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VTS Charlotte is organizing a Table Tennis tournament, on Dec 16, 2023, from 09:30 AM in Elon Recreation Center. Proceeds from this tournament will go to schools in India for visually challenged children. VT Seva supports Schools for the Blind in India such as Nethra Vidyalaya. These schools provide higher education to visually challenged students and enable them to be independent and compete with other students. Please read the guidelines attached here:

VT Seva Founder & CEO Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji’s trip to the United States this past summer was no ordinary one – He traveled to 23 cities in less than 2 months and spoke to audiences across the United States. Swami Ji visited the length and breadth of the USA from July 2 – August 14, 2023! Equality, tolerance, service, and navigating challenges. These are amongst the world topics addressed by Swamiji. Interactive sessions with Swami Ji and youth were the highlight of every event. We start in Boston on July 8, 2023 - with an interactive session with the youth entitled, “ Ask Us Anything . ” Addressing an audience of 200 people, Sri Swamiji delivered a beautiful message on how equality in diversity is possible, very much like the parts of the body works in harmony to allow us to function wholly. Swamiji answered many questions asked by youth on varied topics from the Bhagavad Gita to practical life advice. Swamiji encouraged all to take the initiative in serving the community. On July 14, 2023 , the Embrace Equality event in Detroit was conducted by Jeeyar Educational Trust and VT Seva. There was an interactive youth session "Find your answers" with over 700 attendees. Swamiji spoke about the importance of an inclusive and harmonious society with moral values and encouraged all participants to follow the path of righteousness, equality, and selfless service. Youth members of the community came forward to ask questions which Swamiji answered in great detail. The event was attended by Senator Jim Runestad Representing Michigan's 23rd Senate District and Community Leaders from over 30 organizations. On July 17, 2023, VT Seva and JET Cary conducted a youth interactive session during their annual event Sadaya. With 750 people in attendance, the audience was inspired to service for the greater good. Distinguished community leaders and nonprofit organization team members graced the occasion. Mark Stohlman, Past Mayor, and Steve Rao, Council Member, Town of Morrisville, NC attended the event. Members of the Apex Police Department, FS Series Coordinator, Meals on Wheels Durham, Diaper Bank of NC, and Durham Rescue Mission were also in attendance. On July 19, 2023, Atlanta conducted their program with an audience of 600 attendees. With great excitement, they welcomed VT Seva founder and Humanitarian Leader and Padma Bhushan Awardee Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji. The youth designed several booths and presented their annual service projects and innovative creations. Five VT Seva High School youth clubs displayed their year-round club activities. Swamiji delivered a discourse entitled “ Path of Compassion: Exploring Spirituality & Social Service ” which was very enlightening and inspiring. On July 23, 2023, the VT Seva Bay Area Chapter conducted a Discourse on Techniques for Stress Management with 800 people in attendance. Dignitaries at the event were Head supervisors from Second Harvest Silicon Valley, Valley Water District, and FCSN . On July 29, 2023, Seattle conducted “ Ask Me Anything - Youth Edition ”. With 600 people in attendance, Swamiji answered questions submitted by the youth on a wide range of topics, from dealing with stress and peer pressure to addressing discrimination in society and promoting religious tolerance. Dignitaries in attendance included the Consulate General of India from San Francisco, Dr. T.V. Nagendra Prasad, Senator Manka Dhingra, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (Virtually), Bellevue City officials, and Issaquah City officials. On August 6, 2023, Houston conducted the Prajna and VT Seva Youth Meet. With over 300 people in attendance, Prajna youth and VT Seva youth volunteers gathered for Swamiji's message to the next generation – to widen the horizon of volunteerism with exemplary service and to continue learning where there is an opportunity and experience. On August 7, San Antonio conducted an event with over 500 in attendance. Mayor Ron Nirenberg graciously attended the event and proclaimed August 7 as a Day of Service in San Antonio. Swamiji unveiled San Antonio’s annual event under the banner Spoorthi . On August 8, 2023 , Swamiji visited and toured the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI). TSBVI shares a great partnership with VT Seva Austin, currently working towards creating an innovative "Real Voice" audiobook listening space for students . The dedicated VT Seva student volunteer force has helped complete the project of recording over 100 books. VT Seva obtained a General Motors grant of $20,000 and design assistance towards the completion of this exquisite listening space! VT Seva also contributed $30,000 to TSBVI , and Swamiji encourages continued collaboration between both organizations and their students. This goes to show what a driving force we can be when working together for the long-term benefit of our communities. On August 12, 2023, Dallas had its event entitled “Celebration of Service and Spirituality” . With 600 people in attendance, it was a day marked by inspiring tales of VT Seva youth leadership. The event featured captivating narratives from Allampalli (where VT Seva supports a school for tribal communities), offering a mesmerizing journey of music and dance and providing insights into the secluded woods of Adilabad. The audience was spellbound by the "Allampalli Diaries" Mr. Krishna Kanth, VT Seva advisor, shared the inspirational story of Lalitha, a visually challenged youngster studying at Nethra Vidyalaya, on how she made her journey from a tribal village to becoming a world-class athlete. During the event, based on the firsthand experiences of interns, identified volunteering and philanthropic initiatives were shared with everyone. The call to embrace this movement, contribute one's unique skills, and collaborate in the pursuit of a world illuminated by understanding and harmony was loud and clear. Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji graced the stage with a standing ovation from all the attendees for receiving the Padma Bhushan award from the President of India for his service to society for over 40 years. In his motivational message to the youth, Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, the visionary behind VT Seva, emphasized that the essence of life lies in "sharing.” During Swamiji’s visit, many of the VT Seva branches throughout the United States had presentation ceremonies of the President's Volunteer Service Award to volunteers demonstrating exemplary service, a true testament to the dedication to service! Swamiji's visit schedule can be accessed here https://www.vtsworld.org/post/hh-sri-chinna-jeeyar-swamiji-s-2023-visit-to-usa

Vikasa Tarangini Hosts Mega Health Camp, Extends Vital Services to Over a Thousand in Sitanagaram, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh - November 21, 2023 In a noble endeavor to prioritize community health, Vikasa Tarangini, a prominent non-profit organization, orchestrated a day-long Mega Health Camp on November 21st, 2023 , in Sitanagaram. The camp, which witnessed an overwhelming response, provided free health services to a remarkable 1122 individuals. A major highlight of the event was the comprehensive health screenings offered to women, with 372 benefiting from free cervical health examinations using VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid) tests. These screenings are instrumental in identifying abnormalities that, if left untreated, may escalate to cancer. The initiative was supported by VT Seva, with a corporate grant provided by the T-Mobile Foundation. The Mega Health Camp extended its reach beyond cervical health, offering an array of free health checkups and services. The summary report includes: Cervical and Breast Examinations: 372 General Checkup (Blood Pressure and Diabetes): 192 Eye Exams: 200 Cardiac (ECG) Tests: 98 Ear Exams: 58 Acupressure for Back Pain: 200 Dental Checkup: 50 The health awareness meeting preceding the screenings was presided over by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, the founder of Vikasa Tarangini. The event saw esteemed guests, Mr. Dilli Rao, District Collector, and Mr. Kanthi Rana, Commissioner of Police for the NTR District, who commended the organization's dedication to community health. Addressing the gathering, Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji emphasized the significance of a healthy lifestyle and elaborated on the vision of Mahila Arogya Vikas. He underscored the importance of focusing on women's health, particularly cervical health screenings, combating societal stigma, and fostering awareness. Mr. Dilli Rao lauded Vikasa Tarangini's efforts, highlighting their outreach to over 25 lakh women in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana through vital examinations. Mr. Kanthi Rana urged everyone to prioritize their routine health checkups and not overlook them. Ms. Madhavi Ravindra, the Vikasa Tarangini Mahila Arogya Vikas Central Coordinator, expressed gratitude to Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji for motivating volunteers and outlining the meticulous planning involved in conducting the examinations. She acknowledged the participation of volunteers from Vijayawada, Vizag, and Vizianagaram, without whom the camp would not have been possible. The success of the Mega Health Camp was a collective effort, made possible through the participation and support of healthcare professionals, organizations, and volunteers. Noteworthy contributions came from Dr. Venkatappaiah, Dr. Sri Harsha, Dr. Parimala, Dr. Sireesham, Dr. Lakshmi Devi, Vamsi Heart Center, Deen Daya Sravan Foundation, Vijayawada Ravella Eye Hospital. The event garnered attention from various sectors, with the presence of Vikasa Tarangini AP President Mr. Varma, industrialist Mr. Gokaraju Gangaraju, Deputy Commissioner for Health Mr. Ravindranath, Sri Venkatacharya Swami, Sriman Raghunatha Swami, and Sriman Vithal Babu of Jeeyar Asram, who played pivotal roles in organizing this impactful health initiative. A couple of youth volunteers such as Srihitha actively volunteered in this camp that ran from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM without a break! For more images, please click here

VT Seva Atlanta team of youth and Adults collected 1500 lbs of non perishable vegetarian food items consisting of baked beans, corn, cranberry, yams, jelly, canned vegetables, pasta, rice, nuts, flour, cereals, snack bars etc. All the food items were donated to the Atlanta Food Bank on the occasion of Deepawali and PRADA:N 2023 for the homeless people of Atlanta. It’s a blessing to serve the underprivileged and spread the light of Volunteerism on this great day of Deepawali day, Nov 12, 2023.

My name is Abhijay Singireddy, I'm a Senior at Hopewell Valley Central High School, Pennington, NJ, USA. I joined VTSeva in 2021 and since then have participated in countless volunteer activities. Community service is a passion for me and I always looking for ways to help the people around me. In my free time, I love to play basketball, sing, and hang out with my friends. Sharing experience from July 2022 summer internship camp. What Is The Internship About? Every year, VTSeva invites high school students around the globe to participate in the 2 week long “VT Youth Summer Internship Program" in India at VTSeva-sponsored schools for tribal and visually challenged students. Through this program, interns participate in cultural exchanges and teach at schools for the underprivileged by taking up several projects such as math, English, and various other topics including robotics, art, music, and sports. I was selected for the amazing opportunity in the summer of 2022 along with 14 other interns from various states in the USA. First Day at the Statue of Equality, Hyderabad, India The internship began at the Statue of Equality, Hyderabad, a 216-foot-tall statue of Sri Ramanujacharya. Nearby the statue, there is the JIMS homeopathy hospital and Netra Vidyalaya which is VTSeva’s college for the blind. ​I met up with the other 14 interns and got settled down. We went to the temple and HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji's kuteeram (hermitage) to receive his blessings before our 8-hour bus journey to Allampally. My Days In Allampally, Telangana, India When we arrived, we were greeted by the older male students who collected all of our bags for us and took them inside. The school has a large open grounds area that has space to play games such as coco, volleyball, and cricket. Then there are the guest and student dorms and lunch areas, along with a separate school building with two floors. I opted to teach the 10-grade kids, who were the oldest at the school. Their English skills were very impressive as they could easily converse with me and write inspiring essays about their ambitious dreams. The first half of the day was strictly academics but in the second half of the day, each student was allowed to choose an extracurricular activity that interested them. There was robotics, art, a Rubix cube, and music. I taught singing and dance. We decided to teach the children Kommuram Bheemudo from the film RRR, as the film was very popular, but mainly because the real Komuram Bheem came from the jungles in Allampally. Children, young and old, mastered these skills with ease as they had the passion and focus unmatched by any other children. Trip Highlight: Visiting the Thandas (Villages) One day we took a trip to the Thandas, or the villages where the children live. The houses we visited were built by the villagers themselves to support their basic, everyday needs. They are made of mud and sticks and consist of two rooms. When visiting the tandas, each student invited us to their house. They were so proud to show us how they lived and explained every facet of their lives. The students have shown us how to be grateful and thankful for what we have. Return To the Statue Of Equality Returning from Allampally, we spent a couple of days at the Statue. We woke up early the next morning and had our yoga class with HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji. Swamiji carefully helped all the interns personally with the positions. Additionally, we were invited to his kuteeram many times to talk about our experiences. Swamiji also taught us many spiritual lessons. We also toured the JIMS hospital where we learned about homeopathic medicine. Additionally, we visited the Netra Vidyalaya and learned about how blind students learn. Final Thoughts: I have been enlightened by some of the purest humans on Earth. They are untouched by the technology and politics that have taken over our world. They have intelligent, but clear minds full of thought and compassion. The students have respected me more than anyone else I have met and not only treated me as a teacher but as a friend, and a brother. Surrounded by the beautiful forest and underneath the clear blue sky, I learned the most powerful and inspiring lessons of my life.

My name is Rithika Lanka. During the summer of 2023, I participated in the second session of the VT SEVA Summer Internship where I was able to meet new people and experience another world. Reflecting on the internship, it was amazing to see the experiences that shaped the journey. The early yoga sessions started each day with an energetic start. The Saketha Rama temple visit deepened my understanding of history through the stories I heard about it when we visited all three floors of the temple. Meeting the students at Allampally School and Beersaipeta School was a heartwarming encounter that will forever stay in my heart. It was so engaging teaching the students various subjects due to their eagerness to learn and how smart they are. It was also a life-changing experience to see the tundas and their way of living. I also enjoyed meeting different people such as an elderly lady aged 108 years. I also met a graduate student of the school who shared her progress and success story and felt very happy to see how we are making a small impact on these students. Exploring JIMS and the science of homeopathy expanded my intellectual horizons, while going into Ayurvedic medicine added a layer of understanding about holistic healing. It was so interesting to see how psychology has an effect on medicine. As an aspiring doctor, it was so interesting to see these different types of remedies. The visit to the Statue of Equality and the 108 Divya Desams was also an amazing experience with being able to see the wonderful architecture and details put into all the idols and Sri Ramanuja Swamiji’s statue. During the time at Netra Vidyalaya, I learned about different talents such as singing, playing the flute, coding, etc. these students have. It was so inspirational to see them as they all stand out in one way or another. These students use their visual challenge as inspiration rather than an excuse. The students show determination to reach their goals and put so much effort into reaching them. Giving the students of Nethra Vidyalaya laptops on the final day of the internship was a truly fulfilling experience with how happy they were and how much of an impact we are making on the educational aspects of these students' lives. In summary, this internship has provided a web of experiences that have broadened my perspective. Each part of this journey has added to my understanding of life and changed my perspective on it. I learned so many new things that I know will stay with me for the rest of my life. It brought me out of my comfort zone with things such as meeting new people and trying new foods. Throughout this internship, the most important thing I learned was discipline, and I will forever remember the experiences I went through on this internship.

#Boundless was all about celebrating how we continue to shatter barriers and flourish as an organization that empowers youth to become the unstoppable force of tomorrow. Through unity, our youth build bridges of compassion, defy boundaries, and sow seeds of lasting change. With 300+ attendees, we took an action-packed road trip across the country as we visited each branch to reminisce on their accomplishments from 2022. With fun trivia, shout-outs from our beneficiaries, and insightful interviews, #Boundless showcased how our VT Seva youth were profoundly selfless in the spirit of volunteerism. What makes our annual youth celebrations special is that they’re 100% driven by our dynamic youth leaders. The organizers, who poured their passions into making the event a reality, shared touching and insightful reflections. These individuals, the driving force behind the celebration, reminded us all that change starts from within, and it's the young hearts filled with passion that are lighting the way. Anya : Being part of the Boundless event was an amazing experience for me. I was able to work with an awesome team to put together an event that was watched by hundreds of people nationally. Also, it gave me a chance to connect with people from other branches and see what VT Seva is doing across the nation. Overall, it was a wonderful opportunity and I would love to work on similar future events! Anusha : Being part of Boundless was a beautiful and incredible opportunity that increased my love for VT Seva. Not only did I improve my marketing skills and public speaking, but I got to work with amazing people. I’m forever grateful for this event and the friends that I have made. It was so incredible to see what different branches were doing and the inspiration it gave to everyone. This event was honestly a great experience all throughout! Oviya : I really enjoyed the time with the #Boundless team spent creating scripts, videos, flyers, and many more since I got to be a part of a team of extremely creative and truly boundless youth. Overall, it was a great experience that I will remember for a lifetime and I am so grateful to the entire team as well as everyone who joined the event for making this event such a great success. Samved : The #Boundless team helped me go beyond my limits. Everyone on the team pushed each other to give their best work whether it was videos, scripts, or flyers. I loved being a part of this team and it was so much fun doing this with the rest of the team. I was not confident in speaking and not great at time management and organization, but being part of this team and co-hosting this event improved these important life-long skills. This was an amazing opportunity and was truly the experience of a lifetime. Shreyas : The #Boundless experience was amazing for me as it allowed me to engage with an amazing group of people from many places and get to know them. I learned many new things by leading such a large event and I am proud to say that it was a success. I am also grateful that I have the opportunity to serve those who are in need through VT Seva and the Boundless event itself. As we know VT Seva's volunteers are motivated by the organization's pillars to serve communities near and far. VT Seva grows because of the incredible opportunities we have connecting with our local beneficiaries, to whom we extend our heartfelt gratitude. Take a look at what our beneficiaries have to say about us. Our celebration wasn't just about looking back but also looking forward. Students who participated in our summer internship program with Netra Vidyalaya and the Jeeyar Gurukuls shared their experiences, highlighting how these opportunities transformed them into proactive change makers. Please take a look at the videos about their initiatives and their internship experiences. I nitiatives By Youth: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS8h--2_tYv4n3xR5cOUObW0k_JPKMM4T Summer Interns Experience: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS8h--2_tYv7Lg3ueHDAl4sX9_0Ld-YRl #Boundless concluded with the culmination of the T-shirt Design Contest that invited youth across the country to design our next VT Seva t-shirts. Congratulations to the winning design and a huge thank you to everyone who participated! Design Won: Pre Event Blog: https://www.vtsworld.org/post/boundless-celebration-of-youth-s-accomplishments-2023 Event Recording: Thank You to all the branches that participated in our road trip: San Antonio, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Cary, Atlanta, North Jersey, New Jersey, Detroit, Chicago, Bay Area, Seattle Atlanta branch with the most participants won a book signed by VT Seva CEO Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami Ji. Together, let us remain committed to nurturing and supporting youth volunteerism, for they are the architects of a world where empathy, compassion, and unity reign supreme. The time to embrace the unstoppable force of youth volunteerism is now. We’ll see you next year. Your #Boundless Youth Team Pranuti Kalidindi | Oviya Jaisankar | Anya Gadkari | Anusha Jonnalagadda | Shreyas Bharath | Sreeja Bhuma | Samved Gazzala | Dhatri Jonnalagadda

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!

Amongst many services that VT Seva Atlanta volunteers believe that Women Health is one of the key focus area. After all, ‘When a woman is healthy and happy, her family can rise up to meet its purpose’. Thus, VT Seva team collaborated with Telangana Team on Bathukamma event on Oct 21st and launched ‘Women Empowerment’ initiative to assist our young women for physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Both teams came forward and organized Cancer awareness workshops, Walkathons, Health clinics, etc for the well-being of Atlanta women! VT Seva booth had face painting and Henna done at the event. 45 volunteers helped the booth and helped present VT Seva to over 300 people attending the event! VT Seva also sold plants during the event to help education for disabled kids in India. Volunteers walked around selling plants and putting out word for VT Seva. Back at the booth plants were also being sold, face painting was offered as well, volunteers painted whatever the kids asked for. Not only was face painting offered, but also henna was offered for everyone. Making beautiful and intricate designs was an attention grabber. The proceeds were also donated for a cause. In all this was an empowering event for VT Seva and the cause!

One of the most awaited annual events of VT SEVA Detroit, RAAS 2023 , is just around the corner. With the amazing turnout back in 2022, we are excited to host our 8th Annual VT Seva RAAS Event, benefiting visually challenged children in 2023. RAAS is not just a Fundraising event, but it is also our Annual Celebration event, culminating a great year of various fundraising activities and volunteering service to the community. 𝗩𝗧 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰, 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗳𝘂𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Please mark your calendar 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 4𝘁𝗵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮3 𝗮𝘁 𝟮𝟱𝟯𝟯𝟱 𝗪 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱, 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱, 𝗠𝗜 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟱:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 𝗼𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀. All proceeds from the event will go towards education, food, and clothing for visually challenged children of Nethra Vidyalaya & Tribal School children. Join us in making this event a successful one “Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela As the quote from Nelson Mandela describes, it is human nature to be resilient in tough times. The epitome of resilience is demonstrated by the visually challenged children of Nethra Vidyalaya & the underprivileged Tribal area school children every day through their persistence, perseverance & patience. They go through unimaginable situations in their lives, yet these gifted & talented kids come out of it with great success. "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill As this wonderful quote says, we could make a life by giving a helping hand to these children with our generous donations. Last year, in 2022 , with generous donations from everyone, we not only met our target but we surpassed it. In 2023, VT Seva Detroit’s aspiration for this year is to support the education of 250 Tribal & Visually Challenged students. We are committed to raising the appropriate funds for the 250 children through our Annual Fund Raiser program of RAAS 2023 Be a part of this noble cause to bring smiles to the faces of over 1500 schoolchildren . You can make a big difference in their lives. Guests gracing the event: Will be updated once we get the commitment. Please join us and support this noble cause!! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 4th, 2023 at 25335 W Nine Mile Road, Southfield, MI from 5:00 PM onwards.

In an inspiring turn of events, today, on October 25th, Lalitha Killaka, a visually challenged athlete from a remote tribal area in India, emerged victorious at the Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China. She secured the silver medal in the fiercely competitive 1500-meter running event, bringing honor to her nation and earning a standing ovation from the world. Lalitha's incredible achievement is a testament to her sheer grit, determination, and hard work, and her journey to this historic moment is nothing short of remarkable. SRC: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1971146 In Lalitha's own words - "Before the race, I was confident that I would win the medal for my Nethra Vidyalaya and my country. This thought, along with memories of the encouragement throughout my journey from Nethra Vidyalaya, was on my mind while running the race. I owe the accomplishment to Swamiji's Daya (the compassion of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji) and the support from you." From right to left ( Right - Lalitha's coach Mr. Rahul Balakrishna, Middle - Lalitha, Left Lalitha's guide runner Mr. Tabres Khan) Hailing from a tribal area where poverty was a constant companion, Lalitha and her family faced hardships that most can only imagine. They could not afford to have a meal of rice every day and relied on a single daily meal. Her parents K Borja and Chitamma farmers who have 4 children from Gummalakshmipuram Vizianagaram are daily wage workers in the fields, working tirelessly to make ends meet. Adding to their woes, their daughter Lalitha was born visually challenged. Lalitha commenced her educational journey at Netra Vidyalaya, Varija, in the fourth grade in 2013 and continued her studies there until her tenth-grade graduation in 2020. Currently, she is in her second year of studies at Netra Vidyalaya pursuing a degree. When she started her journey with school she was a very innocent girl who was not at all willing to stay back at school but now she has become a very strong aspirant lady with teaching and training of all her teachers. Amidst these challenging circumstances, Nethra Vidyalaya, the School and college for the Visually Challenged, founded by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, played a pivotal role in Lalitha's life. This institution not only provided her with education but also offered boarding, meals, and the training required to hone her athletic skills from a young age. With the support of Nethra Vidyalaya, Lalitha was given a chance to dream, and she seized this opportunity with unshakable resolve. Lalitha exhibited an extraordinary blend of determination, passion, and talent. She excelled not only in her academics but also on the athletics field. Running became her passion, and she poured her heart and soul into it. Years of relentless training bore fruit as she began securing victories at the district, state, and national levels. With each win, her dreams grew bigger and brighter. Nethra Vidyalaya and VT Seva founder Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji expressed happiness and announced a prize money of 300,000 for Ms. Killaka Lalitha and 50,000 Indian rupees for her guide runner Mr. Tabres Khan. He said, 'A person is not disabled solely because of being physically handicapped. A person is considered disabled only if they lack mental resilience and the ability to overcome challenges. This fact was demonstrated by our Nethra Vidyalaya students in cricket a few months ago in England and is now exemplified by Lalitha in her running performance at the Asian Para Games held in China. We strongly believe that these accomplishments will inspire many youngsters to achieve greatness in their lives. Credit for these achievements goes to the supporters and donors from all over the world who are the fuel behind the fire for the excellence of Nethra Vidyalaya students.' The peak of her journey came when she earned the opportunity to represent India at the Asian Para Games. Lalitha's story transcended borders as she participated in the trials in Morocco, competing against some of the world's best para-athletes. Her unwavering dedication and training paid off as she secured her spot on the Indian team. Today, in Hangzhou, China, Lalitha's journey reached its zenith as she crossed the finish line in the 1500-meter running event, clinching the silver medal. Her victory was not only a personal triumph but also a victory for all those who supported her along the way. India, with its largest-ever contingent of 303 athletes, stands united in celebrating Lalitha's remarkable achievement. This victory is not only for India, with its 1.4 billion population but for the entire world. Her story is a shining example of what can be accomplished with determination, perseverance, and an unbreakable spirit. Lalitha Killaka, the girl who once struggled to have a meal each day, has now become an inspiration to all, proving that it is possible to rise above adversity and reach for the stars. Lalitha inspired many students and they started participating in various district, state level sports competitions. Lalitha and others were trained in New Delhi IBSA in 2017. Lalitha gets trained in various places and participates at different levels in all prestigious events. Para Sports Association Andhrapradesh selected Lalitha for training and has provided training for the past 2 years in Banglore. VT Seva has been a proud supporter of Nethra Vidyalaya since 2009. We thank each and every volunteer and donor of VT Seva for your support in making this possible. Your support is our strength to serve!

VT Seva (Volunteering Together for Service) is organizing "Vasudha- Beats for a Cause", our 3rd annual dance and musical performance festival in the Austin. We would like to personally invite students of all genres of dance and music school to participate and showcase their talent in the event. All proceeds including registration fee go towards Educating visually challenged and underprivileged students, and it is 100% tax-deductible. With your support through our Annual "Vasudha-Beats for a Cause" event last year we were successfully able to support education for 100 visually challenged and underprivileged students. Our goal this year 150 students. We look forward to your support for another successful event. Date: October 28, 2023 (Saturday) Timings: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Venue: 751 Bonnet Blvd, Georgetown, TX 78628 Other : Food and vendor stalls. Admission is free for the event please RSVP at event Prix. Bring your family and friends. Registration here for your performance. Rules: Participation can be from any genre of dance and music, GROUP & SOLO performances Individual Participants contribute $30 (one month of child education) for every 5 mins and reach out to family and friends to raise min 2 months of education ($60) through donating for your performance. Please share the link with your family and friends to support your fundraise goal : tinyurl.com/VTSeva-Beats4Cause. If participating as a group 5mins slot is $90. Group splits the cost. Each School registration gets a 15 min time slot for your performances(including any setup/teardown needed). B4C team will contact you on your allocated time. Each 15 mins school you will be sponsoring one child education costing $365. We will provide you a fundraise link to share with your family friends to donate for your performance. or use tinyurl.com/VTSeva-Beats4Cause. Onc e you register, the registration owner can decide who can participate and how long the performance will be. Schools can buy max of 3, 15 mins slots . Organizer can reduce the slot duration if there are more registrations. Beats for a Cause team will work with you to receive the audio files after registration, a week before the event date. Donation opportuinities to support one child education 1 Month : $30 2 Months : $60 3 Months : $120 6 Months : $180 1 year : $365 VT Seva is a non-profit organization with primary focus to teach self-reliance to underprivileged and visually impaired students from low socio-economic backgrounds by providing them with boarding, education and empowerment. Our organization is active in promoting cancer awareness and immediate responders for any natural disaster that occurs around the world. Apart from our national activities, our Austin Chapter conducts local activities to promote the spirit of volunteerism in our youth for their participation and leadership skills. We volunteer with local Texas school for blind and visually challenged school to empower their students. Our recent impact stories: Austin impact: Texas School for blind and visually impaired. Bharat impact: Netravidhyalaya School for the blind and visually challenged. Vendors are welcome to put their stalls. email austin.director@vtsworld.org our team will reach out to you. We offer a range of sponsorship levels to accommodate your organization's goals and budget. Whether you choose to be a Platinum Sponsor, Gold Sponsor, or contribute at a different level, your support will always make a significant difference. Event Sponsorship Opportunities: Education Sponsorship opportunities : Platinum Sponsors : $1000 Double Diamond : $5500 (15 children) Gold Sponsors: $500 Diamond Sponsors : $3650 (10Children ) Silver Sponsors: $250 Platinum Sponsors : $1825 (5 Children ) Bronze Sponsors: $150 Gold Sponsors : $1095 (3 Children ) Silver Sponsors : $730 (2 Children ) Bronze Sponsors : $365 (1 Child ) ($1/day = $365/year) Please contact us for any questions at austin.director@vtsworld.org Our Donors : (Double Diamond Sponsors) Platinum Sponsors Padmini & Chari Tamirisa Murali Dingari (ServiceNow Matching) Gold / Silver Sponsors Roshana Dance Studio Event Sponsors : Food Sponsors : (Gold) Bronze Sponsors

Over the third quarter of 2023 (July to September) VT Seva volunteers have made an astounding impact. Through participating in 13 projects overall, they have helped our community and beyond. Each of these projects were unique and allowed volunteers to help a noble cause. These projects ranged from cleaning up a road to hosting a volleyball and throwball tournament, to help their community and underprivileged and tribal students in India in many different ways. Below are the projects we have done from July to September this quarter: Youth Board Projects: Third Annual Walkathon - July 16 Tribute to Bharath - August 15 #Boundless Event - August 19 Tennis Tournament - August 27 Essential Workers Appreciation - September 4 Adopt a Road Clean-up - September 10 Car Wash - September 16 Detroit Projects: Food Gatherers - July 8 Packing Hygiene Kits - July 22 Fleece and Thank You - August 5 Clean Love Project - August 26 Volleyball and Throwball Tournament - September 16 Novi Fire Department Appreciation Lunch - September 30 Please click here for the video of all projects in 3rd quarter 7/8/2023 - Food Gatherers Volunteers sorted 810 pounds of food into good and bad produce during this event. They then packed this food into boxes and cleaned up the facility. This food was distributed to 150 organizations that supply different food pantries at Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor, MI. Youth Volunteers: Jishnu Kandalam, Aditi Jethri Kompally, Akshith Aswanth, Kushal Durga, Deekshitha Ravu, Shraya Ved, and Akshitha Narla Adult Volunteers: Vandana Durga, Vanitha Gopalan, Neha Ved, Ranga Rao Ravu, and Srinivas Narla For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid031QzdWj4M99inMZKCUViFPJ9GYmNwSvvfMPnTvxT4NknvWpeLgdPbuDSF3D33NV2el 7/16/2023 - Walkathon This annual walkathon supported Angels of Hope, a family cancer foundation that supports Michigan families affected by cancer, and it lasted 30 days, from June 16 to July 16, 2023. With 213 participants, our 43 teams walked for more than 7700 hours and raised more than $3600. For more info, please visit our Blog https://www.vtsworld.org/post/vt-seva-detroit-youth-board-third-annual-walkathon?fbclid=IwAR2U_mMltkNXZZKslsMilkfdQJmdVZJjYc_LFN_EfT_o1XWupOpssnosPy8 7/22/2023 - Packing Hygiene Kits On July 22nd, our volunteers helped pack dental care kits at Say Detroit and Detroit Goodfellows for Detroit school children. We packed more than 4,000 dental care kits in just 3 hours, with another 4,000 clear plastic bags also prepped by our volunteers. Say Detroit has even published an article mentioning VT Seva Detroit to appreciate our volunteers' efforts during this event. Youth Volunteers: Hajanthan, Varshan, Akshitha, Saisha, Shruthi, Kirupali, and Sanjith Adult Volunteers: Suresh Rajan, Komathy Muhinthan, Srinivas Narla, Srivatsan Santhanam, Durga Nalini, Vijayakumar, Sathyanathan Vilvanathan, and Vanitha Gopalan For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid035LowXNZ2SC9qy71gqmaFSNjFrJDumsxq47YVCd1T1MEBPcYhtRWC6VQz23YUYkwFl 8/5/2023 - Fleece and Thank You Detroit Volunteers helped make over 150 blankets for children in Michigan hospitals who are facing long-term stays. The goal of Fleece and Thank You is to provide every child in Michigan hospitals with a warm blanket and a message from its maker. VT Seva helped by doing their part in this goal. Youth Volunteers: Shravya Ved, Kirupali Sathyanathan, Shreya Srivatsan, Saisha Srivatsan, Eashan Daram, Niran Daram, Amogh Mavatoor, Rishabh Mavatoor, Sanjith Vijayakumar, and Shruthi Adduri Adult Volunteers: Suresh Rajan, Neha Ved, Vijayakumar, Manisha Daram, Sathyanathan Vilvanathan, and Vanitha Gopalan For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid0t9238xHyBLshwmAafaZT2p1t9dUfJ9Z9gXjzfAitb9YrV6xXYtKFom6aPDWsvR8Nl 8/15/2023 - Tribute to Bharath For this project, 28 Detroit youths and 19 Maryland youths came together to create 28 posters to highlight the beauty of the different states of our motherland, India. Through these posters, people got to know about the diversity, history, and uniqueness of each of the different states of India to celebrate Independence Day on August 15. For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid0311nYNH7hYbAzPnQ2veb227nBKYCk6T8AuDhrPH9iFuXuGurvk1KaReuC9ciTRkD6l 8/19/2023 - #Boundless Event "Detroit Youth team member Oviya JaiSankar represented the celebration of the amazing #Boundless national youth led event, where VT Seva youth from across different states joined in celebrating 2022 VT Seva achievements.” For more info, please visit our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid0mNzkwyynewZkEnD8F8yxGPUSYY9mSwinWrrmMqDPtCzQywK2zsd26SpoaLNFWbQrl 8/26/2023 - Clean Love Project For this event, VT Seva Detroit partnered with the Clean Love Project, an organization whose mission is to help women feel clean, loved, and empowered by distributing Clean Love Hygiene kits. To help support this mission, VT Seva volunteers worked tirelessly to assemble 1,500 hygiene kits to distribute to Detroit school children. Through their efforts, 1,500 lives were positively impacted. Youth Volunteers: Shruthi Adduri, Saisha Srivatsan, Shreya Srivatsan, Krithi Alugoti, Sai Sahasra Namudiri, Rishabh Mavatoor, Varun Brijesh, and Sanjith Vijayakumar Adult Volunteers: Jayashree Brijesh, Durga Nalini, Nirmala Srivatsan, Raghunath Namudiri, Vijayakumar, Kalpana Vijayakumar, and Vanitha Gopalan For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid02ZXhrisynVwCWB6Ztr7cmbeRggbqWY5RzZoykiWePAsFwsT766MEYnbg4saPZFMpol 8/27/2023 - Tennis Tournament This was the first-ever tennis tournament organized by the Troy VT Seva youth volunteers. The funds from this tournament can support the education of almost 6 kids. The Troy High School clubs came together for this astounding event. For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/videos/244934405123221/ 9/4/2023 - Essential Workers Appreciation To celebrate Labor Day this year, our youth volunteers showed their appreciation to essential workers and helped bring a smile to many of their faces. The beautiful handwritten cards that they made were given to firefighters, police, nurses, trash crew, postal workers, school janitors, custodians, school lunch ladies, grocery store workers, drivers, and vegetable vendors. Youth Volunteers: Aanya J, Abhiram, Adithi, Chinmay, Hajanthan, Hiba, Hrudya, Lalitaditya, Nidhi, Oviya, Pelon, Prajwal, Rachana, Rakshan, Rishabh, Sai Sriram, Sai Sahasra, Sathvik, Shraya V, Shreya S, Shruthi, Sneha A, Swara R, and Varshan For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid031mFYiwW12yfruPFaSprovsR7NiavTfCWJkDLrLJDAUMYWyLo4bhUWL7pCfLtDBcel 9/10/2023 - Adopt a Road Clean Up VT Seva Detroit once again returned to clean up the stretch of road between 8 Mile and Haggerty, a road adopted by VT Seva. Our volunteers picked up trash, tire scraps, bottles, etc. along the way. Youth Volunteers: Hrudya Kishore, Jishnu Kandalam, Kaustubh Dingari, Rishi Adduri, Sai Sahasra Namuduri, Sai Sri Ram Karnati, Shraya Ved, Shreya Shetty, and Shruthi Adduri Adult Volunteers: Nalini Sangita, Neha Ved, Pavani Namuduri, Shreya Srivatsan, Srinathbabu Karnati, Srivardhan Dingari, Vanitha Gopalan, Vijay Kandalam, and Srivatsan For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid02VB8eC8YyzVA779M4gD6fhngygY45bkLedMyuvzpYP6LYue1HRyPtEkTZ4247Nopul 9/16/2023 - Volleyball and Throwball Tournament This was an amazing close-out to the last sporting event held by VT Seva Detroit for 2023. These funds were enough to support the education of 7 visually challenged children. It was a great tournament for everyone involved! For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid0AimKMmevdpmyy65xkKyMiZ1Lkh84gRhuVDc1MSpF6fkGoz4g93Wf8x6Z3CEcFUZgl 9/16/2023 - Car Wash VT Seva Detroit held its first-ever car wash to help support Nethra Vidyalaya students and Tribal students. They persuaded complete strangers to drop by and get their cars washed for a good cause. Together, we raised money to support almost two students. Youth Volunteers: Hajanthan, Varshan, Jishnu, Lalitaditya, Aditya, Shraya, Hrudya, Amogh, Rishi C, and Shruthi Adult Volunteers: Komathy, Muhinthan, Chintan, and Nalini For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid0jgNwQWB6f3UuaEo4omNT3Uy48V1E8y3zSjgVuwsGqvna5EpRUCwkD53bjhPvw7Tml 9/30/2023 - Novi Fire Department Appreciation Lunch During this event, VT Seva Detroit organized an Appreciation Lunch for the Novi Fire Department. Following the lunch, they got a tour of the station from the firefighters onsite: Captain Seog, Firefighter Sentz, Firefighter Marshall, Firefighter Farahani, Firefighter Gora, Firefighter O’Neill, and Firefighter Lis. This tour explained the daily life of a firefighter and consisted of many tools, medical equipment, detectors, and other essential components of the 3 Firetrucks and the SUV. Along with that, we witnessed personally how one of the teams handled an emergency while on the tour. In response to the incoming 911 call, one of the Units left in a matter of seconds to help someone who had been in an accident inside the city limits. The EMT, firetruck, and captain all left as soon as they received the call. It showed how hard they work to keep our community safe. Youth Volunteers: Sai Karnati, Amogh Mavatoor, Rishabh Mavatoor, Varshini Barla, Hrudya Kishore, Nikhil Aerabati, Kaustabh Dingari, Hajanthan Muhinthan, Adithi Esarla, Yathi Debbata, Nimish Debbata, Nidhi Rao, Neha Rao, and Rakshan Samyanthan Adult Volunteers: Srinath Karnati, Sudheer Koppu, Srivardhan Dingari, Komathy Muhinthan, Maithreyi Rao, Manjunath Rao, Pushpa Esarla, Samyanthan T, Suresh Rajan, and Vanitha Gopalan For more info, please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid0szyi26MB81RgiMm49RfuBrsNK2kdon6NyJomMLohNiHS5XsDmevJdUVducAo8sFXl Blog Compiled by: Shreya Shetty Video Compiled by: Anirvin Ramanan Blog Published by: Nandini Cheemalamarri

Many of us celebrate Labor Day with parties, parades, picnics, and cookouts. But it's important to remember who and what we are celebrating for; the American workers and labor force. “American labor has raised the nation’s standard of living and contributed to the greatest production the world has ever known… the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership—the American worker.” – DOL.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) 40 of VT Seva Atlanta youths appreciated the labor of Essential Workers on this year's Labor Day 2023. The volunteers expressed that they felt humbled to talk to the workers and appreciated their efforts in providing for the public. All youths presented a ‘Thank You’ card and gifted Chocolates or flowers to appreciate the hard work of essential workers like mail delivery men, garbage collectors, janitorial staff, hospital staff, etc. Giving is the Art of Living!

VT Seva (Volunteering Together for Service) is organizing Ra:Ga, our 7th annual dance and musical performance festival in the Bay Area. We would like to personally invite students of all genres of dance and music school to participate and showcase their talent in the event. All proceeds including registration fee go towards Educating visually challenged and underprivileged students, and it is 100% tax-deductible. Since 2014, we have been supporting educating and empowering thousands of visually challenged and underprivileged kids with your donations Date: October 28, 2023 (Saturday) Timings: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Venue: Orchard School ,921 Fox Lane, San Jose, CA 95131 USA Please register/RSVP -- registration is free ! Click below: Click the below "Donate" button to support educating and empowering visually challenged and underprivileged kids. We look forward to your support for another successful event.

VT Seva Detroit Appreciation lunch for NOVI Police Department on MAY 8th 2021 at 11.30 am A hero is a special person who faces extraordinary circumstances & acts with courage, honor & self-sacrifice. A police officer is a true superhero that does not necessarily wear a cape but wears a uniform! They protect us and continue to make it a better place for all of us, despite having to see the darkest aspects every day. If not for people like them, our cities wouldn’t have been a safer place to live, work, and have fun. During this National Police Week 2021. May 9-15, 2021.VT Seva Detroit would like to host an Appreciation lunch for NOVI Police Department on May 8th, 2021 at 11.30 am. Due to the Covid pandemic, we are restricted to go a few volunteers only. Hence, we have decided to go as a small group of 5 to 6 Adults and provide some lunch and personally thank them for their selfless services.

VT Seva Detroit organized the much-awaited Novi Fire Department appreciation lunch followed by a tour explaining – a day in the life of a firefighter, on Sept 30th, 2023, between 11:00 and 2:00 PM. We were greeted warmly by the team of Fire Fighters including Captain Seog. VT Seva Youth and Adult Volunteers introduced themselves. They gave a brief background of all the Projects, Social and Community Services, and the various partnerships that VT Seva has across metro Detroit and Internationally. They were so happy to hear about our 2023 achievements, appreciated our team’s efforts, and were so glad to host us at their facility. Despite their busy and often critical schedule, the Novi Fire Department graciously hosted us. The team on site consisted of: · Captain Seog · Firefighter Sentz · Firefighter Marshall · Firefighter Farahani · Firefighter Gora · Firefighter O’Neill · Firefighter Lis We helped arrange all the food that we had brought for the appreciation lunch inside the lunch area. We also presented a framed poster as a token of appreciation from VT Seva Detroit, thanking the fire Department for their selfless service and sacrifice. The team then gathered to begin the tour. We split into 3 different groups for the Firefighters team to swap the teams in 3 different sections of the facility. Old Betsie and EMT, the Tower and the Suppression truck along with the Captain’s Specialized SUV were on display for our walk-through. The team lead firefighters explained and showcased many tools, medical equipment, detectors, and other essential components of the 3 Trucks and the SUV. Some of the tools were AMAZING to watch – Jaws of Life, Jaw Saw, Sliders, Chalk Woods, Gas Leak detectors, face masks, Oil Dry, oxygen cylinders, and many more. We were simply awestruck with the amount of equipment and tools that they had on the trucks. Some of the facts were mind-boggling: The fire trucks can hold 500 to 600 gallons of water and an additional couple hundred gallons of foam to suppress oil spills. The oxygen cylinders have the capacity to provide 45 mins of oxygen that the firefighters carry as backpacks weighing close to 50lbs The fire trucks cost $1.8 M The tower ladder can extend to 100 ft and can easily reach over 6 stories of building Over 7000 fire hydrants are there within the City of Novi limits The tablet inside the Firetruck has the entire City’s plan, and every building’s blueprint plan loaded to be handy for the firemen The firefighters have the AED, Heat Signature Thermal Detectors, Infrared and Thermal Cameras, and Foregas – an advanced system for detecting different kinds of gas, mobile cascade systems, etc. at their disposal. While on the tour we had the firsthand experience of how one of the teams responded to an emergency. Within a few seconds, one of the Units was off to attend to someone who met with an accident within the city limit responding to the 911 call that came in. The captain along with the EMT and Firetruck were off as soon as they got the call. We realized how much responsibility the Fire Department has in order to execute the critical service to our community to keep all of us safe. HATS OFF to them!!! These are our volunteers who signed up for the Novi Fire Department Tour & Appreciation. Adults: Srinath Karnati, Sudheer Koppu, Srivardhan Dingari, Komathy Muhinthan, Maithreyi Rao, Manjunath Rao, Pushpa Esarla, Samyanthan T, Suresh Rajan, Vanitha Gopalan Youth Sai Karnati, Amogh Mavatoor, Rishabh Mavatoor, Varshini Barla, Hrudya Kishore, Nikhil Aerabati, Kaustubh Dingari, Hajanthan Muhinthan, Varshan Muhinthan, Adithi Esarla, Yathi Debbata, Nimish Debbata, Nidhi Rao, Neha Rao, Rakshan Samyanthan We all thanked once again for the amazing service that the department provides on a daily basis and concluded the tour. It was a very inspirational and enlightening day for us.

VT Seva Dallas is always on the lookout for opportunities to serve the local community, and this week volunteers were able to help out at Envision Dallas! Envision Dallas is a non-profit organization that serves the blind or visually impaired across the nation, and the center where volunteers went specifically helps rehabilitate the blind and visually challenged. Volunteers worked with the blind people to help them with clay sculpting and preparing objects like mug, house, animals etc. They also organized the items required for the art work and worked with blind members to finish the sculptures. After work, volunteers helped clean up the tables and general vicinity. Huge shoutout to all of our volunteers who helped out: Vijaya Bhatter, Sudeepthi Senapathi, Medhasree Bhatter, Anagha Senapathi, and Raj Bhatter. They did an amazing job helping out the local community and serving everyone at the center! Pictures from the event:

On October 6th, VT Seva Dallas volunteers went to drop off books at the Children's Advocacy Center, which helps support children who are abused or neglected. Volunteers collected over 100 books over the past year and were able to donate all of them to this noble cause. The books will be distributed among various groups in Texas, from which they will be given to children in need. Big shoutout to our youth volunteers, Soham, Samprithi, and Rasagna for spending their Friday morning making sure that these books find their new homes with children in need! Pictures from the Drop Off:

In honor of India's 76th Independence Day, the VT Seva Seattle Chapter launched a campaign to raise awareness and spotlight India's unsung heroes - ordinary individuals who consistently create a positive impact. Seattle's youth chose an inspiring unsung hero, conducted research, and skillfully crafted informative infographics to share their remarkable story and promote awareness about this inspirational figure. Here are the inspirational, informative and beautiful infographics The Forest Man of India by Sathkrith Segu The First Woman of Indian Origin in Space by Laya Dhilip A Social Worker And Activist by Smaran Malkampalli A Children's Civil Rights Activist by Ujwala Mattupalli Inspiring Change Through Technology, Literature and Compassion by Hasmitha Uppalapati A Service Woman of India by Akshaya Alluri Indian Social Activist by Vibha Veluturi From Selling Oranges to Fruits of Wisdom by Pranav Sandadi Inspiring Change through Seva, Shiksha and Sadhana by Akshara Kolli He who appears to eradicate the hardships of the suffering humanity by Yashita Tanwar In a world where everyday heroes often go unnoticed, the VT Seva Seattle Chapter's campaign serves as a reminder that their stories deserve to be heard, celebrated, and shared. Let us all draw inspiration from these unsung heroes and work towards making the world a better place, one positive influence at a time.