Seva Foundation

The Seva Foundation is a non-profit foundation, founded in December, 1978, whose goal is to build partnerships to respond to "locally defined problems with culturally sustainable solutions throughout the world." In Sanskrit "seva" means "selfless service".

Missions

Seva has various missions to respond to these 'local problems', from sight saving and restoring projects in Nepal, India, Tibet, Cambodia and Tanzania, to community self-development projects in Chiapas and Guatemala, to diabetes prevention programs and grants for indigenous peoples of North America. Seva is associated with the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, India since the time Larry Brilliant lived in India.

Origin

Baba Ram Dass, a founding board member, spiritual teacher and advisor, and champion of Seva, was honored in the DVD "Fierce Grace" in which Ram Dass talks about the founding of Seva by Larry Brilliant and Girija Brilliant, a devoted group of doctors, social workers, activists, and at least one clown. Larry and Girija discuss the spiritual motivations for their efforts, and Wavy Gravy explains how he was motivated to join their efforts when he learned that millions of blind people could see again immediately for a cost of about five dollars per eye. The cost of cataract surgeries has gone up in the past twenty-five years, but Seva's work has expanded to meet this need.

Fundraising

"Ram Dass: Fierce Grace", the PBS documentary about one man's journey from the 1960's counterculture to the present, [ [http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/ramdass/film.html "Ram Dass: Fierce Grace" description on pbs.org] ] and other merchandise are sold by Seva to raise money for their programs. Many entertainers have performed benefit concerts. Among the most well-known of these Wavy Gravy as well as the American rock band The Grateful Dead, and their spinoff groups. Wavy Gravy has been on the Board of Directors of Seva since its founding and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead serves on Seva's advisory board. Seva also has an alternative giving program, called "Gifts of Service". [ [http://www.seva.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GOS_landingpage Gifts of Service on seva.org] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.seva.org The Seva Foundation website]