Ahimsa - Who We Are

Spirit of Volunteering

At Ahimsa Trust we firmly believe that the perennial messages and practices of manifesting peace and love are even more relevant today than ever before. This is both in the inner and outer dimensions of our lives. 

Volunteering is part of our DNA. We feel privileged to be able to draw on the support of our trustees, advisors and volunteers from diverse fields such as education, social development, local habitat regeneration, creative arts, cultural heritage, law, tourism and contemplative practices.

Programs

Shanthum Seth

Shantum Seth is an ordained Dharmacharya (Dharma Teacher) in the
Buddhist Mindfulness lineage of the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. He is actively involved in educational, social and ecological programmes including work on cultivating mindfulness in society, with educators, the Central Reserve Police Force and the corporate sector amongst others.

For many years he has led pilgrimages for people from around the world to sites associated with the Buddha in India and in other countries.  

About Shanthum

Volunteer Facilitators & Friends

Anita Anand is a development and communications professional and artist. She started her Mindfulness practice after participating in a retreat with Thay in Delhi in 2008 and is involved in the activities of Ahimsa Trust and the NCR Sanghas. The practice has brought a sea change to her life. 

Raka Sinha Bal is founder of the Delhi based Angaja Foundation, which works in urban settlements on youth and women’s empowerment, health, environment, and education. After listening to Thay’s and Shantum’s teachings she started the practice several years ago, which has helped her to control her negative emotions and take suffering in her stride.

Ananya Goswami began her practice with Thay’s book ‘Living Buddha, Living Christ’ in 2007. Associated with Ahimsa Trust since 2014, her practice has been nurtured with the Sangha and is at the core of her life, as a quiet, unobtrusive guide that helps her manoeuvre the meandering ways of life.

Aarti Chandra is an AIMA certified trainer having conducted life skills workshops in schools and working as a freelance copy editor. Presently taking care of her aged parents. She has been practicing since 2012, is a member of the Noida sangha, and hopes to grow in her practice and as an individual.

Aarti Chandra is an AIMA certified trainer having conducted life skills workshops in schools and working as a freelance copy editor. Presently taking care of her aged parents. She has been practicing since 2012, is a member of the Noida sangha, and hopes to grow in her practice and as an individual.

Aarti Chandra is an AIMA certified trainer having conducted life skills workshops in schools and working as a freelance copy editor. Presently taking care of her aged parents. She has been practicing since 2012, is a member of the Noida sangha, and hopes to grow in her practice and as an individual.

Supporters and Collaborators

Ahimsa Trust is a lean operation. Its activities are carried out solely by volunteers. Ahimsa Trust has been supported by multi-lateral and bi-lateral development aid agencies, such as:

  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
  • Australian Aid,
  • Irish Aid
  • Various agencies of the Government of India and the Government of Delhi
  • Companies like Seth Consultants Pvt Ltd., Hero FinCorp and Max India.
  • Private foundations like Thapar Public Charitable Trust, Bani Jagtiani Trust and Spice Foundation.
  • Hundreds of volunteers, donors and patrons like Thich Nhat Hanh, Ashok and Suvarna Desai, Gitanjali and Shantum Seth, Anuradha and Tarun Bakshi, Suvritta Khatri and Prabhu Mahapatra, Annie and Paul Mahon, Gautam Thapar, Prem Nath Seth, Aman Nath, Krishno Dey, Malavika Rajkotia, Gary Hill, Michael Trim and Christopher Ohrstrom

Get Involved!

We would like to widen that circle of friends and supporters both within India and across the world.There are many ways you could be involved with the activities of Ahimsa Trust.

Human Resources: Depute/support human-power (even a few hours a week) to help:

  • Secretariat: Skills in administration, communication, accounting, social media, outreach-
  • Jamun Village: Skills in the areas of eco-building, organic farming, water and waste management or sustainable energy. We are seeking contractors, architects, landscape architects, electricians, plumbers, naturopath-doctors, gardeners, engineers etc.

Funds: for building our corpus or any of the activities.

Time: by being part of the volunteer team:

  • Support the Secretariat, the communications and outreach team, fundraising team or help organise mindfulness retreats and workshops
  • Help us by identifying ecologically sustainable ways of building and managing the land in areas such as, architecture, landscaping and building materials, water, energy and waste management. 
  • Research via the internet, books, experience of people in the field. Identification of and introduction to best practices in these area. Introduction to experts in any of the above areas