Satsang Seva Journal

The Karunaradham Old Age Home in Medipally, Hyderabad is a safe haven where senior citizens have found much-needed succor and shelter. The Satsang Seva Mission volunteers have been associated with this home for over two years, offering warm blankets, dry rations, and festive meals.  9 November 2024 marked a special day for the volunteers as they offered dry rations to support the nutritional needs of the residents in commemoration of Founder's Day. Comfortable clothing for the women residents was also offered as requested by the caretakers at the home. The volunteers spent time speaking with the elders, listening to their experience of living at the care home that was helping them overcome their challenges, nurturing a rare camaraderie, filled with joy and tender moments. To support the nurture and well-being of our elders at care centres, please write to connect@satsang-foundation.org .

As the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers arrived at the Mathru Abhaya Foundation, Hyderabad on Sunday, 27 October 2024, the children milled around them in joy, awaiting yet another session of engaging conversations even as they expressed their gratitude for the monthly supplies of staples and essential items. Peals of laughter and animated conversations filled the home with cheer as the volunteers facilitated fun games for the younger children and dumb charades for the older ones. To join our volunteers and experience the sheer joy of giving and sharing, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Continuing to support the young children at the Surepally Access Foundation for Education and Environment (SAFEE) Foundation, the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers provided notebooks to all the 290 children receiving academic support classes across 6 learning clusters at Singareni Colony, Hyderabad on 23 August 2024. The children gather every evening and follow-up on their school work under the able guidance of a tutor in a safe and secure learning environment. Creative activities often supplement these sessions, empowering the children to blossom despite their challenging circumstances. The excitement of the young children at the main learning centre was palpable as they received their crisp, new notebooks with joy and gratitude. Join us in our mission to empower our young children from marginalized communities. For volunteering opportunities with the Satsang Seva Mission, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers set off to offer monthly staples and essential items to help support the nutritional and personal hygiene needs of the 75 young girls and boys sheltered at Mathru Abhaya Foundation, Hyderabad. Light-hearted banter and camaraderie marked this monthly visit as the children trooped in from school to rally around their SSM friends, filling them in on their daily schedule and plans for the new scholastic year. To sustain the basic requirements of our less privileged youngsters, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Collaborating with the Surepally Access Foundation for Education and Environment (SAFEE) Foundation, the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers helped equip six learning centres for 150 children living in a less-privileged neighborhood in Saidabad, Hyderabad.  SAFEE Foundation provides safe spaces free of violence, crime, and discrimination for these vulnerable young children, empowering them with after-school support classes and creative activities in small clusters located in the dusty, narrow bylanes of their colony. Shiny new white boards with stands, stationery, and mats were offered, much to the delight of the bright youngsters. Sweet surprises are always welcome! So it was when they received a delicious treat of kheer and a savory channa snack. The centre was soon abuzz with the children's animated chatter as they eagerly looked forward to yet another evening of fun activities and learning in a secure and nurturing environment. Join our mission to empower our future generat...

The Mathru Foundation in Safilguda, Hyderabad, provides a sanctuary for 25 visually challenged youngsters, supporting them with food, shelter, medical care, and financial assistance for their education. Gregarious and interesting interactions amongst the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers and these youngsters sheltered here marked a special annadaanam seva on 9 June 2024. Cheerful introductions and curious chatter preceded heart-warming prayers of gratitude as the youngsters partook of a steaming hot, nutritious dinner with their caretakers and the staff, relishing the vegetarian fare and dessert that warmed hearts and stomachs. For the youngest volunteers, this simple meal that they served with love and gratitude was the perfect opportunity to embark on the path of selfless service and experience the joy of giving and sharing. Join us in our mission to serve our less privileged communities. Experience the sheer joy of supporting them with gratitude and reverence. Please write to u...

Volunteers of the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) reached out to about 200 children, aged between 4 and 12 years, attending a summer camp organized by the Surepally Access Foundation for Education and Environment (SAFEE) at its learning centre in Saidabad, Hyderabad on 10 May 2024. SAFEE provides safe spaces free of violence, crime, and discrimination for vulnerable young children hailing from impoverished families and empowers them through reading skills, academic support sessions, computer classes, and summer classes on self-defence, music, dance, and effective communication. Two weeks of dry rations were offered towards the preparation of nutritious snacks for the young participants in the on-going summer camp. Cupfuls of home-made, refreshing buttermilk brought much relief to the first batch of 40 children soon after their energetic karate session. A treat of chocolate ice-cream bars simply delighted the bright youngsters, beleaguered by cramped domestic spaces and the scorching heat. J...

Children and youngsters at the Mathru Abhaya Foundation shelter home in Hyderabad were in for a pleasant surprise when Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) volunteers offered them a carton filled with books to add to their library on Wednesday, 8 May 2024. While monthly dry rations, festive meals, warm clothing, and stationery has been shared with the youngsters over the past three years, this time SSM volunteers spent tranquil moments with the children and youngsters in an engrossing book reading session. The session presented a perfect opportunity to instill regular, reading habits with a range of books suited for different ages and sensibilities: fables, short stories, informative texts, and textbooks for academic support.   Even as the volunteers handed over the monthly dry rations to the founder, the children gathered together for a group picture with their SSM friends with joyous cries of 'cheese'. To bring joy, fulfillment, nourishment for the body and mind for the bright youngste...

With an intense heat wave beating down on the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, volunteers of the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) reached out to the common folk selling their wares, working in construction sites, driving autos, taking the bus or metro, or just walking to their destinations with refreshing buttermilk on 4 May 2024. The minty, summer drink was lovingly prepared in the homes of the volunteers and offered at four different locations: Gudimalkapur and Sriram Nagar in Hyderabad; West Marredpally and Jubilee Bus Station Metro entrance in Secunderabad. Huge sighs of relief and smiles of gratitude greeted the volunteers as the cool buttermilk soothed the parched wayfarers. To volunteer for such seasonal sevas and experience the joy of giving and sharing, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Volunteers of the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) at Hyderabad ushered in Ugadi ,  the Telugu New Year, with a festive meal for 75 young residents of Aashray Balatejassu Rainbow Home in Regimental Bazaar, Secunderabad. Festive cheer and colourful clothes marked this festival as the children and young girls partook of the traditional Ugadi pachadi - a tangy, bitter-sweet concoction made of raw mango, neem flowers and leaves, tamarind syrup, and jaggery, symbolising the varied flavours of life.  The SSM volunteers ensured that a freshly-prepared meal comprising vegetable pulao, raita, kofta curry, and sweet laddus was packed in containers and placed in their vans as the youngsters waved cheerfully and set off for a picnic that had already been planned for them.  Wishes for a prosperous and happy New Year greeted both the youngsters and the volunteers alike.  To participate in such festive sevas of the Satsang Seva Mission and experience the joy of giving and sharing, ple...

Volunteers of the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) Hyderabad spent a serene  afternoon with the elders sheltered at Karunaradham Charitable Trust at Chengicherla, Hyderabad on 31st March 2024. This shelter provides food, clothing, medical care, and a safe and caring home for elders who have faced severe hardships and abandonment. A few residents spoke with the volunteers, recounting their challenges until they found refuge at Karunaradham.  The SSM volunteers provided a month's supply of dry rations comprising rice, wheat flour, lentils, semolina, and cooking oil to ensure the daily nutritional needs of the residents.  The residents then partook of a festive, hearty meal: flavourful vegetable pulao with capsicum gravy; white rice teamed with spinach and mango dal , papad , and raita ;  and syrupy gulab jamuns .  Assuring the founder of their continued support to his mission, the volunteers bid a fond farewell to the elders. To participate in the Satsang Seva Mission ...

Satsang Seva Mission volunteers facilitated the donation of a vending machine stocked with 320 complementary and biodegradable sanitary napkins to the girl students of Velimela Model School in Tellapur District, Hyderabad on 19 March 2024. This generous donation was made possible by the employees of Payswiff (Cholamandalam Finance Group) and also included 350 sanitizer bottles and a supply of chocolates for the students. Moving forward, the volunteers have committed to donating 500 biodegradable sanitary napkins every month to these girl students on behalf of The Satsang Foundation. This initiative aims to support girls' health and hygiene needs, ensuring they have access to essential products for their well-being. To support our health initiatives, please write to connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Team Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) Hyderabad has been associated with Mathru Abhaya Foundation, an orphanage that houses about 55 children in Medipally, Hyderabad since the COVID-19 epidemic in 2021, providing monthly dry rations, annadaanam seva , and essential supplies. The SSM volunteers welcomed the Year 2024 by offering monthly dry rations, toiletries, and stationery at the girls' home on 25th January. The children who had just returned from school were happy to meet the volunteers and chat with them before they bustled about with their evening routine. "A day well-spent," concurred the volunteers as they bid a fond goodbye to their young friends! To participate in the Satsang Seva Mission and experience the joy of giving and sharing, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

With a bitter cold wave spreading across Telangana State, Team SSM Hyderabad joined hands with the founder of Manoj Tuition Centre for less privileged children to offer 50 blankets to people from less privileged families and daily wagers at Narapally Village in Medchal District, Telangana.  Gentle smiles of gratitude greeted the SSM volunteers as  the gifts of warmth reached the recipients on 8th January 2024. To participate in the Satsang Seva Mission and support the well-being of the less privileged, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

Members of Team SSM Hyderabad offered the monthly dry rations at the Mathru Abhaya Foundation on 25th June 2023. Cooking essentials such as oil, groundnuts, condiments, and toiletries were given to the founder at the girls' home.  A few volunteers offered fruits to the children and youngsters who had gathered together for their Sunday meal. Light-hearted banter and interesting exchanges about academic achievements and hobbies concluded the visit on a cheerful note. To participate in the Satsang Seva Mission, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, 21st June 2023, Team SSM Hyderabad connected with 60 enthusiastic students of Grade 8 at the GBH School in Balamrai, Secunderabad under the aegis of the Bharat Yoga Vidya Kendra (BYVK) and The Satsang Foundation (TSF). The session began with an introduction to the benefits of yoga , followed by a demonstration of simple asanas by a trained volunteer. The students learned how to perform warming-up asanas to loosen the joints; tadasana ; padahastasana ; and ardha chakrasana . The teachers too joined their wards, seeking relief from stiff joints. Finally, the session culminated with a simple breathing technique. The students sincerely promised to practise yoga regularly even as the team members reassured them of a follow-up session. The celebration ended with an annadaanam seva for 220 students of Grades 6 to 10.  A filling lunch of bagara rice, bagara baingan, potato curry, rumali rotis, white rice, vegetable sambar, an d strawberry ic...

A member of Team SSM Hyderabad set off on 12th June 2023, a scorching day, to offer 150 tetra packs of buttermilk to a melange of recipients in the busy lanes of Bharat Nagar. Construction workers, autorickshaw drivers, fruit and vegetable vendors,  pedestrians, and two-wheeler riders smiled with relief as they partook of cooled buttermilk.  The team member was deeply touched when a fruit vendor graciously offered fruits in return. To be part of such seasonal sevas of the Satsang Seva Mission, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

On 28th March 2023, members of Team SSM Hyderabad set off to meet the children sheltered at the Mathru Abhaya Foundation for a special painting workshop during the distribution of the monthly kit of dry rations. The team members first offered dry rations such as cooking oil, sugar, spices, groundnuts, and toiletries. After the children had taken their lunch, about 25 children from ages 4 to 14 participated in a spontaneous painting workshop facilitated by a team member. The children were simply delighted to use their brilliant watercolors and splashed them onto paper to create beautiful landscapes amidst excited chatter and joyous laughter. To support these bright youngsters and participate in the activities of Team SSM Hyderabad, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org .

The New Year was ushered in with great happiness and cheer for both the children of Mathru Abhaya Foundation and the members of Team SSM Hyderabad. The dawn of the New Year, 1st January 2023, was celebrated with a special annadaanam seva offered to the 75 children and staff of this orphanage with which the team members have been associated for the past one year. The children were seated in small groups on large mats in an open ground in the vicinity of the home for boys as a sumptuous lunch of puris, chole, vegetable pulao, vegetable manchurian, raita, and gulab jamuns was served lovingly to the children by the team members.   With great discipline, they waited patiently for their caregiver to arrive and then began the meal with the chanting of the Shanti Mantra ' Om Sahana Vavatu…' invoking peace on all and blessing their anna daata . Watch the video here. The excited and overjoyed children expressed their appreciation of the dishes that they liked the most and completely r...