Excellent Opportunity to Give Back to Your Country - Sponsor Youth for YLTP - 1000 youth, $50,000, April-May 2013 (Time Sensitive - Act Immediately)

Summary:

1.       YLTP Programs in Bangalore Head Quarters: (please read below)

-          Batch-1 of 500 youth: 29-APR-2013 to 06-MAY-2013 – 8 Full Days

-          Batch-2 of 500 youth: 19-MAY-2013 to 26-MAY-2013 – 8 Full Days

2.       Need to raise USD $50,000 in 2 weeks for 1000 youth.  Sponsor youth for YLTP ($50 i.e., Rs.2500 per candidate).  It is doable, we do our part to donate, motivate and spread the word.

3.       Send boys and girls from your villages for YLTP  ---- URGENT.  Who to send?  Please read below.

If you would like to donate in the USA - please make your pledge here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Apd_UxexWlX-dERaTmpGaERLb2VMckszU3VBamhHVlE#gid=0

If you would like to donate in INDIA - please make your pledge here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Apd_UxexWlX-dF9IRFl3eVdLVkxTX0h3RDQySXcyamc#gid=0

********** !! TIME IS OF UTMOST ESSENCE - PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY !! *********

!! Your pledge goes a long way towards helping preserve the socio-cultural-dharmic heritage of Andhra Pradhesh. Thank you for doing your part.
Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshataha !!

Sections:

-          Milestones achieved and what is YLTP.

-          Dates for YLTP, Venue

-          Contribution for Food and Accommodation – Training is Free.

-          Selection Criteria and Approach

-          How to make your Tax Deductible Donation (USA and India)

-          Action Plan

-          Training the Trainers

Dear Big Hearted Friends,

What we did so far is just a tip of the ice berg.  Covering 400 villages through Pada Yatra (Tour on foot) is not the final solution.  Even if it were, it is just 1% of the villages of AP.  We need to multiply.  Multiply people, multiply our efforts, multiply money, blessings and grace of the divine.

Through our Pada Yatra and various Community Building Programs like Yoga, Meditation, Japa Deeksha, Chemical Free Farming, Yogathon, Satsangs, Talks, Vana Bhojanas, tours, village committees, we have established connections with these villages.

Now, we cannot be in every village and solve everyone’s problems.  It is IMPOSSIBLE.  We can teach them how to fish.  They have to solve their own problems.  We provide guidance, leadership, install leadership within the village, provide skills training and provide initial financial assistance as Field Allowance for a period of time only.

THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM (YLTP) is just that tool.  We recruit and train young dynamic youth (both girls and boys) between the ages of 18 and 35 (there are exceptions).  They undergo 8-day INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development.  The training is quite intense but they can do it.  This is a VERY successful program and I can tell you a bagful at a later time.  Graduates of this program who show exceptional leadership qualities and commitment are designated as “Yuvacharyas” (Youth Leaders).  These youth undertake the responsibility of implementing various developmental projects in villages. 

Like I said, this year is very critical for AP and India.  We need to create 1000s of young dynamic leaders who can stand up for justice, for dharma, stand up against corruption, give a few hours a week or 1 year of their life for their country serving, we need people to Volunteer for a better India.

With GREAT difficulty, we were able to secure trainers and dates for this dynamic program in our International Center in Bangalore.

YLTP Batch-1 of 500 youth from AP:

Dates: 29-APR-2013 to 06-MAY-2013 – 8 Full Days

Report in Bangalore on: 28-APR-2013

Depart from Bangalore on: 07-MAY-2013

Venue: Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth and the Art of Living International Center

21^st Km., Kanakpura Road, Udayapura, Bangalore South – 560082

YLTP Batch-2 of 500 youth from AP:

Dates: 19-MAY-2013 to 26-MAY-2013 – 8 Full Days

Report in Bangalore on: 18-MAY-2013

Depart from Bangalore on: 27-MAY-2013

Venue: Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth and the Art of Living International Center

21^st Km., Kanakpura Road, Udayapura, Bangalore South – 560082

Course Contribution for Food and Accommodation:

-          Rs.2500 (USD $50) for 8 Full days plus arrival and departure.

(No charge for Training)

Participants: We ask for Rs.500 but most end up not paying.

Travel: Participants have to pay for their own travel.

SELECTION CRITERIA and APPROACH:

1.       Gender: Both Boys and Girls

2.       Age: 18 to 35.  We can make exceptions upto 75 years for deserving candidates who are energetic, can do Yoga Asanas, wants to contribute to the society, etc.  Only upon approval.

3.       Education: We can take bright people with 10^th(pass or fail), Intermediate (12^th), Degree and Higher Education.

4.       Ideal candidate will be someone educated and willing give time to serve the society.  Has an inclination for betterment of the society. 

-          Political aspirants: You will see 1000s of youth working under some political banner.  However they look to us, either bright or hooligan, each of them has the capacity to influence 100-200 or more people for votes in either ethical or unethical (alcohol, money) ways.  They have the dynamism.  Nurturing good values into them will be very beneficial.

-          Approach NGOs doing good work.

-          Approach Youth Clubs.

-          Approach Politicians and ask for youth to train them on dynamism, energy, confidence, public speaking skills, etc. 

-          Relatives of Politicians.

-          Talk to College Principals.

-          Talk with Pujaris (Priests) to send youth.

-          Your weekend group can sponsor 50 - 100 youth.

-          …..

Problem in our society is not the bad people.  It is the good people not standing up.  They need courage, encouragement, dynamism, support, leadership, training, etc. 

HOW TO MAKE YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION?

USA Online:

Visit www.backtotherootsproject.org, click Donations.  If the amount is more than $250, you’ll receive a Tax Deductible Letter. Otherwise, you do not need one.  Just use our Fed Tax ID:

USA by Check:

Make check payable to “VVM – Back to the Roots”

Mail to: 12 Murphy Drive, Nashua, NH 03062, Phone:

INDIA by Postal Mail:

Make check payable to “VVKI AP APEX Body”

Mail the check to:

SUDHAKAR VEERAVALLI

YLTP OFFICE

1-1-174, Plot No: 26, Road No: 3,

Balaji Colony, Mohan Nagar,

Kothapet, Hyderabad – 500035,

Phone: 9533 78 0640

After mailing, send an email to: backtotherootsproject@gmail.com or ap@yltp.org

INDIA, pay in person:

Payable to “VVKI AP APEX Body (YLTP)”

Vyakti Vikas Kenda, India

5^th Floor, R.K.Plaza

Panjagutta Cross Road

Hyderabad – 500082

Phone: +91(40) 2340-0782, (40)6459-0390

After handing over the check, please email backtotherootsproject@gmail.com or ap@yltp.org

ACTION PLAN:

BTTR Group size: More than 1000.  Some of you are ardent followers of BTTR and read all emails.

1.       Each person can sponsor 1 to 200 youth ($50 to $10,000 or more).  If we have 5 Big donors we are done.

2.       Each Group Member, please send 2-5 boys and girls from your respective villages.  It is very safe for girls.  No worries.  All precautions will be taken.

3.       This weekend: approach your friends, associations, satsang centers and encourage them to donate.  You will not be disappointed.  Your $50 will go a long way in shaping a young boy or girl.

4.       In fact, we will need more funds to support them for a year after their training.  We’ll look into this later.

TRAINING THE TRAINERS:

APR 22-24, we are also training the Trainers to teach this program in the villages.  No funds needed for this.

WE HAVE AND ARE DOING OUR PART.  PLEASE DO YOUR PART.

Every Action and “Inaction” has its consequences.  Please “ACT”.  Donate and send youth to get trained for a Better India.

Namaste and Best Wishes,

BTTR and YLTP Teams!

SUDHAKAR VEERAVALLI

Director, Back to the Roots Project

Ved Vignan Mahavidyapeeth (VVM)

India: +91-9533 78 0640

USA: +1-408-373-6959

Int'l Pada Yatra (DEC 4-9, 2012): FANTASTIC, SUPERB, AWESOME, GRAND SUCCESS

Dear Friends,

Pada Yatra from Dec 4-9, 2012 was a GRAND GRAND SUCCESS.

Most of our International friends left for their countries. About 4-5 of them stayed back to do some more service for the country.

- A lot of coverage on the newspapers and TV.

- Reached out to about 1 lakh people (one-on-one) in 13 Districts..... AND naturally to crores of people through Media.

- Reached out to people in villages, schools, colleges, temples, churches, ashram, vedic patashalas, etc.

We are in the process of collecting all data and Newspaper cuttings.

We will send you more a proper report and more details shortly.

Namaste!

BTTR Team!!

Pada Yatra with Internatio​nal Team from 17 Countries (04-DEC-2012 to 09DEC2012)

One of our most awaited events of the year “Pada Yatras”with International Friends and Swamijis starts today in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. (Karnataka was a huge success a few days ago with 5 teams).

We all have been extremely busy to organize this one of a kind event. We have a LOT of help from our Bangalore Head Quarters and Andhra Pradesh teams. We could have communicated sooner, but with the demise of my father, there were delays in some areas. But with Divine Grace, we are catching up. I am sure it is be a huge success.

We now have 16 teams to Andhra Pradesh and 2 more teams to Kerala.

- Each team with 4-5 International friends.

- Every team has a translator from a European Language to English and then English to Telugu. We can use extra help with English-to-Telugu Translators. The irony in India is that it is easy to find translators from a Local Language to English but not the other way.

YOU CAN JOIN TOO. Encourage your friends and family in India to join.

I mentioned before that, we have 115 Internationals undergoing a wonderful training (quite intensive) on Vedic Wisdom. They are all VERY GRATEFUL for the wonderful knowledge that India has and has given to the world. They are now going village to village, door-to-door and meet and greet people, share their experiences in India, express gratitude and thankfulness to the villagers for preserving this great culture and heritage over centuries and sharing with the rest of the world. We build partnerships with the villages, form village committees, sing, meditate, eat with the villagers and a LOT more. Village development work starts after the Pada Yatras.

We will be reaching out to about 150-200 villages in 1 week.

TEAMS: 16 Teams to ANDHRA PRADESH

(5 teams to Karnataka was a HUGE SUCCESS. 2 teams to Kerala)

Team size is: 4 or 5 International Team Members PLUS 10-20 volunteers per team PLUS 10s to 100s of volunteers get added as the momentum picks up.

Team-1: KHAMMAM

Team size: 5
Arrival on 04-DEC-2012: By Bus, Vijayawada (Benz Circle), 7:30am
Team from Khamman will pick them up from Vijayawada.

Team-2: BHEEMAVARAM, West Godavari

Team size: 5
Arrival on 04-DEC-2012: By Bus, Vijayawada (Benz Circle), 7:30am
They will be picked up and taken to Bheemavaram area.

Team-3: MEDAK DISTRICT and HYDERABAD

(Guntur is cancelled and moved to MEDAK)
Team size: 5
Arrival on 04-DEC-2012: By Bus (tickets have not been purchased yet because of last minute change).
They will be picked up and taken to Medak area.

Team-4: ANANTAPUR (town and nearby villages)

Team size: 4
Arrival on 04-DEC-2012: By Bus to Anantapur, 4:00am.

Team-5: SRIKAKULAM

Team size: 5
Arrival in Visakhapatnam on 04-DEC-2012, 9:30am: Direct bus from Bangalore (total 13 people, plus 1 co-traveler (Surendra) will reach Visakhapatnam on the same bus).

Team-6: PIDUGURALLA (Guntur Dist)

Team size: 4
Arrival on 04-DEC-2012: By Bus, Vijayawada (Benz Circle), 7:30am

Team-7: MADANAPALLI (Chittoor Dist)

Team size: 5
Arrival on 04-DEC-2012: By Bus, Madanapalli. Team will leave Bangalore on 4^thand reach Madanapalli on 4^th at 1:00PM. Swami Alexander (Purnachaitanya) is on this team.

Team-8: CHODAVARAM area (Visakhapatnam Dt).

Team size: 4
Arrival in Visakhapatnam on 04-DEC-2012, 9:30am: Direct bus from Bangalore (total 13 people, plus 1 co-traveler (Surendra) will reach Visakhapatnam on the same bus).

Team-9: KALASAPADU (Kadapa)

Team size: 5
Arrival in KADAPA on 04-DEC-2012, 5:15am: They will take the next bus to Kalasapadu.

Team-10: Makavarapalem, Yelamanchili, Visakhapatnam

Team size: 4
Arrival in Visakhapatnam on 04-DEC-2012, 9:30am: Direct bus from Bangalore (total 13 people, plus 1 co-traveler (Surendra) will reach Visakhapatnam on the same bus).

Team-11: MACHILIPATNAM and GUDIVADA area

Team size: 5
Arrival in VIJAYAWADA on 04-DEC-2012, 8:30am. They can freshen up in Vijayawada and head to Machilipatnam by another bus.

Team-12: HINDUPUR (Anantapur District)

Team size: 4
Arrival in Hindupur: They leave Bangalore on 4^th and reach Hindupur on 4^th.

Team-13: NIZAMABAD

Team size: 5
Arrival in NIZAMABAD by Bus on 04-DEC-2012 at 9am.

Team-14: ATMAKUR, NANDIKOTKUR, Kurnool District

Team size: 4
Arrival on 04-DEC-2012, 5:25am, direct to ATMAKUR.

Team-15: WARANGAL

Team size: 5
Arrival on 04-DEC-2012 in HANMAKONDA, 9:30am

Team-16: CHINTALAPUDI, JEELUGUMILLI area (West Godavari)

Team size: 5
Arrival in ELURU on 04-DEC-2012, 6:30am. They will be taken to Chintalapudi or Jeelugumilli.

****

SUGGESTED SCHEDULE:
Morning:
Daily Sadhana (Volunteers, Teachers, everybody involved must finish sadhana)
Breakfast followed by Village Visit
or Village Visit followed by Breakfast (depending on village timings)

Village Visit: Speech, Meet and Greet (may be satsang and Ram Dhyan if opportunity permits), Form Village Committee
Break for 30 mins to 1 hour
Visit to a School or College or some institution

Afternoon:

Lunch + Rest (They can get time to do Sandhyavandan or meditate for a few minutes)
Visit to a College(s) or School(s).
Tea-Snack Break

Evening:
Evening Pada Yatra: Speech, Meet and Greet, Pada Yatra, Satsang, Ram Meditation, Form Village Committee
Dinner (Either before Evening Pada Yatra or After. Yuu can decide as per local conditions).
Retire for the Day.

*******

Thank you.

Update - Temples renovated in Guntur; Pada Yatras in Bangalore, Tamil Nadu - Need sponsorship

Post Date: 16-JAN-2011
Posted from: Hyderabad, INDIA

Summary:
1. Temples renovated in Guntur
2. Pada Yatras in Bangalore and Tamil Nadu
3. Looking for sponsorship for Tadepalligudem Temple.  Interesting story behind this temple.
4. Looking for sponsorship to conduct activities at these temples.

Update:

1. Two of our team members returned to Germany and Italy. They will join us at the end of the year for Navaratri.
2. After a very successful and fruitful trip to Andhra Pradesh, we spent 10 days in our Bangalore VVMVP Center listening to live Bhagavad Gita discourses by Pragyanand Maharaj ji from Rishikesh. We focussed on daily sadhana, Gita classes, some of us learnt more chanting and shlokas, others took Sanskrit classes, several hours of seva each day and the day ends with a satsang and wisdom.
3. Some of the foreign team members did Pada Yatras in slum area in Bangalore for about 4 days.
4. 13-JAN-2011: Sudhakar went to Hyderabad for Sankranti. The international team members plus other local team members left for Tamil Nadu and have started Pada Yatras there.
5. We got sponsorship from family members to renovate a 100 plus year old Ramalayam in a moderately poor area in Guntur. This work has been completed in time before Sankranti.
6. There is a request from another nearby temple and the work will begin in a week. We are also helping the temple to form a committee. This is also sponsored. We will share the details and pictures soon.

Looking for sponsorship:

1. There is a family in Tadepalligudem who moved to another faith 2 generations back. Their forefathers had built a temple but when they moved to another faith, the temple was closed. This current generation returned to their original faith and want to rebuild the temple. They are looking for help and were able to raise Rs.40,000 locally. Sudhakar has met this person in Tanuku and Visakhapatnam recently. A gentleman from CA has already promised to help with this project.

2. Our plan for these 3 temples: On a case by case basis we want to:
- pay the priest a little more money, may be Rs.500 to Rs.1000 per month and ask him to take a more active role to preserve and promote our cultural values and not just stick to doing archanas and pujas. We have a training program for this.
- Promote satsangs at the temple (with interesting bhajans, not the boring ones) and involving women and youth.
- Turn the temple into a place of receiving knowledge in addition to doing pujas and homas. We have a series of mini topics that the priest/youth/elders can deliver to the devotees.
- Promote Yoga and Meditation
- Additional money for proper Prasadam (weekly and on special occasions).  Whether we like it or not, this draws more people to the temple.  This is VERY important.  Why should we do this?  It is a bigger topic to discuss on the Blog.  If you need more clarity, please can call us or write to us.
- We do various programs to strengthen the cultural heritage and instill a sense of social responsibility into the citizens.

We are sure, you have more questions. If you are interested, please write to "backtotherootsproject @ gmail dot com" for additional information.

Being Born in India is a Life of Celebration !!

Post Date: 16-JAN-2011
Posted from: Hyderabad, INDIA

This year has been particularly rewarding and gratifying. We received many calls from all the villages we visited in Andhra Pradesh requesting us to spend Sankranti with them. They shared how our Pada Yatras, talks and satsangs motivated them to look back into their past, consult village elders and do something new (like the old days) so that as many people as possible can come together to celebrate and share the joy. It is a wonderful festive atmosphere here in India.


This reminds me of a conversation we had in one of the villages.
After all the excitement of Pada Yatras, cultural and patriotic talks and satsangs, a village elder got very excited and said to us: Being Born in India is a Life of Celebration !!

The gentleman said, Celebration starts with Wedding, Sreemantham (Baby Shower), child birth, 10th or 11th day celebration (I forgot this part), Cradle Ceremony, Naming Ceremony, Anna Prasannam, Baby going to school, Saree function for girls, Thread Ceremony for boys, birthdays, festivals, graduations, weddings and so on. It is a life full of celebration he said. It is true, isn't it. At least it was scientifically designed that way by our saints. Some events still maintain it's purity and sanctity and some lost it.

{Please note: As a true Indian in spirit and deed, we love, respect and honor all cultures and traditions of the world. Everybody can be proud of his/her own countries and cultures while respecting others'.}

Happy Makar Sankranti - JAN-2011

Post Date: 15-JAN-2011
Posted from: Hyderabad, INDIA

We wish you a Happy Makar Sankranti !!

In Telugu: Bhogabhagyalato Sankranti, Sirisampadulato kanumu, kalisi melisi kanuvinduga Sankranti Subhakankshalu !!

"Makar Sankranti is an occasion for spreading sweetness around you through expression and thought.

The traditional exchange of til gur (a mixture of sesame seeds and Jaggery) is symbolic of that.

May everyone retain this spirit of sweetness throughout the year."

Happy Makar Sankranti!!!

Donation Letters have been mailed out on 23-DEC-2010

Post Date: 24-DEC-2010
Posted from: Bangalore, INDIA

Thank you all for your support in taking care of our state and country. Not all, but some of you do understand the urgency of this very important project. We are making unimaginable huge waves of transformation at the grass root level. Next few years are VERY crucial for the stability of the country is what we hear, see, read, understand and agree. Many of you have promised to come with us but I know it is hard. People from USA come to India for 2 weeks and are busy with family, friends, shopping, travel, visas, etc.

We have a huge ground force and we need to expand it further for long term sustenance.

Your support is very valuable and needed.

Back to the Roots Team and Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth thank you for your generous donations this year 2010.
Tax deductible donation letters have been mailed out to you on 23-DEC-2010.

There is still time to make donations for year 2010.
Online donations: www.backtotherootsproject.org