in the USA. His vision and ambition lives on through the Trust created in his remembrance by his family and friends. Udayan Care is a Trust under the Indian Trust Act registered with Sub Registrar III, in February, 1994,working for the last 13 years, for the quality care of disadvantaged children and woman, expanding its horizons to reach out to the under served sections of society that need interventions. Udayan is a Sanskrit word signifying “Eternal Sunrise.” Our aim is to bring sunshine into the lives of the disadvantaged. OUR MISSION Udayan Care's mission is to transform disadvantaged lives and make them into “Eternal Winners.” We build families for children in need. We work for children who are orphaned, abandoned and abused and do not have natural families. We create L.I.F.E (Living in Family Environment) HOMES for these children to promote family bonding, physical and mental health, social integration and enable them to experience the “Joy of Living.” We help them shape their own futures. We help children overcome their past traumas and help them recognise and express their individual abilities, interests and talents. We ensure that children receive quality education and skills training to be successful and contributing members of society. We support the holistic development of deserving girl students from weaker sections of the society through our “Udayan Shalini Fellowship Program” by providing them monetary help as well as mentoring. We generate employment opportunities: for the under served communities by running vocational training programs and personality development programs to empower them. We create volunteering opportunities: for giving back to society in a very effective and concentrated manner. Our Mission Statement: “Regenerate the rhythm of life of the disadvantaged.” OUR GOALS * To create Rehabilitation Family Homes for the holistic development of orphaned and abandoned children, and to motivate men and ladies with a similar vision as ours to take on voluntarily, the roles of “mentor fathers” and “mentor mothers” in these homes. * To empower meritorious girls from weaker sections of the society by providing them financial assistance and mentoring support for pursuing their educational goals, thereby turning them into dignified, confident and positive contributors to society. * To generate employment opportunities for the disadvantaged sections of the society by providing them vocational training, life skills, computer and IT skills, thereby improving their learning levels, widening their job prospects and enabling them to get placements. * To ensure a positive future for affected children of HIV+ ve parents by providing them financial support so that they get proper care at home, including better education and nutritious food. Further rehabilitation of these children is also looked into if the situation so demands. * To enable people from different backgrounds to share their experience with the underprivileged people and work towards improving their conditions and widening their horizons, thereby getting benefited themselves. * To work consistently with the state machinery and decision makers towards reformation of policies that favour underprivileged sections of society, keeping their best interests in mind in the decision making process. OUR VISION * To contribute towards Sustainable Human Development through initiating and executing social development activities that result in substantial improvement in the Quality of Life (QOL) of the disadvantaged. * Establishing more Udayan Ghars(Homes) for orphaned and abandoned children across across the country based on our model of Group Fostering, Mentoring, Community Ownership and Quality Care. At least one UDAYAN Ghar [20-50 children] in a city with minimum population of one million people; Major focus North India. * Reaching out to many more disadvantaged but deserving girls on a National level for Udayan Shalini Fellowship Program. * Conducting more vocational courses under CREATE to enable our children as well as the nearby community to be self-reliant and to face the challenges of the world. * Reaching out to more non +ve children of HIV afflicted parents. * Strengthen our advocacy work. OUR VALUES Courage, Commitment, Trust: These are the core beliefs and attitudes on which our organisation has been built. These values guide our actions and decisions as we work towards fulfilling our mission. We are dedicated to helping generations of children have a better life by nurturing lasting relationships with the communities in which we are rooted, with our co-workers and with our donors. We believe in each other's abilities and potential. We support and respect one another, and build an environment where we can approach our responsibilities with confidence. Empathy, Education, Empowerment: This progression is central to our belief of serving the under served. Empathy for those denied, what everyone must get, must lead to their education so that they get economically empowered and are thus enabled to live a life of dignity and self reliance. Please visit our website: UDAYAN CARE

SIVANANDA ASHRAM, ORPHANAGE & GURUKULAM One of the sadhanas leading to God is the realization of the Karma Yoga of service. Such service purifies the heart by eradicating the negative qualities of egoism, jealousy, superiority complex etc., and promoting the divine qualities of humility, pure love, tolerance, mercy etc. One begins to realize oneness with God and unity of existence. A person is remembered by his deeds and not by his financial status. The joy or the fulfillment of the heart that is felt by serving others is more profound than that of precious offerings to God. Swami Sivananda says, "Give a little cold water to the thirsty; give a few grains of food to the hungry; speak a few kind words to the afflicted. The Lord will bless you." We are a non-profit N.G.O with the primary objective of protecting orphans, destitute women, the physically handicapped, AIDS-affected children, and the elderly. This humanitarian center was established in the year 1945 by an elderly couple Shri. S. V. Iyer and Dr. V. Mangalam with just three kids and the blessings of SWAMI SIVANANDA OF RISHIKESH. An institution with more than 50 years of recorded services to thousands of poor orphans, we have helped them to become productive citizens. We not only provide food, education and shelter, but also instil character and morals to help them grow, learn and eventually become independent. Many, including former Prime Minister of India, Shri PANDIT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU have visited our ashram and witnessed our committed work. We are presently taking care of 300 children and 80 poor, elderly people, all of whom are accepted with love and affection. We are a "National Awardee" institution recognized by the Government of India in 1983. Established in 1945 with just 3 kids, Sivananda Saraswathi Sevashram or more popularly known as "Sivananda Ashram/Orphanage/Gurukulam" has now grown to be one of the MOST APPARENT and WELL-RECOGNIZED social institution in India today. FACILITIES Started with only three children in a thatched shed, the Gurukulam now has its own buildings and infrastructure that can maintain a big family of more than 400 human beings of all ages. It has developed into a big humanitarian center with various units primarily working for the cause of poor and destitute. The various activities under the banner of the Sivananda Saraswathi Sevashram can be classified as follows: * Sivananda Orphanage. * Dr. Mangalam Elementary School. * Dr. Mangalam High School. * Sivananda Free Dispensary. * Sivananda Free Maternity Home. * Vocational Training Center. * Sivananda Tailoring Training Center. * Sivananda center for Typewriting. * Sivananda Old Age Home. * Sivananda Community Service. THE BIG PICTURE * 14 acres of land * New Dormitories. * Timely telecast of educational programs via cable television/VCRs/VCDs. * 24 x 7 ambulance. * A Bus. * Internet Access. * Dining Halls. * Libraries. * New School complexes. * Auditoriums. * Newly constructed cottages for the senior citizens. * Well maintained toilet & sanitation facilities. * Newly constructed bath rooms for boys & girls. * A new modernized kitchen that utilizes solar energy. * A house mother for every 15 kids. * Nurses. * Highly qualified school teachers. * Well maintained trees and gardens. * Gardeners. ..... and more ! One of the major advantages of our organization is that all the 300 orphaned kids have the support of the 80 odd senior citizens who themselves are neglected by their kith and kin. The kids do not feel that they are born as orphans and they can select one or more of the 80 elderly persons as their father, mother, grandma or grandpa. In return the old get love and affection from more than 300 tiny tots and share their joy with them, which they need at this juncture of there life. There is a transformation of love and affection by both the kids and the elders. On festival occasions the kids get blessings and the young ones feel that they are cared about. . FOUNDERS The tradition of social service has a long and unbroken history. Through the ages there have always been men and women who in their own quiet and unobtrusive manner dedicated themselves to the service of their fellowmen in the society they lived in and sought to remove injustice, relieve distress and mitigate suffering and lift their less-privileged and weaker brethren from the solo ugh of despondency and destitution. The example of their struggle to rescue men from the brutal forces of cruelty, inhumanity and injustice is indeed inspiring and ennobling. One such couple who sacrificed their life for the cause of humanity are the founders of Sivananda Saraswathi Sevashram, Shri. S. V. Iyer and Dr. V. Mangalam. Shri S. V. Iyer was a leading lawyer both in Chingleput and Madras High Court. Dr. V. Mangalam served as Superintendent of Royapettah Government Hospital. She was also an Honorary Presidency Magistrate and Justice of Peace in Madras, India. No doubt, the couple had no solace in life. It was at this juncture that they came in contact with Shri Swami Sivananda, the Sage of Himalayas and joined the Divine Life Society. Both the founders of this organization earned enough money as a Doctor and Advocate by profession and could not get the real peace of mind and happiness in this materialistic world. Having got introduced to His Holiness Swami Sivananda they went with heavy tons of worries and miseries in their heart & met him and requested His holiness to pave the way to get peace and realization of this birth and the real happiness. Swamiji found that the couple are sanctified by ALMIGHTY to serve the community and therefore blessed them and paved the way in their heart to realize that by serving others one not only gets the peace of mind but also gets the opportunity to realize the truth of our own life. Both the founders got the right direction. In the year 1945, they were advised by the Swamiji to start a home for poor orphans and the weaker sections of the society. Established in 1945 with just 3 kids, Sivananda Saraswathi Sevashram has now grown to be one of the most apparent and well-recognized social institution in India today. SWAMI SIVANANDA His Holiness Swami Sivananda was born in Pathamadai in Thirunelveli district, South India. Ever since his childhood His Holiness was totally devoted to the "SERVICE TO MANKIND." He worked very hard and graduated in Medicine. As a Doctor he earned money but somehow, he could not get peace of mind. He realized that to amass wealth would not bring peace and happiness but instead to promote spiritualism alone would help one to attain MUKTHI or MOKSHA. His mind was in search of peace and to learn the truth of the ultimate purpose of being born in this world. He felt that there must be a goal in life and that one should lead a life with a purpose and with a meaning. See: SIVANANDA WEBSITE Swami Sivananda proceeded to Rishikesh in North India, where he realized his goal while sitting on the banks of Ganges. He advocated Non-Violence, truth and worship. Many were impressed by his simplicity and teachings. He gathered a lot of followers and in due course, a mission was started in a small hut which today proudly stands as SWAMI SIVANANDA SARASWATHI SEVASHRAM at Rishikesh. His teachings were simple and he saw God as an Omnipotent. He advocated the principle that "ONE CAN FIND GOD IN THEIR OWN HEART BY BEING HONEST AND LEADING A SIMPLE LIFE." He believed the teachings of the Khuran, Bhagavath gita and the Bible to be the same and that there was no need for one to go in search of God, as one can find God in their own hearts by not being selfish, but by making sacrifices for others as well. Many devotees all around the world were attracted by his teachings and started several missions in Yoga, Sidha and other spiritual awakenings. The late founders of Sivananda Ashram Sri S. V. Iyer and Dr. V. Mangalam, when approached Swamiji in the early part of the previous century for His advice on how to obtain peace of mind and to find the purpose in life, were enlightened that the only happiness that could be found by any human being was to serve others. Thus Swami Sivananda Saraswathi Sevashram at Kattankolathur was started in the year 1945, initially with just 3 children in a small thatched hut with a humble beginning. "BE GOOD DO GOOD" "LOVE ALL SERVE ALL" "SERVICE TO THE SUFFERING HUMANITY IS THE TRUE SERVICE TO GOD" Visit the website: SIVIANADA ASHRAM/ORPHANAGE

YOGASWAMI BOYS' HOME, CHENKALADY, SRI LANKA The Yogaswami Nalvar Illam Boy's Home in in Chenkalady, Sri Lanka has been established to help receive grants from the Hindu Heritage Endowment to help pay for the children's food, clothing, education, medical and other expenses. The tragedy of the December, 2004, tsunami on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka may seem like a distant memory but the plight of those individuals affected is still ever present. Many children lost their parents due to the waves and destruction. The Yogaswami Nalvar Illam is headed by Mr. Vinasathamby also pictured below and is part of the Sivothondan Ashram where the boys live. The Yogaswami Nalvar Illam was also named at the request according to the final instructions of Chelladurai Swami, Yogaswami's oldest living disciple who passed away on 14 April 2006. Details Currently the boys are housed at the Sivathondan Ashram. The goal is to admit more boys who would occupy a house owned by the Sivathondan Society right near the Yogaswami Girls' Home in Sittandy. Administration of the Boys The administration of this home is presently handled by S. Vinasithamby, B.A. (Hons.), under the able guidance of Chellathurai Swamigal, President of the Sivathondan Society of Jaffna. The Home These boys, therefore, face special problems individually, and the Sivathondan Society facility in Chenkalady too faces special problems, for it was never designed as a boys' home. Its boys, therefore, have to manage with only the most basic amenities which, together with instruction in Saiva religious principles and lifestyle, are intended to instil in the boys qualities of thrift and fortitude that are highly valued in Tamil Saiva culture. Address Yogaswami Hindu Boys' Home, c/o Sivathondan Nilaiyam, Chenkalady, Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka Visit the website: YOGASWAMI HINDU BOYS’ HOME