Imagine a world in which children from rural areas, tribal areas and slums are able to receive free school education. Well, imagine no more. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has set up more than 209 free schools in the tribal and rural belts of India where child labor and poverty are widespread. 24,935 children benefit annually from the education imparted by the free school. Children are not only provided with free education but also skills which will enable them to go forward in life.

209 free schools in the tribal and rural belts
Tribal, rural and slum
24,935 children benefit

Our Vision

Our schools provide free, value based education in a stress-free student friendly environment that:-

Enables the students to discover their inner talents and to blossom them to the fullest potential.
Broadens the vision and deepens the roots by enabling them to appreciate the cultural heritage of their own country and yet have a global vision.
Live a stress free life with the practice of meditation.

Free Schools

The Art of Living’s free schools are located in various rural, tribal and slum areas across India. Each school has its own set of challenges based on the geographical and cultural set-up of the land and its people.

Some areas are extremely remote, surrounded by forests and no roads or electricity. In some of the places, the children are more familiar with guns than soap! The need to impress education and schooling, as a means towards a future is imperative.

In rural areas which are more accessible parents prefer to send their children as domestic helpers onto the farms to earn a few rupees, rather than opportune them with an education. This is even more so for a girl child. It is common practice that when she turns 14 she gets married, by 20 has 5 children, has no education behind her, no money and further more no self-confidence and no self-esteem.

Slums have their own set of challenges. Located in the hearts of cities, the disparity between the urban and slum dwellers is a constant impression on the young minds. Lack of availability of free education forces them to look for other means to earn the quick buck. Drugs, violence, alcohol, tobacco are easier to come by than books.

These facts have made it pertinent to broaden our vision and deepen our roots by bringing education to each child in need.

The Art of Living volunteers, inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have laid the foundation and created structures to facilitate this vision of free education to children in such areas. Starting from awareness campaigns to providing free transportation, uniforms, mid-day meals, books and accessories, building free schools in the remotest of areas a revolution has begun, - a revolution in school education!

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