Introduction

The Art of Living Foundation is an international non-profit educational and charitable organisation, founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a spiritual teacher and human potential developer from India. The entire service organisation is run solely by volunteers and has more than 2,000 affiliates in over 102 countries. Our commitment is to develop full human potential and to foster peace within and between individuals and our global society. This goal is facilitated through education and charitable activities.

The educational activities offers practical tools for the promotion of holistic health, conflict resolution, crime prevention, social rehabilitation, community development, and the development of universal human values. These practical tools are taught in the stress management, leadership and personal development programs to individuals and organisations. These programs provide simple, yet powerful tools, which empowers individuals to improve the quality of their lives and to reach their full human potential.

The Foundation is engaged in implementing the "5H Action Plan" around the world. This action plan offer social and community development projects with a focus on Health, Hygiene, Homes, Harmony in diversity, Homes and Human Values. The projects implemented includes:

• Programs to provide free food, medical care and schooling to needy children in Asia and Africa.
• Hospital construction, housing and water purification projects in developing nations.
• Evironment and hygiene projects in Third World Nations.
• Recovery programs for drug, alcohol and substance abuse.
• Programs for people with life threatening illness such as HIV infection, cancer.
• Vocational training of indigenous women in Asia and Africa.
• Rehabilitation programs for prison inmates, youth delinquents and law enforcement professionals in Asia, Botswana, Europe and North America through the Prison S.M.A.R.T. (Stress Management And Rehabilative Training) programmes.
• Rehabilitation programs for victims of violence and natural disasters.

The Art of Living Foundation is an International Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. The Foundation has accredited representatives at the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Vienna. It also works in association with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

The Foundation has participated in the following international activities and programs:

• International Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in special consultative status with ECOSOC of the United Nations (UN).
• Accredited representatives at UN in New York, Geneva, Vienna.
• Member of CONGO (Conference of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC of the United Nations), Geneva.
• Member of the German NGO Forum World Social Summit, Bonn.
• Participation in the UN World Social Summit, Copenhagen, 1995.
• Participation in the UN World Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995.
• Participation in the International Conference of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly "The Role of Preventive Diplomacy in Conflict Settlement", Armenia, 1996.
• Formal consultation for the World Health Organization WHO, "Development of the global health policy for the 21st century".
• Participation in the World Health Assembly, 1997, 1998.
• WHO / AFRO Conference with NGOs, Senegal, 1998.
• International Symposium: "Human Values and Human Rights", Zagreb, Croatia, January 1998.
• Member of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education, Paris.
• Member of the NGO Forum for Health, Geneva.
• United Nations; New York and Geneva. Participation in the "Forum of the Millenium".
• UNICEF. Participation in the working-group "Rebuilding the Community around children; principles, values, resources".
• Initiator and coordinator for the project "Human Values and Human Rights" on the World Exposition EXPO 2000 in Germany; in cooperation with other international NGOs and the United Nations.
• 1999 Seoul International Conference of UN NGOs - "The Role of NGOs in the 21st Century: Inspire, Empower, Act".
  Participation in two categories - "Ethics & Values", Youth & Children".
  Organised and lead the "Human Values: Practical Tools & Techniques to Develop Human Values in the Individual".

In addition to its affiliations with the UN, ECOSOC, and the WHO, the Foundation is a member of the following organizations:

• CONGO (Conference of NGO's in Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations), Geneva.
• International Union for Health Promotion and Education, Paris.