5) Description of initiative: With scientific, philosophical, theoretical and practical roots, Vishva Niketan Peace Abode spreads the concept of compassion, creates awareness of the spiritual environment, and promotes understanding of the relationships between physical and mental health in the individual, family and society; creates awareness of spiritual resources for giving meaning to life; and enhances unity, cooperation and cohesiveness in the community.

The underlying principle is that peace and development involve inextricable elements of the trinity of the individual, society and environment. There is no “I” without the “other” and therefore the “other” is as important as the “I.”

In more concrete terms, Vishva Niketan offered the following programs between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006: • Holistic Approach to Motherhood Programme: With mothers and fathers practicing loving kindness meditation and generating positive energies towards the fetus and committing to raise their children in peace: 3,763 parents in 13 programs. • Spiritual oriented healing program for teenage pregnant mothers who have become pregnant as a result of rape: 2 programs. 100 participants. • Spiritual based reformative approach for rehabilitation of convicted prisoners:2,650 participants in 11 programs • Spiritual resources for rehabilitation of prisoners for prison welfare officers: 2 programs. 46 prisoners. • Spiritual guidance and life skills for children: 722 participants in 6 programs • Spiritual resources for counseling children for teacher counselors: 2 programs. 56 participants. • Meth Sith Sebendiyo ( compassionate minds): A village based network of compassionate minds for promoting and preserving inner peace and outer peace: participants in 6 programs. • Co-implementer Psycho-spiritual healing program: Blending age-old Eastern healing techniques with Western therapeutic techniques (for survivors of trauma—civil war and tsunami): 10 programs. 210 participants. Peace dialogues:

6) Description of innovation: In a country where religious, economic and political pressures are exacerbated by ethnicity and retributive violence, traditional approaches to problem solving are often narrowly focused. To deal with the suffering that stems from inequitable distribution of resources, for example, interventions tend to address the economic sector only, or wait until conflict occurs then attempt to reduce it. Programs often deal with isolated symptoms rather than deep-seated causes of violence.

Instead, Vishva Niketan uses a five-stage, holistic approach based on mind-body centred personality development, development of life skills, education for life, sustainable social development and spiritual development. This strategy is congruent with the “inside out” and “bottom up” approach to development pioneered in five decades of nationwide work through the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement.

7) Delivery model: The physical location and design of Vishva Niketan offer a setting intended to provide an environment conducive to peace building, psycho-spiritual healing and compassionate action. It therefore serves as a welcoming place for groups of children and adults who need to escape from the cacophony of urban pressures or the longstanding tensions of village life, especially in times of civil war. Inter- religious, inter-ethnic, inter-cultural groups come to the center to experience awareness and communication across barriers that often seem insurmountable in their normal contexts.

Prisoner meditation sessions take place within the prison walls. Meditation and education for parents may take place at Vishva Niketan itself or in health care settings. In all cases, however, the goal is the same: open one’s heart and mind to the possibility, profundity and equanimity. Build an understanding of the roots of kindness and compassion, and thus, human rights.

8) Key operational partnerships: Independent Units of the Sarvodaya Movement: Sarvodaya Legal Services Movement Sarvodaya Social Empowerment Division Sarvodaya Suwa Setha Sewa Society Community Capacity Building Unit 5 Rs’ (Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Reconciliation and Reawakening) Sarvodaya Peace Secretariat

Other Partnerships

Department of Prisons Department of Education Sri Lanka Catholic, Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist groups Corporate Sector Heart Circle Sangha, USA

9) Financial model: Vishva Niketan was formed by the A T Ariyaratne Charitable Trust using funds from the Niwano Peace Award Dr Ariyaratne received in 1994 and the Gandhi Peace Award he received in 1997. It was his vision to convert the recognitions given to him into seeds for further cultivation of inner and outer peace through spiritual awakening.

The Financial Model comprised two components:

(a) Vishva Niketan’s recurrent costs, administrative expenses and overheads and unfounded programs are covered by the interest income generated from the “Trust Property.”

(b) Program costs are mainly covered from two sources; first, funds of partner organizations that collaborate with Vishva Niketan’s peace programmes; second, pregnant mothers and prospective fathers who participate in programs undertake to s

          • Costs as percentage of income: 10

          • Financing: The Financial Model comprised two components:

(a) Vishva Niketan’s recurrent costs, administrative expenses and overheads and unfounded programs are covered by the interest income generated from the “Trust Property.”

(b) Program costs are mainly covered from two sources; first, funds of partner organizations that collaborate with Vishva Niketan’s peace programmes; second, pregnant mothers and prospective fathers who participate in programs undertake to sponsor the holistic approach to motherhood programs;

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: Effectiveness of programs in the words of program participants themselves: In the words of a convicted prisoner “I committed murder. My mind was not at rest. Feelings of remorse and disgust filled my mind. I had no idea about any form of meditation. But within a very short period of three days of meditation at Vishva Niketan, I understood what life is. I shall practise meditation within the prison and when I am released I shall walk into the society with the determination to lead a righteous life.” In the words of a convicted prisoner “I was under enormous mental agony before I entered this place. I just can’t believe the way I can take charge of my mind now. For me to have this experience I’ve got to be truly so lucky.

          • Number of clients in past year: Thousands. (See earlier descriptions)

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Scaling Up stage.

          • Expansion plan:  To implement all the activities of Vishva Niketan islandwide under the banner of “Meth Sith Sambediyo” (compassionate minds)  To identify potential Meth Sith leaders at village level, in schools, prisons and other institutions  To obtain the services of Meth Sith leaders to identify potential resources for Vishva Niketan Peace Programs  To provide training to Meth Sith Leaders and resources persons and provide them with tools to implement programs in schools, prisons, institutions and at village level.  To create a network of Meth Sith Sambediyo leaders at village, district and national levels and facilitate synergy among them

12) Origin of the initiative: The Peace Centre is the vision of Dr. A.T.Ariyaratne, the founder and president of Sarvodaya Shramadana, a grass- roots humanitarian organization that has been active throughout Sri Lanka over 49 years. In 1969 Dr Ariyaratne made an announcement on the Mahatma Gandhi Birth Anniversary Celebrations that one day Sarvodaya would establish a Peace Centre for people to pursue inner peace and outer peace. It took almost 30 years to realize this aspiration owing to financial constraints.

Contact Information:
Richard  Brooks
Outreach Program Manager
UW-Madison
(Academic program)
520 Lowell Center
United States
Tel: 608-265-4077
Email: rbrooks@dcs.wisc.edu
Website: www.sarvodaya.org