United States of America & Canada -

The old students form an integral part of the Sai Center while participating in the Center
activities by providing leadership and support. The Sai Centers in the USA and Canada  have
undertaken a number of projects that involve community service. The young adults and old
students handle some of these projects. These projects are the following –

Computer Literacy Project: This unique project involves imparting literacy about computers for people belonging to all walks of life in order to bridge the digital divide. Students from different age groups benefit from these classes. The course material not only teaches basic computer skills but also imparts a foundation in EHV. This program, with Swami’s grace, is being conducted on a weekly basis on Saturdays at the Salvation Army’s HOPE Center. Students undergo a four-week course program in Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet/Email, resume making and interview skills. After completion of the course, they are awarded certificates. More than hundred students have benefited from this program. Though we are a small group of a handful volunteers, there hasn’t been a day when we felt lack in resources of any kind. Students who have previously graduated are currently volunteering their time to teach other fellow students.

Monthly Soup Kitchen: Regular monthly soup kitchen service that the Center undertakes for
homeless people, where they are served with freshly cooked meals.

Bhajans: Bhajans form an integral part of the Sai Centers Old Students have
been providing leadership by either teaching new bhajans or taking a lead role during bhajan
sessions.

YA Workshop: Many of our students have taken a lead initiative in the young adult activities
that include regular study circles, workshops and seva activities.

Community Service: Several projects keep coming up from time to time in the Sai Center.
Various important festivals/events like Bhagawan’s Birthday celebrations and Christmas include
activities focused on community needs. The old students have taken lead roles in such events.
Other events where students have participated include Christmas in April, Habitat for
Humanity where houses are built for underprivileged people in society.

Bagel Project: Bagels are collected from several bagel shops like Einstein Bagels at the end of
the previous day. Normally Bagel shops don’t store unused bagels and typically throw them
away in the garbage. On an average the number of bagels thrown away is in the range of about
100 to 150 bagels. The bagels thus collected are cut the next morning. Cream cheese is
applied to each bagel and these are packed in big bags. These bags are taken to downtown
and distributed to the homeless people along with orange juice. On some days, the
bagels are substituted with homemade bean soup and hot chocolate. Sai students are actively
involved and participate on a regular basis.

Nursing Home: The nursing home provides a special caring place for the elderly who have to
be under medical care all the time. The transformation of this place of medical care to a warm
home is one of the purposes of this wonderful seva. A visit to the nursing home involves
interacting with these elderly people, playing bingo with them and providing warmth, love and
support in the few hours of the visit.

Sai Retreats: Most students in the area attended & organized several retreats around the nation.

Bhajans: Bhajans form an integral part of the Sai Centers. Old Students have been
providing leadership by either teaching new bhajans or teaching people to play instruments.

Special Projects: Students helped out in designing (web part) of various websites.