2006 Art of Living Youth Highlights

"The need of the hour demands channeling abundant youth energy in a constructive manner. WE need to give this energy the right direction. Generally, the tendency is to just condemn their problems by telling youth to abstain. Instead, we need to show them a path and a motive ."
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art of Living Foundation

New York, NY
During this 2006-2007 school year, AoLF's Youth Programs initiative is offering the YES! and ART Excel Programs in five different schools in the New York City Area:  Professional Performing Arts School, High of Telecommunication, Arts & Technology, City-As-School, Bayard Rustin Educational Complex, and Public School 84.  Art of Living programs will run as a year-long after school program, affecting up to 100 students at each school.  In each program, research is being conducted using validated psychological instruments, to measure the beneficial effects of YES! and ART Excel on students both academically and socially. 

This one year initiative will culminate in a scientific and validated measure of how Art of Living’s youth programs can enhance public school education and student life in inner city populations and beyond.

Baltimore, MD
The Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund awarded a grant towards the YES! Program at Northwestern High School in 2005-06. Art of Living youth instructors reached 112 at-risk students throughout this 2-month pilot program which culminated in a 10-day summer camp held at the Foundation’s North American Headquarters – Quebec, Canada.  53 students from the inner cities of NYC, Washington D.C., Baltimore and Virginia as well as first reservation children from Manitoba, Canada attended.

Austin, TX
The Department of Health and Human Services for the City of Austin awarded a grant to AoLF to teach 80 school teachers and 80 students at Mendez County Middle School.  

Dade County, FL
AoLF has received a Department of Education grant under the “Safe Schools, Healthy Students” Initiative.  Through this grant, 100 school teachers will have the opportunity to take the Art of Living Course for Educators, and 100 students per year for the next 3 years will benefit from the ART Excel program for ages 8 – 13. 

Miami, FL
100 children were taught the ART Excel program under the Children's Trust Grant at four different schools: Fienberg Fisher Elementary, South Pointe Elementary (both in Miami Beach), Horace Mann Middle School and Lawton Chiles Middle School (both in Miami).  The students received the ART Excel course and 8 weeks of aftercare.
  
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles High School, where racial tension is a prominent problem, the YES! Program has helped to increase the sense of connection among students for 6 consecutive years – allowing students to eliminate their own stress, anxiety, and depression while learning how to channel their energy.     

Video: ART Excel, Harlem NY (4 min)

Video: Educators on the Art of Living (9 min) :