VT Seva Atlanta Youth attended the Peach State Tour at Norcross Paul Duke Highschool. Representatives from GT, UGA, GA State, and Augusta University attended the event. These 4 colleges shared valuble information to 100+ people. They gave the students insight of the courses, admissions processes, and average costs of each college. Parents also attended the meeting, receiving information on how to handle the financial side of college for their children. The college courses were also shown to help students decide where they would want to go for their future careers. This tour was an excellent opportunity for the highschoolers in the VT Seva Atlanta team to plan for their future, and for the parents to help guide them.

Club Initiation South Forsyth Highschool is our 7th VT Seva youth Club in Atlanta. It is established on August 28, 2023. Please read the message below from our youth club President Nikhila, very inspirational Hello everyone, my name is Nikhila Mannepalli, and I am the President of South Forsyth High School VT Seva Club! Our now VT Seva members including myself have been separately trying to start this VT Seva club since January of this year, long before any of us knew there were others trying to start the club. It was a difficult process at that time, as no teacher was willing to sponsor the club, we hardly had any members, and the process was very scattered and unorganized. Throughout those experiences, each one of us learned a lot individually about communication, teamwork, and taking initiative, and got together to form a new, bigger SFHS VT Seva group at the beginning of August. Soon enough, with proper communication, productive meetings, discussions, and good organization, we were able to successfully find a sponsor, submit an application, and get the club approved today! What was taking us months of time as we attempted to start the club separately took mere weeks when we all came together to be a team.

We had a very collaborative meeting for Alpharetta High School’s VT Seva Club on August 18th, 2023. The participants learned all about the leaders and what the club does, like cleaning up parks, writing thank you cards, visiting old age homes and more. The members also learned about our programs like the presidential award and summer programs. The highlight of the meeting was getting to collaborate with the members on what future events we should plan. This was very important to the leaders as we want to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for the members, while getting to explore for more ideas for activities in the future. It was a very successful meeting.

South Forsyth Highschool is our 7th VT Seva youth Club in Atlanta. It is established on August 28, 2023. Please read the message below from our youth club President Nikhila, very inspirational Hello everyone, my name is Nikhila Mannepalli, and I am the President of South Forsyth High School VT Seva Club! Our now VT Seva members including myself have been separately trying to start this VT Seva club since January of this year, long before any of us knew there were others trying to start the club. It was a difficult process at that time, as no teacher was willing to sponsor the club, we hardly had any members, and the process was very scattered and unorganized. Throughout those experiences, each one of us learned a lot individually about communication, teamwork, and taking initiative, and got together to form a new, bigger SFHS VT Seva group at the beginning of August. Soon enough, with proper communication, productive meetings, discussions, and good organization, we were able to successfully find a sponsor, submit an application, and get the club approved today! What was taking us months of time as we attempted to start the club separately took mere weeks when we all came together to be a team.

VT Seva Innovation Academy Youth Club is established on Aug 23rd, 2023. It’s a historic day as Chandrayan 3 landed on South Pole of the moon today and our VT Seva youths have also made history by establishing a youth club in the private Highschool. This is our 6th VT Seva youth club in Atlanta. It wasn’t easy for our youths to establish a club in a private Highschool but their persistence, never giving up attitude, and strong desire to serve others did soft landing cheering all Atlanta youths!

We had a very collaborative meeting for Alpharetta High School’s VT Seva Club on August 18th, 2023. The participants learned all about the leaders and what the club does, like cleaning up parks, writing thank you cards, visiting old age homes and more. The members also learned about our programs like the presidential award and summer programs. The highlight of the meeting was getting to collaborate with the members on what future events we should plan. This was very important to the leaders as we want to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for the members, while getting to explore for more ideas for activities in the future. It was a very successful meeting.

After gathering to make pins to sell at the independence day event, members of VT Seva gathered at a stall and put out a word for both VT Seva and raising funds for disabled education in India. Before setting up the booth, members participated in the flag march. Members held up the flag to show their pride in India and its independence. After the flag march, members set up the booth and offered face painting, the flag badges, and tulsi plants. This also advertised for our Subha event coming up in October. In total 50 youths and adults participated in this event. They split into groups. 3 groups walked around the event center to advertise Vt Seva and make sales. While the 3 groups were doing this, 2 groups were at the booth. One group made sales and another handled face painting and henna. By advertising VT Seva also gained new members as well as making sales. During the event, youths came up with new ways to do advertising, and innovative strategies. These strategies worked and raised more funds.

In commemoration of Bharat’s 77th Independence Day, VT SEVA Atlanta youth participated in a badge-making event. All of the students collaborated on creating 3 different Indian flag-themed badges. Although each flag took a lot of teamwork to create, all the students felt it was worth it in the end! The students expressed how this was a creative way to honor Bharath. Over 100 different flags were created in such a short amount of time! The team received much applause from those who purchased the badges during the Independence Day parade on August 15th, 2023.

VT Seva Innovation Academy Youth Club is established on Aug 23rd, 2023. It’s a historic day as Chandrayan 3 landed on South Pole of the moon today and our VT Seva youths have also made history by establishing a youth club in the private Highschool. This is our 6th VT Seva youth club in Atlanta. It wasn’t easy for our youths to establish a club in a private Highschool but their persistence, never giving up attitude, and strong desire to serve others did soft landing cheering all Atlanta youths!

VT Seva Atlanta participated in Dental Workshop on Aug 1st, 2023. It’s a fantastic workshop in which 40 Atlanta youths learned from Dr. Praveen Gudipati and his team of hygienists, and dental assistants provided an overview of the dental care process, patient diagnosis & treatment, HIPPA rules, and career opportunities in the dentistry field. Doctor and his team were highly impressed with the inquisitiveness of our youths and gave us the opportunity to collaborate and provide shadowing/internship opportunities to our youths in the future. Overall, it’s a great hands-on learning experience for the Atlanta VT Seva team. We’ll arrange more such hands-on experiences for our youths in the future!

VT SEVA CEO, His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji visited Atlanta on July 19th and 20th 2023. It’s an auspicious occasion for all the VT Seva and Jet Atlanta members to welcome the Humanitarian Leader, Vedic Scholar, Spiritual Mentor, and Padma Bhushan Awardee. His benign presence filled the environment with sunshine, it’s a true blessings for all. As He step down from His van, devotees ran towards Him to have Darshan of their beloved Acharya and bow down in His Holy feet. All the Atlanta volunteers welcomed Him with flowers and soon He visited VT Seva Booth in which He enquired about the tri-color ‘Equality Soap’ made by our youths and VT Seva calendar. He took one soap and a calendar and was very pleased to see both the things made by VT Seva youth and asked us to share this calendar with other VT Seva locations.

Atlanta VT team embodies action-oriented approach with service mindset and humble attitude to inspire and empower our youths to be the servant leaders of tomorrow through our Subha Annual event! The word 'Subha' represents the first ray of light in the horizon, the light that slowly transforms even the darkest of nights into a bright, beautiful sunrise. It symbolizes hope, light, and happiness even in the most obscure and difficult times. The SUBHA annual event is going to be on October 7th, 2023, in which Atlanta youths are planning to present a cultural program comprising of melodious songs, magnificent dances, and meaningful messages. Our goal for this year is to raise funds for the education of 175 visually challenged/blind kids of Nethra Vidhyalaya, India. Lets join hands and support the cause! VT SEVA CEO, His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji visited Atlanta on July 19th and 20th 2023. It’s an auspicious occasion for all the VT Seva and Jet Atlanta members to welcome the Humanitarian Leader, Vedic Scholar, Spiritual Mentor, and Padma Bhushan Awardee. His benign presence filled the environment with sunshine, it’s a true blessings for all. As He step down from His van, devotees ran towards Him to have Darshan of their beloved Acharya and bow down in His Holy feet. All the Atlanta volunteers welcomed Him with flowers and soon He visited VT Seva Booth in which He enquired about the tri-color ‘Equality Soap’ made by our youths and VT Seva calendar. He took one soap and a calendar and was very pleased to see both the things made by VT Seva youth and asked us to share this calendar with other VT Seva locations.

Atlanta youths had a Father’s Day activity & CEO Prep activity on June 17, 2023. Youths made surprise gifts for their fathers - cards and special artwork to show their love and affection for their dad. Children also created Father’s Day art work in their Art class of the summer camp. In addition, they also brainstormed youth presentation options for the CEO visit in Atlanta. They are working hard in putting together VT exhibits & skit presentation for the Big Day in July - July 19th.

More than 50+ youths participated in Books For Africa Drive today. We donated more than 1200 books for African children. It’s a kid-to-kid project - Atlanta Kids helping African kids in spreading literacy in Africa 🌍. Mehar lead this Books for Africa drive. This is our Round 2 of Books For Africa in this year. In April, we donated 1500 books for the same. They also need school supplies like crayons, pencils, erasers, notebooks, etc. and we'll do our School Supply Drive in Nov, it will be a Thanks Giving gift from Atlanta VT youths to African youths!

The world we live in is nothing short of a miracle. It is home to unparalleled beauty and wonders so marvelous they seem almost preposterous, for no man-made artifact can rival the bewitching allure of even the simplest forests. Each design, from the delicate etchings of leaves to the concentric circles of tree trunks to the twinkling glow of a rainbow, is remarkable, a paragon of beauty. In the words of Helen Keller: “To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.” This quote poetically encapsulates the ethereal charm of nature, incomparable to any manufactured luxuries. However, these places of beauty are quickly being disrupted, destroyed, and desecrated into a wasteland of modern industrialism. With no end to such devastation in sight, it is our responsibility to take matters in our hands and do something for our Mother Earth. Keeping this mantra in mind, VT SEVA adopted Old Atlanta Rd. and held their first trash pick-up on the auspicious day of Ram Navami. With around 30 VT SEVA volunteers working hand in hand to pick up any waste left behind, it was truly a heartwarming sight to see! This event was held on July 8th 2023 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and it commenced with a few inspirational words from our local city council member Dilip Tunki.