“I like to see Hindu Vidyapeeth not just as a school, but rather a movement working through the medium of a school for the promotion of the theme of ‘oneness’ and harmony”.
- C.M. Yogi, co-founder & director HVP Nepal
Though originally envisaged as a school, in recent years the concept of Hindu Vidyapeeth (HVP) has come to encompass a number of activities working together for peace and social inclusion. The HVP headquarters in Kathmandu now acts as the hub of a number of outreach projects. While these are independently operated and separately accounted activities, they are closely interlinked with the HVP movement.
This includes work with Kathmandu’s street children, working with women’s groups to promote female empowerment and the ‘Journey for Peace’ project: a people led, participatory movement urging peace, dialogue and reconciliation. This ‘Peace Movement Family’ has also seen the development of the Shanti Sewa Ashram (SSA) and Youth Society for Peace (YSP).
Youth Society for Peace (YSP)
Youth Society for Peace (YSP) is an organisation founded by Nepalese youths. It works with young people to promote the importance of peace and social responsibility. Many of its members are former students of HVP. In collaboration with other organisations it organises activities such as discussion meetings, conferences and public programmes to promote peace. YSP believes that youth are the building blocks of tomorrow, and for it to be the peaceful and harmonious future that we believe is possible, young people must understand the importance of peace and service in their lives and practice it.
Shanti Sewa Ashram (SSA)
Shanti Sewa Ashram (SSA) - lit. ‘Selfless Service of Peace Ashram’ –provides a venue for large-scale meetings and programmes and a headquarters to allow the Peace Movement to initiate projects and bring people together for worthwhile spiritual and charitable causes. The Ashram provides a venue for training classes to aid people from underprivileged backgrounds. Future plans include providing a residence and nurturing community for the care and upbringing of children orphaned as a result of war.