Latest News and activities

Prem Rawat Addresses Peace Conference at European Union
[Mon, 19 Jul 2010]

Prem Rawat was invited by Gianni Pittella, First Vice President of the European Union, to share his vision of peace at a special event called “Words of Peace for Europe,” held at the EU Parliament House in Brussels on June 29, 2010.

Mr. Rawat’s remarks offered a clear and challenging perspective. “If we have the power to make such a mess out of this earth, then certainly we have enough power to bring peace to this earth, too,” he said. “The question remains whether or not it is something that we want to do, because peace begins with every one of you. It is individual human beings who need peace; it is individual human beings in whom the desire resides; and it is on the individual human being’s stage that peace needs to dance.”

Prem Rawat Receives Seal of Padua Province, Italy
[Thu, 15 Jul 2010]
On June 24, Prem Rawat was greeted by an enthusiastic audience in the Theatre Verdi of Padua's town hall. A city of over 200,000 people, Padua is located on the Bacchiglione River near Venice. Home of the renowned Universita' di Padova, where Galileo Galilei once lectured, it is one of the oldest cities in northern Italy. The event itself took place under the patronage of Padua Province, the Veneto Region, and the Ministry of Justice.

Anna Milvia Boselli, member of the Padua City Council, welcomed Prem Rawat on behalf of the city and later presented him with the seal of Padua. Province Alderman Leandro Comacchio conveyed greetings from Padua Province emphasizing that, after hearing about Prem Rawat for over 30 years from a friend of his, he was very happy to finally be able to hear him speak in person.

Town Officials Name Prem Rawat "Ambassador of Peace in the World"
[Mon, 12 Jul 2010]

In the peaceful village of Sondrio, Italy, in the foothills of the Alps, government officials and townspeople alike gathered to honor Prem Rawat's efforts to encourage world peace: a peace that begins with each individual.

On the invitation of the Sondrio Town Hall and under the patronage of the Province of Sondrio, the Lombardy Region, and the Ministry of Justice, Prem Rawat arrived in this northern city on June 22, 2010. In a private meeting of the Sondrio City Council, officials graciously awarded him the title "Ambassador of Peace in the World" and presented him with a symbolic gift from the nearby city of Tirano as well as a plaque from Lombardy adorned with the official symbol of the region, the Camuna Rose.

Prem Rawat has been an honored guest at three events in Europe in the last week
[Wed, 30 Jun 2010]

Sondrio, Italy

On June 22 in the Piazza Garibaldi, a peaceful village square lying in the heart of the city of Sondrio, Italy, in the foothills of the Alps, Prem Rawat was greeted by the town's mayor, Alcide Molteni, along with Marina Cotelli, Town Hall Alderman. One reporter quoted Prem Rawat as saying, "Peace is not impossible; it is very possible. From personal fulfillment to our collective compassion for humanity, we can make tremendous strides."

Padua, Italy

Two days later, he arrived in the city of Padua, one of the oldest and noblest cities in northern Italy, to speak at the impressive Teatro Verdi, which first became a cultural forum in 1751. Hosted by the Town Hall of Padua, Province of Padua, and the Region of Veneto, he was greeted by presenter Angelo Baiguera with a message of goodwill from Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic, expressing appreciation and best wishes. After Prem Rawat spoke, he was presented with the seal of the city of Padua, as well as a plaque commending the work of The Prem Rawat Foundation.
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Water for Life in Sudan
[Fri, 04 Jun 2010]

{jcomments off}{jcomments on}Water is essential to life. But for the people of Southern Sudan, one of the world's poorest regions, finding enough water for their daily needs has always been a struggle—so much so that that the quest for it shapes their way of life. Young girls and women walk as far as six miles each day to collect water for their families, a chore that often keeps the girls from attending school. Poor water quality fosters disease and malnutrition.

TPRF Grant Provides Food for Ugandan Orphans
[Tue, 18 May 2010]

In the wake of protracted fighting between rebels and government troops in the Rwenzori mountains, hundreds of displaced children still live on the streets of Kasese,

Mayor of Tainan Gives Prem Rawat Key to City
[Thu, 08 Apr 2010]

Prem Rawat in Tainan, Taiwan

With great respect for Prem Rawat’s contribution to encouraging peace in the world, the Mayor of Tainan, Tain-Tsair Hsu, awarded him the Golden Key to the city as well as an emblem of the Sword Lion, a symbol of the cultural capital of Taiwan. {jcomments on}
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Prem Rawat Awarded Honorary Citizenship in Two Sicilian Cities
[Thu, 08 Apr 2010]

There is a growing interest in Prem Rawat’s message of peace in Sicily. Early in 2009 Prem Rawat was invited to speak to the townspeople of two Sicilan cities,
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Baby Heng: Story of Hope
[Thu, 08 Apr 2010]

TPRF has given two grants to the Cambodia Children’s Fund (CCF), a foundation dedicated to providing nutrition and care for abandoned children in Phnom Penh.

Clean Water Comes to Moroccan Village
[Thu, 08 Apr 2010]

Imagine not having water readily available for drinking, washing, cleaning, and all the things we use it for every day. In many rural areas of Morocco,

Peace: Human Heritage
[Thu, 08 Apr 2010]

Prem Rawat gave the keynote speech at an event in Potenza, Italy, at the invitation of Emilio Colombo, former Prime Minister of Italy and former President of the European Union; and Basilicata President Vito de Filippo of Potenza,

Chilean Town Shows Courage Amidst Adversity
[Sat, 03 Apr 2010]
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Immediately after the devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, people and organizations from all over the world rallied to help. In time it became
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Free Eye Care Clinic in India Feb 2010
[Wed, 17 Feb 2010]
TPRF Grant of $25,000 Provides Eye Care for over 13,500 people in India

Seven Multi-Day Eye Clinics Receive High Praise from Participants

Los Angeles, February 3, 2010 — The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) gave US $25,000 to sponsor multi-day eye clinics in seven cities December 2009 through January 2010 that provided eye care free of charge to over 13,500 people in India.

Almost 10,000 people received prescription glasses, over 10,500 were given eye drops for infections, and more than 1,700 were diagnosed with cataracts and referred to hospitals for further treatment.

In 2007, the Health Ministry of India estimated that 1.1% of the population suffered from blindness, 80% of which was preventable. Yet millions are unable to receive the care that could preserve their eyesight.
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TPRF Helps Bring Clean Water to Haiti
[Tue, 16 Feb 2010]

{jcomments on}A grant of US$50,000 from The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) provided a two-week supply of bottled water for 42,000 people in Haiti; distributed purification

The Prem Rawat Foundation Funds Disaster-Relief Efforts in Indonesia
[Thu, 15 Nov 2007]
Los Angeles, November 15, 2007 — The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) has made a significant donation to the Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture (Yayasan IDEP) Foundation to assist more than 2,000 people displaced by the Sumatra earthquake in districts north of Bengkulu in West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Yayasan IDEP Executive Director Petra Schneider said the grant will help fund rescue efforts and relief through the distribution of fresh water and nutritious food, as well as the re-establishment of local water supplies.

The disastrous conditions were brought about when an earthquake measuring 8.4 on the Richter scale struck the island of Sumatra early in the morning on September 12. The earthquake's epicenter was just 100 kilometers off the coast, and more than 40 aftershocks measuring between 4.9 and 7.9 have been recorded since.

The tremors prompted several tsunami warnings, increasing panic in areas where people live in fear of a reoccurrence of the tsunami tragedy of December 2004. Schneider said many people are still afraid to return to their residences; many others simply have nowhere to take shelter because their houses were totally destroyed.

"People are continuing to flock to our camps," she said. "The needs of people have not come even close to being covered. Thanks so much. We really do need your help."

Yayasan IDEP and their partner organization, Yayasan BAHARI's Emergency Response Team, have been conducting search-and-rescue operations in damaged and destroyed buildings since the disaster struck, but some isolated areas have still not been reached.

Schneider said the TPRF funds are being used to cover the costs of giving as many victims as possible three solid meals a day and to supply special provisions for children, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly. In addition, trucks are delivering more than 4,000 liters of fresh water three times a day to remote areas while work continues to install pulleys and buckets to make about 300 wells in the area operational again.

"Through TPRF's support, Yayasan IDEP has been able to assist people in need when they need help the most," she said, "We cannot begin to express the depth of our gratitude for this excellent working partnership that to date has resulted in relief to thousands of Indonesians."

Yayasan IDEP is a nonprofit established in Bali in 1999 at the height of the country's economic crisis to respond to urgent needs for sustainable food production and resource management. In the Balinese language, "IDEP" refers to the human ability to plan and think critically.

The Prem Rawat Foundation advances the internationally acclaimed message of peace made available by Prem Rawat, known also as Maharaji. In addition, it helps provide the necessities of life for people most in need. The foundation often partners with other humanitarian organizations to bring food, water and disaster relief rapidly where it is most required. Of particular interest is helping people not served by initiatives that focus on larger populations.

The Prem Rawat Foundation Brings Disaster Relief to Indonesia
[Mon, 20 Aug 2007]

Los Angeles, August 20, 2007 — The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) has responded to recent multiple natural disasters on two Indonesian islands by making two critical donations to Yayasan IDEP, a local non-profit, non-governmental organization providing community-based crisis response.

One grant will assist the remote mountain village of Kinahrejo, on Java Island, where an earthquake caused massive flooding in 42 villages. More than 70 people died and 4,000 more were displaced and in need of emergency refuge, food and water. This community's health and hygiene are threatened due to the lack of proper water storage facilities and only having access to hard-to-reach or polluted water sources. The grant allows rescuers to truck in emergency drinking water for 80 families and milk for 125 children while a replacement water system is being built.

The other grant will help villagers in isolated parts of Sulawesi Island where unusually heavy seasonal downpours in the deforested areas have caused deadly landslides. Seventy people died, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and thousands of displaced people were crowded into makeshift refugee camps. The problem has spread into surrounding areas, affecting nearly 45,000 people and severely taxing rescue resources. TPRF's grant will help recover non-operable wells, provide emergency fresh water and nutritious food to disaster victims, and re-establish an ongoing local water supply. The grant has already enabled the delivery of emergency supplies of food and water and restored 200 local wells to operating condition.

Petra Schneider, Executive Director of IDEP, said, "We are so very, very grateful. When I notified the team on the ground about TPRF's decision, I could hear them cheering through the crackling phone line! I hope you know the massive impact that these grants will have on the people that are being helped. Thank you for your very quick turnaround on these grants. It means everything in an emergency situation."

On the website www.idepfoundation.org, Yayasan IDEP states that its own mission is "to work with a nationwide network of local partners to get people the assistance they need as quickly as possible." IDEP's aim is to 'help people help themselves' through community capacity building, demonstrations and practical hands-on education.

TPRF Grant Brings Relief to Flood Victims in Sumatra
[Wed, 09 May 2007]
Los Angeles, May 9, 2007 — About 2,400 Indonesian villagers, stranded by floods in the Aceh province of Sumatra, received emergency supplies for two weeks in January, thanks to a grant from The Prem Rawat Foundation. The grant was made to the Yayasan IDEP Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides disaster relief while working for environmentally-based improvements in Indonesian food production.

Last December, torrential rains in Aceh and North Sumatra triggered flash floods and landslides, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. Rivers of mud and debris poured over villages, destroying thousands of homes. Some villages were cut off from help when the floods washed out roads and bridges. Villages in remote jungle areas were hit hard by the floods, especially in the areas of Tamiyang and Besitang that have suffered serious deforestation.

Within days of the flooding, Yayasan IDEP turned to The Prem Rawat Foundation for assistance. TPRF responded quickly with a grant that helped bring emergency food and water to families who had not been reached by other relief efforts.

Volunteer teams from Yayasan Bahari, an Indonesian partner organization of IDEP, used boats, off-road vehicles, trucks, and motorbikes to rush relief to remote jungle areas. When the teams arrived, they found many villagers stranded on their rooftops. People had not eaten for days. The floods had destroyed all their food and crops.

In the village of Desa Kampung Lama, a mother named Ibu Ale cried as she accepted supplies for her family of five, including three small children. The family received fresh water, rice, noodles, high-protein biscuits, cooking oil, kerosene, and other vital supplies. The father, Pak Ali, a subsistence farmer, was so moved by the aid that he immediately joined a local relief team helping to restore fresh water and stop the spread of disease. Village wells had been clogged with mud, and volunteers worked around the clock to clean them. Teams pumped out as much mud as they could, then clambered down into the wells to haul out the rest in buckets. The TPRF grant helped bring clean water to about 5,000 people.

"We would like to acknowledge and express our sincere thanks to The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF), for the very timely support that has been provided for the victims of the flash floods and landslides in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces of Indonesia," said Petra Schneider, executive director of Yayasan IDEP.

The Prem Rawat Foundation Expands Aid Efforts in Indonesia
[Wed, 13 Sep 2006]
The Prem Rawat Foundation Expands Aid Efforts in Indonesia

Java, Indonesia, September 13, 2006 — The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) is expanding assistance to the victims of the earthquakes and tsunami on the island of Java. The Foundation is partnering with three reputable nonprofit organizations to bring aid to the victims in need, following a series of new earthquakes.

A grant was made by TPRF to Yayasan Dian Desa (YDD), a disaster-relief organization in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to rebuild damaged water wells and restore the supply of much-needed water to the people living in this area most affected by the earthquakes. Many water wells were blocked as debris from collapsed buildings obstructed the flow of water. YDD is undertaking the restoration and reconstruction of 100 wells with its team of volunteer engineers working hand-in-hand with earthquake survivors. This partnering approach enables the survivors to become part of restoring their quality of life and to gain a sense of ownership, pride, and responsibility for the work.

A grant had been given earlier to the Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture (IDEP) Foundation to feed 900 people for three weeks as they began to recover from the earthquakes and resulting tsunami. Dr. Michael Ricos, coordinator of IDEP's Disaster Management Department, reported: "An entire mountain village came out to see us, and people's faces soon lit up at the sight of the food aid we had brought. Several people were moved to tears by the fact that someone has remembered them, and my hands were firmly grasped by an elderly lady with tears in her eyes and a smile that said it all."

Immediately following the first earthquake on May 27, 2006, TPRF had made a generous contribution to the United Nations World Food Programme for food aid to tsunami victims. WFP was one of the first relief organizations on the ground bringing food aid to people in need. Read the press release.

The Prem Rawat Foundation Donates $25,000 for WFP's Earthquake Relief Operations in Indonesia
[Mon, 05 Jun 2006]

The Prem Rawat Foundation Donates $25,000 for WFP's Earthquake Relief Operations in Indonesia

Washington, DC, June 5, 2006 —The Prem Rawat Foundation donated $25,000 this week to support the World Food Program's earthquake relief operations in Indonesia. These funds will help the World Food Program (WFP) provide emergency food aid to earthquake survivors who lost their homes and livelihoods to the disaster.

"We are grateful to The Prem Rawat Foundation for this generous gift and their ongoing support," said Karen Sendelback, President and CEO of Friends of the World Food Program. "They have been such a wonderful partner in our work to get food to those in need."

The Prem Rawat Foundation has been a steady supporter of WFP's work over the years, providing generous support for WFP's tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia, its emergency operations in Niger and Guatemala, and its global school feeding programs, among other operations.

"We are pleased to play a part in helping get aid to those in need," said Linda Pascotto, President of The Prem Rawat Foundation. "Our message is a message of peace – and where there is hunger, there can be no peace."

Approximately 100,000 people are in need of food aid following the 6.3 earthquake that hit the Indonesian island of Java on May 27, 2006. Within 36 hours of the disaster, WFP was on the ground rushing emergency food and medicine to earthquake survivors. To respond quickly, WFP drew from nearby food stocks and aircraft serving areas hit by last year's tsnaumi. WFP is also leading the efforts to coordinate food distribution with its partners, including non-governmental organizations and local authorities.

Over the next six months, WFP will provide food for 100,000 people, 40,000 of them children. This life-saving food will be critical in the weeks and months ahead for people who have lost everything. Early estimates indicate that approximately $5 million will be required to meet these short-term food needs.

Friends of WFP is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the public commitment and political leadership necessary to alleviate world hunger. For more information, visit www.friendsofwfp.org.

The World Food Program (WFP) is the largest international food aid organization in the world and the United Nations' frontline agency in the fight against hunger. Every year, WFP feeds an average of 90 million people, two-thirds of them children, in over 80 countries. For more information, visit www.wfp.org.

Click here to read related press release.

The Prem Rawat Foundation Gives US$100,000 for Clean Water in Ghana
[Mon, 11 Jul 2005]

The Prem Rawat Foundation Gives US$100,000 for Clean Water in Ghana
Grant to Community Water and Ecological Sanitation Care is Third in Series, Bringing Clean Water to 23 Communities

Los Angeles, July 2008 — The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) has made a grant of US$100,000 to Community Water and Ecological Sanitation Care (CWESC) to provide 10 impoverished communities within Ghana's Wa West and Gemoa East districts with potable water and proper sanitation essential to eliminating debilitating diseases associated with contaminated water. The grant is the third in a series that will help a total of 23 communities and nearly 100,000 people in Ghana.

"Less than five percent of the residents living in these regions are currently able to obtain safe drinking water. Many are forced to salvage what they can from streams, ponds or makeshift wells—sources scientifically proven to be unsafe for human consumption," notes TPRF President Linda Pascotto. "On average, these sources lie nearly two kilometers (over a mile) away from residences, forcing women and children to haul water over exhausting distances in order to satisfy the needs of their communities." [See photos of current water sources.] Bacterial growth within this water leads to guinea worm infestation, a parasite that causes extremely painful and long-term debilitation. Such parasites and other dangers are easily avoided by the use of safe drinking water and simple changes in personal behavior.

TPRF's grant will fund construction of sustainable, demand-driven water systems, including rain harvesting, mechanized boreholes and hand-dug wells and dams, providing 20 liters of fresh water daily to each individual within the 10 villages. These safe water supplies will be within 500 meters (0.3 miles) of every household. In addition, ecological sanitation toilets will be installed in 10 households within three separate communities.

To make this project sustainable, CWESC will organize and train local residents to spearhead relief efforts, emphasizing the involvement of women previously burdened with the task of finding water. Once formed, these water and sanitation committees will help build, own and maintain the clean water systems, providing long-lasting benefits for their communities. Further education on sanitation will promote better living conditions, better health and increased productivity for all residents. It is also anticipated that children, especially the young girls, whose responsibility has been to carry water from its source back to the villages, will soon be able to attend school more regularly. Education for young women is key to the future economic well-being of families and communities in this area.

"We wish to express our profound gratitude to you for this opportunity," says Ralph Osei-Agyemang, project coordinator of CWESC.

TPRF's grant will fund the 12-month project, culminating in April 2009. George Ortsin, National Programme Coordinator of the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme-Ghana, who managed a previous grant of $100,000 from TPRF, will retain oversight of the project with CWESC.

Miami Dade College welcomes The Prem Rawat Foundation, which makes a contribution to the World Food Programme
[Thu, 16 Jun 2005]
Miami, June 16, 2005 — Responding to an invitation from Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President of Miami Dade College, Prem Rawat, known also as Maharaji, addressed a distinguished audience of faculty, guests, and students at the James L. Knight Center, Miami's largest auditorium. MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the US with 163,000 students from 170 countries. The event benefited the World Food Programme (WFP). The Foundation's contribution will provide food for 4,500 schoolchildren in Guatemala for a month. The sponsors for this event included Bell South, the Human Services Coalition, Mahoney Cohen, Grubb & Ellis, the City of Miami, the Four Seasons Hotel, and Miami resident artist Romero Britto. Prior to the June 16 event, Dr. Padrón awarded Prem Rawat a key to the City of Miami on behalf of Mayor Manny Diaz before a group of Miami government, civic, and business leaders.

Welcoming Prem Rawat, Dr. Padrón told the gathering on June 16: "His message is one of hope and peace, and he has inspired millions throughout the world. As an educator, the opportunity to learn has been central and the focus of my life. I have witnessed brilliant teachers and eager students turn classrooms into magical places. Prem Rawat reminds us that magic begins with people, and it's within each person. That the possibility of peace and the possibility of living a life to the fullest begins with recognizing the value of life itself. That is, in my opinion, the deepest learning and is certainly a curriculum for everyone."

In the world of higher education, few people command the universal respect that Dr. Padrón does. President Clinton, one of four US presidents to appoint him to national commissions, called him "one of America's great educators."

Karen Sendelback, President and CEO of Friends of WFP, said: "In February, a gift from The Prem Rawat Foundation provided critical food aid to 15,000 tsunami victims for the entire first month after the tragedy struck, literally saving these people's lives. How is hunger relief related to Prem Rawat's message of peace and dignity? In every way, for a hungry community is not at peace. Where hunger exists, there cannot be true peace. And that's what makes an evening such as tonight so important. Thank you to Prem Rawat and the Foundation for their generosity toward the World Food Programme."

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing food to 113 million people in 80 countries. It is the only UN agency which does not receive regular allocations from the UN.
Contributions come from governments, organizations, and individuals. It has the lowest overhead of UN agencies: 93 cents of every dollar spent goes to relief services. For $100, WFP feeds three children in school for an entire year.

The Prem Rawat Foundation makes a significant contribution to World Food Programme
[Mon, 07 Feb 2005]
The Prem Rawat Foundation makes a significant contribution to World Food Programme

Rome, Italy, February 7, 2005 — Today in the Italian Senate, President Emilio Colombo, former Prime Minister of Italy, former President of the European Parliament and a lifetime Senator, hosted a ceremony during which Prem Rawat, founder of The Prem Rawat Foundation, made a contribution to Francesco Strippoli, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, to help WFP in its effort to bring food aid to people in Indonesia. This contribution will provide food for 9,000 people for a month. For Mr. Strippoli: "This donation from The Prem Rawat Foundation helps fill a very real need. For the millions of people whose lives have been shattered by the tsunami, the crisis is far from over. This generous donation will help people rebuild their lives and give them hope for the future."

In addition to promoting the message of peace of Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji, the Foundation is already distributing food aid in Sri Lanka and regularly holds free medical clinics in India. For Linda Pascotto, President of the Foundation, who attended the ceremony: "We are pleased that Prem Rawat can present today, via his Foundation, this contribution which comes from him personally and from the generosity of people around the world with an appreciation for his message of peace and humanitarian efforts. We are honored to work with the World Food Programme and know that this donation will be judiciously utilized to bring food aid to people most in need in Indonesia."

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency, distributing food to an average of 90 million people in more than 80 countries each year, including 56 million hungry children. The WFP's Global School Feeding Campaign makes it possible for children in poor countries to have a healthy meal at school for 19 cents a day—a gift of hope for a brighter future.

The event was also attended by Ambassador Romualdo Bettini, Permanent Representative of Italy at the WFP; Djhar Husein, Deputy Permanent Representative of Indonesia at the WFP; and Senator Donato Scutari.

Speaking at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Prem Rawat recently said: "Peace needs to be in everyone's life. The peace we are looking for is within. It is in the heart, waiting to be felt. It is not the world that needs peace; it is people. When people in the world are at peace within, the world will be at peace."

Millions of people on all continents have approached Prem Rawat for inspiration and guidance. Last year alone, more than 1.4 million people attended his addresses.

(Last check for latest updates: 21 hr 20 min ago)courtesy: TPRF