Thread by @DineshGhodke

Folks, today is #WorldNGOday & here's a little info about the World’s biggest volunteer led NGO, albeit little known for its NGO work - @ArtofLiving. This thread is dedicated to all our volunteers, including our best volunteer & ultimate inspiration, Gurudev @SriSri Ravi Shankar.

Mention @artofliving & most people think of yoga & meditation. We forget the humanitarian work, for example, the 700,000 prison inmates rehabilitated across 60 countries. Or free education by @artoflivingschools in 20 Indian states to 58,904 students from 435 schools.

Did you know that we have set up 7 Waste Management Plants? Or that we have rejuvenated or revived 35 rivers? We have constructed 25000+ water recharge structures, removed 512 tons of garbage removed from the Yamuna and have planted 71 million trees across the world?

Did you know @artofliving has trained 110,000 women in vocational skills, formed 623 self-help groups & mobilized 1 million Indians to pledge to protect girl children? #WomenEmpowerment

We’ve provided safe drinking water to 45,000 people. Constructed 62,000 toilets across India; organized 40,500 cleanliness camps and 52,466 hygiene camps that have benefitted 7,869,900 people.

To date, we’ve trained 203,220 rural youth through our leadership programs. 25,000+ people have been treated for drugs and alcohol addiction, and 577,400 people have benefitted through our medical camps. These are a few rural youth empowerment initiatives.

To preserve agro–biodiversity, we’ve trained 2.2 million farmers in sustainable farming methods. We protect and rear 14 indigenous species of cows. We conserve 140+ varieties of indigenous seeds in seed banks.

Did you know, we have built 55 model villages in India? We have trained 22,000,000 people in natural farming methods to ensure food security. We have also distributed 16,000+ solar lamps benefitting 65,000 people; set up 8 solar grids across 4 states in India.

So much more 2share, from facilitating peace treaty between Govt of Columbia & FARC rebels 2bringing reconciliation among Kashmiri families of terrorists, martyrs, & victims of cross firing, 2getting all stakeholders 2arrive at a lasting win-win soln to ~500yr Ayodhya dispute.

Will leave you to do more of your research into one of the best NGOs of the world, @artofliving. And Yes, spirituality is at the heart of everything we do and celebrating service to fellow beings is an integral part of our brand of Spirituality ||