Namaste dearest C.M. Yogi,

what a joy to find a further mail of you ! I am glad to hear that you are well, although it is a difficult time. I've had a look at your site ( www.hvpuk.org.uk), all of you are doing a wonderful work together, only pure hearts can achieve so much I think. We can see it again and again, where there is pure love and a pure desire for God, for seeing all as ONE, for helping each other out of love and compassion and sharing everything, there people come together, hundreds and thousands and more and more. Only God can do such great things, the God in all of us.
I did enjoy very much having a good look at your site, especially the section "Why HVP Is Special".

From Italy to Nepal I send you all my love and blessings.
Waiting to read more from you.

Love
Berit

Taken from C.M. Yogi's site: www.hvpuk.org.uk

Nepal At A Glance

Population: Approximately 23 million people
Capital: Kathmandu - Area: 147,181 sq. km.
Currency: Nepalese Rupee
Language: Nepali is the national language. However Nepal has more than 61 ethnic groups and 70 different spoken languages.
Religion: Nepal is distinct in being the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. However many religions are practiced in Nepal and it is home to a unique, harmonious blending of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Some Facts About Nepal
Although Nepal occupies only 0.1% of the earth’s land area it is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. It is home to:

2% of all the flowering plants in the world.
8% of the world’s population of birds (More than 848 species)
4 % of mammals on earth
11% of the world’s 15 families of butterflies (More than 500 species)
600 indigenous plant families
319 species of exotic orchids

The elevation of the country ranges from 60m above Sea Level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848m, all within a distance of 150km resulting into climatic conditions from Sub-tropical to Arctic. Over 80% of the country is mountain.

Nepal has been described as a living museum. The Kathmandu Valley alone boasts seven of Nepal’s eight World Cultural Heritage Sites. Nepal is also home to the Natural World Heritage Sites of Everest National Park and Chitwan National Park.

HVP: A Vision For Change
Hindu Vidyapeeth’s (HVP) unique educational philosophy aims to offer a holistic education that combines the best aspects of the conventional, academic education while stressing knowledge and love of Nepal’s rich culture and traditional beliefs.

HVP places great emphasis on educating the whole child, developing individual potential and leadership qualities. Emphasis in their education, rare in Nepal, is on critical thinking, open-mindedness, familiarity with difference, tolerance, and on developing a sense of social engagement and responsibility. Children learn about their own culture and traditions, whilst respecting those of others, for behind all apparent differences lies a fundamental ‘oneness’ and interdependence. They grow up very much aware of their ecological responsibilities. Whether or not a child intends to continue academic study beyond school, HVP believe that an education is immensely important to the fully rounded development of a person, and vital to help them fulfil their potential in later life.

As western-modelled values and systems of development continue to seep ever further into Nepal’s society and the psyche of its people, a key aim of HVP is to safeguard Nepali cultural and spiritual values and create a strong sense of family and community. In such an environment HVP feels it is important that its students be open-minded and culturally aware. HVP works to inculcate the ideas of eastern philosophy and encourage a spiritual rather than religious education. Through instilling values of peace and the concept of interfaith understanding, HVP seeks to broaden children’s knowledge of the international community, eliminate prejudices and stimulate love of humanity in all its diversity.

Children at HVP follow the Nepali curriculum, most of it taught in English. Without English access to jobs and higher education is severely limited. Yet educational methods at the schools are shaped so that that an awareness of their Nepali culture and heritage is encouraged in almost everything they do. From a very early age the students practice yoga and meditation and learn the region’s ancient classical language of Sanskrit. Moral classes and debates also form part of the school routine. Arts such as Nepali classical music, traditional Nepali dancing, drama, poetry and literature are promoted. Reputed thinkers and many eminent personalities of Nepal are closely associated with the HVP movement. They often visit the schools to take classes or participate in events.

In essence, the schools aim to foster and inspire individuals with the desire, confidence and skills needed to contribute something back to Nepal. In doing so, such individuals can play an important role in sustaining Nepal’s rich and beautiful culture and with a “think globally; act locally” attitude help to promote the values of peace and international friendship throughout the world.

Connected Organizations

“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.

For more information on all of these activities visit the HVP Nepal website www.hvpnepal.org

Hope you enjoyed this.
Love
Berit