From: Uma Viswanathan <uma.viswanathan1@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 7:58 PM
Subject: Update on Haiti
IAHV’s Haiti team is hard at work preparing the Nouvelle Vie Youth Corps to build Haiti up once the emergency phase is over. We will train 100 Haitian young adults as Art of Living teachers – Part 1, YES!, and ArtExcel – spreading Guruji’s grace to hundreds of thousands when they serve Haiti for two years. The Youth Corps will also implement and train others in community driven
development projects, including: community gardens, rainwater harvesting, compost toilets, and biogas generation.
To find out more about what we’re planning, check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yrhOK7fEms.
Our website is launching on Tuesday, February 23 at www.nouvelleviehaiti.org. On the site, you can find out more about the project, share it with people you know, and write on our blogpage!
Around the world, our Art of Living family has raised nearly $100,000, across 4 continents – North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. We’d love stories and photos of your fundraising events for our website. Please email them to haiti@iahv.org ASAP!
The Nouvelle Vie Youth Corps has not yet begun. Hear from our strongest candidates:
“IAHV didn’t come here to serve me. It came here to teach me how to serve. I have no choice but to serve now. With the catastrophe that has hit the country, people who participate in our programs, who practice these breathing exercises start to live in the present moment. I cannot say enough how important our teaching this is in Haiti. ” – Lesly, age 23
“ We don’t just work for Haiti, but for the world, because we are the leaders who will save our planet. We feel very proud doing this work. We are creating a new life built by youth, because youth are the strength of this country.” – Lovely, age 19
Lesly and Lovely lead a group of YLTP grads who visit Cap Haitian’s hospitals, teaching Breath Water Sound workshops and reading uplifting spiritual wisdom to earthquake victims.
“ I’ve been sleeping on the street with my whole family since the earthquake. The only way I can feel at peace is when I’m in action, when I help the people around me that are suffering. I have a responsibility as a leader to drop my own needs to help those around me. ” – Samuel, age 19.
Samuel and his brother Samson work with other community youth to uplift the displaced earthquake victims who have occupied a football field in Les Cayes. Every morning, they teach yoga and stress-reduction techniques and play sports with the children. In the evenings, they teach salsa dancing and host singing and prayer sessions in the camps.
