Solidarity Travel
Solidarity, mutual aid, service to others, to the community and to the world,
are the basis of karma yoga and the philosophy that drives Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir.
Like Ramchandra, totally dedicated to serving children and young people,
of their education, their education and their future,
each child develops here this quality of self-giving.
In the same spirit, each visitor is invited to develop, as much as possible, the solidarity dimension of their trip.
Your stay at Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir
OR THE JOY of being a blessing for SAYM
The simple fact of staying at the ashram and paying your full board, is a source of income for the Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir. It’s already a solidarity contribution! In this, each visitor is a blessing for SAYM;
… Finally, it happens that some people find a way not to be (a blessing), quick to judge and criticize what they see according to their way of thinking without trying to understand the reality of things, without knowing life at Nepal and still months in the ashram. Yes, yes, it happens!
Fortunately, this is rare and the majority of visitors are truly a blessing.
However, you can be an even greater blessing.
PARTICIPATE in the life of the ashram and help here or there
At Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir, no one will ever come looking for you to ask for help … or to tell you that there is a need for help. This does not mean that your help would not be welcome, no! But each and everyone is left to his freedom to be what he chooses to be and to live what he chooses to live. Everyone will always respect what you are and your daily life choices.
And if you choose to participate in the life of the ashram and help, you are very welcome!
There are many ways to help!
The ashram works in departments: cooking, cleaning, garden, DIY, administration and secretarial work, construction, teaching, etc.
If you feel like offering your services, your skills will be really welcome!
Take the step towards one or the other person in charge to offer to help you!
From there, you will be guided to act in the service of the community.
Partager ses compétences à l’école de l’ashram
Give an even greater solidarity dimension to your trip
The budget for Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir is enormous: around € 200,000 per year… not counting the constructions. Everything is done to be as independent as possible but the various agricultural activities are still one of the main sources of income … and as in all countries of the world, it is not, by far, the best-paid activity that is.
All this to say that there is always a need for additional funds; especially since there are constantly unforeseen expenses to assume. It’s like a house in the countryside … but power 10 or 20, or even more.
Thus, each visitor is invited, if they wish, to implement a financial or material solidarity dimension to their trip.
SOLIDARITY CONTRIBUTIONS: List of SAYM needs
Each visitor is invited to complete their suitcase (s) with clothes – in good condition – or some utensils and materials that the ashram needs.
Everyone generally has the option of travelling with luggage from 23 to 30 kg.
With Air India, some flights allow you to take two 23 kg suitcases. They are the only ones to allow this.
We invite you to choose this airline and these flights. Certainly, they are more expensive, but the additional cost is less than an additional 16 or 23 kg on another flight, whatever the company, it seems. But not all of them have been checked. Learn about the company you plan to take.
IMPORTANT: Do not buy pencils, notebooks, or anything to bring to Nepal, unless it is on the list. Better to bring the money with you and give it to the ashram for them to buy in Kathmandu. They can have 10 times more!
Cuisine
- Various kitchen knives and utensils – strong and resistant.
Vegetable peelers – strong and durable (metal rather than plastic).
Tea strainers
Strong and resistant blenders (Omni blend for example)
School
- School supplies
Laptop
Tools for school laboratory: Microscope, small glass plates, etc.
Balloon Planet – Continent and Country Maps (in English) – Nature Posters
Video projector
Wireless bluetooth PC connection mouse, with USB bluettoth PC connection key
Individual and collective skipping ropes
Clothing
- Children’s clothes – from 8 years old (Nepalese are smaller), including key, fleeces, anoraks, and beanies for winter – No need to bring clothes for children up to 7 years old. The ashram already has a lot.
Adolescent and adult clothing, including anoraks and soccer jerseys from well-known teams – Some young people like it!
Jackets and adult jackets
Flat and flexible shoes, boy and girl, from 35 to 44
Sewing
- Large and small special scissors for sewing
Darning thread
Sewing buttons
Zipper sliders
Health and Beauty
- Lice combs – mechanical and electrical –
Natural make-up (nails, eyebrows, eyes, foundations, etc.)
Sacred oil from Madagascar (Du Côté des Îles)
Coconut Oil and Rosehip Oil
Bhagirathi, who came with Ramchandra in 2018 to present a sacred dance performance, is finishing her studies as a professional dancer Odissi. Her skin was damaged by unnatural make-up. The sacred oil of Madagascar is a wonderful oil to repair the skin: www.du-cote-des-iles.com
Daily life & Leisure
- A few hundred meters of 3 or 4 mm rope (No clothesline with plastic around it)
Watches
Cameras
Used mobiles
Ping pong rackets and balls
Musical instruments: guitar, flutes, etc.
Classical guitar strings (nylon)
UNIONS OF SOLIDARITY
From the moment your trip is scheduled, any initiatives you can have to raise some funds are welcome. And if you can only make a € 50 kitty, it’s already magnificent. Each hummingbird is important despite its small size.
Kitty, solidarity sales, solidarity workshops or courses, etc. your creativity can be limitless.
2 solutions are available to you for this financial solidarity:
- Checks: it is entirely possible to go through the association Les Enfants de Ram. We group transfers for SAYM 2 to 3 times a year to save costs.
Important: each transfer received from France costs € 30 at Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir. This is why we group them together.
Cash: change everything you want to take into denominations of at least € 50 to give to the ashram on arrival. This facilitates the exchange.
GIFTS
Very Important: Arrived on-site, entrust everything you brought to a manager who will change to distribute it on time and to who needs it. Do not individually give one or other of the children a doll, a pair of shoes or a pencil, etc.
Sometimes, on the spot, there are also privileged relationships with one or other of the children or young people. Often there is a great temptation to buy something … to give gifts.
Ramchandra strives to provide education without selfishness and individual privilege.
Please do not short-circuit this background work! Individual gifts subtly nourish a sense of possessiveness despite all the good intentions of the heart which guide your actions.
Solidarity on the return from Nepal
Solidarity SALES
Each visitor is invited to leave the ashram with some spices, pashmina, singing bowls, various and varied crafts, etc. to resell around him, in his family, his circle of friends or acquaintances.
If, as we have invited you, you have chosen an Air India flight with 2 possible hold baggage, then you will have 23 kg of supplies – less the quantity of your gifts and souvenirs – which you can bring back to resell for the benefit of Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir. We will give you the resale prices in Europe.
But, even if you only bring back 2 or 3 kg of resale supplies, it will already be wonderful. All solidarity is welcomed with joy.
It’s solidarity on the return from Nepal is a real opportunity to tell about your trip, to share and extend the magic of your stay!
And over the visitors, these joint sales constitute a significant income for the SAYM.
Organiser une vente solidaire
Associative INVOLVEMENT
Many, after their stay at the ashram, want to support and help, without really knowing how.
Do not hesitate to contact Abel and the Children of Ram. We will be able to see together what is possible according to your availability and skills.
You can also get in touch, depending on your place of residence, with an association that supports Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir … or with a few people who act punctually here or there.
We will give you the contacts.
ORGANIZE an event in France
Ramchandra comes regularly to France, but also to Belgium and the Netherlands.
If on this occasion you can organize an event, various programs are possible ranging from the conference to the Nepalese meal, through yoga workshops, yoga Nidra, meditation or pranayama.
You may also be involved in an event around wellness, yoga, meditation, travel, treks, etc. such as fairs, congresses or festivals. Any opportunity to introduce Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir, Auronepal Travel & Trek and the various activities in Nepal and Europe is welcome. Do not hesitate to contact Les Enfants de Ram.
Organiser un spectacle solidaire
Organiser un événement solidaire
© Abel Millot — © Les Enfants de Ram — © Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir — © Auronepal Travel & Trek — Janvier 2020