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.

Hello, I am Shreyas Paladi, president of Desana Middle School VT Seva club. VT Seva is an organization that helps people in need. We are happy to let you all know we have just started this club! It started by talking to my teacher like I do everyday in class. Then we had to collaborate between the vice principal, Madhu aunty, and Ms.Weis to make this happen, and we finally pulled through! Thanks to school authorities and VT Seva leaders Madhu Aunty and Harsh Gulati. I also want to thank our team member Samvar Jain. Now the next step is to get more people to join us and we will have great meetings and have more people help the world, it is going to be a blast. -The Desana Middle School VT Seva club

Hello everyone I'm Nishanth Kotapati the President of VT Seva in Forsyth Central High School, I am pleased to announce that we have established a new chapter of VT Seva. The process of setting up the club was not without its challenges, however. We had to navigate through multiple emails and conversations to find a suitable teacher sponsor, and then faced the even greater challenge of getting the administration team on board. Despite these obstacles, our team persisted, and we were eventually able to establish the club. I am proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to making a positive impact in our community through our involvement with VT Seva. We had been trying to establish this club since the beginning of the school year, and we are thrilled that our efforts have finally paid off. Within two months of establishing the new chapter of VT Seva, we are already seeking new members to join us. We are excited to start having meetings and working towards achieving even greater success in our community.- FCHS VT Seva

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.

September 9th, 2023, Panelists: Srihari, Aditi, Pranuthi, and Yashi Conducted by: VTSEVA Seattle Picking a college and/or a Major has been one of the biggest challenges most youth face in high school. It is also one of the most stressful times with so many things on their minds such as college applications, college essays, lining up recommendations, following up with college counselors, college visits, and much more. To demystify some of this and help our youth, VTSEVA Seattle recently conducted a seminar on the college application process. True to the spirit of our organization which is led by youth, the seminar was also led by four VTSEVA alumni who are now studying at the University of Washington. To represent a variety of experiences, we picked alumni who are at different stages of their Bachelors program to lead the seminar. Our speakers at the seminar were: Pranuthi - a junior at UW pursuing dual majors in Business and Pre-med, Aditi and Srihari - both Sophomore in Computer Science, and Yashi - a freshman preparing for an Informatics program. All of them brought different perspectives to the seminar presentation on different topics such as personal essays as part of the application process, campus life at UW, what to look for when deciding on a specific college, how to deeply understand what your strengths are, and how to harness that to decide on your bachelor's program. Finally, our youth alumni also had a strong message to parents on how to guide but not impose on their kids' college journey. The seminar was attended by around 30 kids and parents in person and a similar audience on a Zoom call. Here are some of the top questions that were addressed by our UW youth. How to pick a college to attend if you have multiple options? Factors to consider when choosing college: Tuition (in-state vs. out-of-state), Class size, Support for multidisciplinary studies (if doing double majors), Weather (this can take a toll if you are in the wrong city - consider the weather for fall/winter/spring), Urban or college town feel, match for your program, ease of joining clubs at the college, ease of re-applying to your majors if you don’t get it at time of admissions, Capped majors. What to focus on in a personal essay? Your essay should answer the question: What is my personal brand? You should focus on telling a story connecting what you have done to why that is important to you and how that contributed to who you are. You need to be authentic and it is always a good idea to connect the essay with the majors you plan to take - a subtle way is much better. Limited focused activities vs. many activities Spend time with one or two extra-curriculars that you are passionate about rather than spreading yourself thin with many activities. Colleges are looking for activities where you have gone beyond just the periphery and have either made a meaningful contribution or had significant learning. Are internships required for admissions? Depends. If you have an idea on your own, it is even more fulfilling and colleges love to see you execute on your own projects. For some, tying their projects with internships at startups is a great way to get exposure and refine their ideas. In some cases, college summer activities (like doing a summer camp at one of the UC schools) are as good as an internship as long as they align with your interests. Has doing the Running Start program helped your application? The Running Start program allows high school kids to take college-level courses at local community colleges in 11th and 12th grade. Community colleges offer a similar environment as universities (Canvas for example), a similar curriculum structure, many electives for kids to choose from and explore, and savings in college tuition as the state pays for the two years at community college through this program. Most universities view Running Start on similar lines as AP and IB. How can parents support kids in the application process? Give enough space for kids in the personal essay authoring process, try not to jam their schedules with too many activities, find one or two activities which they are passionate about and encourage kids to go deep on those, find colleges which offer the best match for the program your kids are interested in, and research talking to other parents, alumni, and college counselors (first choice might not be the right choice). Resources

March 10th, 2024 Atlanta VT Seva youths participated in Meals By Grace on March 10, 2024. They sorted, packed, and delivered food to the needy families of North America. Being part of MBG mission, our goal here is to bring food, hope & transformation to the children and families in need, so that children can go to bed HAPPY not hungry! January 28th, 2024 Today 30 Atlanta youths participated in the ‘Meals By Grace’ (MBG) activity in which they sorted, packed, and delivered food to the needy families of North America. Being part of MBG mission, our goal here is to bring food, hope & transformation to the children and families in need, so that children can go to bed HAPPY not hungry! October 22nd, 2023 On October 22nd, 50 of our youth attended another meals by grace event. This event is so close to our youths as it shows their direct impact on the community. The volunteers They sort, pack, and deliver fruits, breads, veggies, deserts, juices, etc to families in the North Georgia area. We had a huge increase in volunteers since the last event, as the word spread quickly through the students. The food is then distributed to schools near the area for students to eat during breakfast and lunch, provided by the school. This is a great initiative taken by the government to fight child hunger within the community. This represents the small steps being taken to reduce child hunger around the world. Another reason why our youth religiously likes to attend the Meals by Grace event! Great Job youth!! July 2nd Event Atlanta VT Seva youths & adults participated in Meals By Grace (MBG) activity on July 2nd. They sorted, packed, and delivered fruits, breads, veggies, deserts, juices etc to the needy families of North Georgia. During summer vacation, these families have no or very less food to feed their children. The children excitedly wait for their school to open so they can get good breakfast, lunch, and snack at school. Our youths volunteer at MBG very often, it’s a gift of gratitude by Atlanta youths! More than 20 VT Seva Atlanta Youth participated in Meals by Grace event which is held at Midway United Methodist Church, Atlanta. Meals by Grace is an organization that provides nutritious meals to individuals and families facing food scarcity. VT Youth helped with sorting all the food from the truck into different sections like produce, bread, meat and canned foods. Then the Loading team sorted all of these products into different boxes depending on how big the family is and what their specific food requirements are. Then all the volunteers had an opportunity to help load these boxes into the cars of designated drivers so that they can deliver the food to those who need them. Thank you VT Seva for such a wonderful opportunity to youth!

2024 VT Seva Atlanta youths participated in the Bird House Making & Feeding project with fervor and zeal. Can You imagine a world without birds? Birds paly an essential role in our eco-system as they are the predators, pollinators, scavengers, and seed dispersers. If birds are healthy, our eco- system is also healthy as they are the eco-system engineers. More than 60 Atlanta youths of all age groups enjoyed making creative bird houses to provide home and food to the birds in this harsh winter. It’s good to know that our youths care about birds and building healthy habitat in Atlanta. Each youth will put bird seeds and water in their bird house year-round which will be instrumental in birds’ nurturing and growth and also contribute significantly in making our planet earth healthy. We raised $500 which was donated for the food for the blind/visually challenged students of Nethra Vidyalaya, India. It’s a gratifying experience for the Atlanta VT Seva Team and this is just a beginning... our giving wings of inspiration will never stop pushing us to the new heights! 2023 VTSeva Atlanta was delighted to hold the Bird House Making Project at Sharon Forks Library on February 25, 2023. This is our second annual year of doing this event and we had participation from more than 60 VTSeva children and adults. All the children enjoyed painting and decorating their birdhouses creatively. We raised over $300 from this bird house event for the cause. We can say this is ‘Tripple Bottom Line’ project, which impacted lives of Visually challenged kids in India, Atlanta VT Youth and Wild Birds. First, VT Seva Atlanta raised funds for the living of visually challenged kids in India. Second, VTSeva youth had an opportunity to help out the wild birds which are vital for a functioning environment. Third, Birds were given home to shelter, feed and to be protected from the wild winter. Spread Kindness to the birds nearby, Build Bird Homes & let your art apply, Give food to the Birds so they can fly, Let's do it Together, don't feel shy! 2022 On February 19, 2022, Atlanta VT Seva youths participated in a unique Bird Feeding project. They believe that birds had a tough winter, thus their promised themselves that let no bird die looking for food in spring. Atlanta youths spread their giving wings first by building bird houses and later putting bird seeds in it on the regular basis throughout the year. More than 25 Atlanta VT Seva youths participated in this bird feeding project. We collected $120 from this project which we used in donating for 1 day food to the Nethra Schools children for all 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner). It’s a win-win situation for everybody - for the birds, for our Nethra School kids, and our Atlanta VT Seva youths as they implemented what they learned in the Prajna classes of serving all beings as service to God. Check out the latest update on our Bird Feeding / Bird House project. One of the volunteers Tameraa's bird house attract momma bird which laid eggs and the chicks hatched! yay!!

Brannon Road - March 17th VT Seva Atlanta youths enthusiastically participated in cleaning Brannon road on March 17, 2024. They collected 6 bags of trash. By keeping the road litter-free, it reinforces our sense of civic responsibility and save tax payers money!VT Seva Atlanta youths enthusiastically participated in cleaning Brannon road on March 17, 2024. They collected 6 bags of trash. By keeping the road litter-free, it reinforces our sense of civic responsibility and save tax payers money! Brannon Road - October 29th The youths of VT Seva had gathered together to help clean up Brannon Rd. Gathering early in the morning, all youths put on vests, and gloves and grabbed both trash bags and grabbers. After getting ready to go youths started walking down from the traffic light for around 1 mile (1.7 kilometers) .They covered this distance in 3 hours. During the walk youths gathered up all sorts of plastics, paper, metals and other discarded items. One even found a leaf blower! In all, around 10 bags were filled up fully. Halfway through the walk the bags were picked up and volunteers received new and empty ones to fill up with trash. The youths talked, told stories, and made jokes during the event. High spirits were kept up throughout the whole clean up! About 35 volunteers showed up to help. We live on this earth and we need to work together to keep our home clean. That is how we can live in harmony with the environment. Shakerag Park Cleanup 2023 VT Seva Northview youths took the initiative to adopt Shakerag park and lend a hand in cleaning it, bringing Atlanta one step closer to being clean, green, and serene! This park clean up event attracted over 40 Atlanta youths, who all teamed up to pick up trash laying around. Atlanta youths once again went above and beyond in exhibiting their leadership skills by showing how deeply they cared for their very own mother nature. The third meeting for the VT Seva exhibit event also took place at this park. This exhibit was an opportunity to showcase everything that the Atlanta Branch of VT Seva accomplished over the past few years to the highly respected Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, CEO of VT Seva, who graced Atlanta with his presence on July 19th, 2023. Youths expressed a deep interest in being a part of displaying what all VT Seva Atlanta achieved to his holiness. Groups were finalized regarding who would present on what, ranging from the highly successful blankets for the homeless initiative to the high impact summer camp for younger children to make productive use of their summer. Overall, this park clean up event was a hit! Adopt-A-Road 2023 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 50 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. Adopt-A-Road 2022 On March 18th, 2023, VT Seva Atlanta met at a parking lot near Brannon Rd to help clean the road. More than 35 VT youth and adult volunteers participated in the event, picking up trash alongside the road. Adults and children alike bonded over the experience as they worked together to ensure the road was clean. Through their collective efforts, they filled 9 garbage bags with trash. A special thanks to our adult volunteers who helped put this event together. Without your help, it surely wouldn't have been possible. Thanks to all the volunteers who came, and we hope to see many more cleanups in the future! March 5, 2023 : On March 5th, 2023, VT Seva Atlanta met at Publix near Old Atlanta Rd to help clean the road. 22 VT youth and 10 adult volunteers participated in the event, picking up trash alongside the road. Through their collective efforts, they filled 15 garbage bags with broken glass bottles, plastic bottles, caps, bags, tape, metal, and even a cardboard sign. This experience taught VT Seva volunteers an important lesson: what appears on the surface may not be true. Though our roads might look pretty clean at a glance, you can see how much trash is there once you get a deeper look. This reveals the potential environmental problems that might be hiding everywhere, unnoticed. We hope that through future cleanups, we may be able to reduce this problem and keep our community clean. A special thanks to our adult volunteers who helped put this event together. Without your help, it surely wouldn't have been possible. Thanks to all the volunteers who came, and we hope to see many more cleanups in the future! 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 April 10th 2022 from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM and it commenced with a few inspirational words from our local city council member Dilip Tunki. Nelson Mandela once said, “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow,” and to see the children and youth of VT SEVA passionately spending their Sunday morning cleaning roads is incredibly uplifting! This was the first of many such road clean-up events, and one of VT SEVA’s many projects paving the road to a better world!

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 artwork in their summer camp art class. In addition. The dads were elated to receive these heartwarming gifts from their kids. They also brainstormed youth presentation ideas for the upcoming CEO visit in Atlanta. They are working hard in putting together VT exhibits & skit presentations for the Big Day on July 19th.

Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” – Heather French Henry On June 1st, 2023, the VT SEVA Atlanta Team embarked on a transformative journey with the launch of Summer Camp 2023. This initiative is rooted in three fundamental objectives: Engaging Education, Youth Empowerment, Supporting the Visually Challenged: We are dedicated to raising funds for the Visually Challenged children of Nethra Vidyalaya in India, extending our commitment to a noble cause. In the Laurel Heights Summer Camp, our dedicated youth volunteers undertook the responsibility of teaching online Elementary classes encompassing Math and ELA, as well as Fitness classes covering Taekwondo and Dance. These classes were designed to cater to the Special Needs children of the Laurel Heights Hospital who sought treatment during the summer months. Our young volunteers not only excelled in their roles but also played a pivotal part in uplifting the spirits of these children, infusing positivity into their lives, and facilitating their learning journeys during the healing process. In the VT SEVA Summer Camp for Atlanta's children, our youth volunteers continued to shine, receiving accolades from numerous parents who expressed their admiration for the camp's unique offerings. Many pledged to spread the word about this exceptional experience and eagerly anticipated enrolling their children in the 2024 VT SEVA summer camp. Here are some of the camp's remarkable highlights: >> Over 150 enthusiastic students enrolled in the summer camp. Atlanta's vibrant youth community took charge of teaching a >> diverse array of Elementary Classes, spanning Chess, Art, Robotics, Math, ELA, Dance, and Taekwondo. >> For those seeking more advanced learning opportunities, we offered classes in Web Design, App Building, Advanced Robotics, Advanced Art, Advanced Dance, Python programming, and Business Entrepreneurship. >> More than 50 passionate youths embraced the role of tutors, honing their skills in effective communication and lesson delivery. The camp successfully raised over $18,000 in support of blind and visually challenged children.

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.

We are incredibly honored to share this post from TSBVI, one of our cherished beneficiaries, highlighting the positive impact of our recent donation to their visually challenged school. At VT Seva we firmly believe in the power of education and inclusivity. It brings us immense joy to contribute to TSBVI's mission of providing a brighter future for visually challenged students. Our recent donation of $30,000 done by our CEO Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannaryana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami ji is just the beginning of our commitment to TSBVI and the incredible work they do. We are dedicated to supporting their journey as they empower these remarkable students to reach their full potential. Thank you, TSBVI, for the opportunity to collaborate with you. We look forward to many more milestones together! Details of Swami ji Visit to TSBVI. https://www.facebook.com/TSBVI/posts/pfbid02BDULD69AfDg4r34K2pzSHMX8xsN6NwbfeshMfj27wqxDi4UDA6UhEVY7i3ExMyZml Services Our volunteers are doing at TSBVI : 1. Converting TSBVI library books to audio books. 2. Creating CD covers to the books recorded. 3. Building Listening space at TSBVI library.

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. Once 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

HH Shri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji gave His Blessings for Subha Annual Event 2023 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. Later He visited VT Seva exhibits in which our youths showcased their volunteer works through tri-folds on Bird Feeding project, Books for Africa project, Laurel Heights Special Needs project, VT Seva Summer Camp, April Cool Seedling project, Adopt a road, CPR, Visit to Court House & City Council and many more projects. In addition to these exhibits, our 5 VT Seva high school youth clubs (Lambert, Denmark, Northview, Alliance, and Alpharetta) also displayed their year round club activities. Sri Swamiji was extremely pleased to see the volunteer work for VT Seva youths. Afterwards, He visited Prajna projects and was very happy to see their Bhagavad Gita & other projects as well made by Prajna kids. Next, was His welcome on stage and lighting up the lamp. He graciously lit the lamp and Jet and VT members also participated in lighting of the lamp. Subsequently, emcee welcome His His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and His Parivar to Atlanta. Then Prajna youths rendered opening prayer in melodious voice. Afterward, was SUBHA Kickoff. Sri Swamiji did the Subha Kickoff by pressing a button and rendering His Blessings for Subha 2023. Such a high spiritual leader blessed everyone by raising His hand and showering His grace to all. Later, He delivered a discourse on ‘Path of Compassion: Exploring Spirituality & Social Service' which was very enlightening and inspiring. He touched the hearts of more than 600 people who gathered there and everyone was filled with His aura and magnificent discourse. Consequently, SRS and VT Seva donors recognition was facilitated by Sri Swamiji which was followed by concluding prayer and Prasadam distribution. On July 20th morning, ‘Teertha Goshti’ was organized in which Swamiji gave His Blessings to all the devotees and delivered an inspiring and motivating discourse. He gave Prasad to devotees and token of appreciation to VT Seva youths, VT core members, Prajna youths, Prajna teachers, and Jet Atlanta core members. As every good thing has an end, so was the Swamiji’s visit to Atlanta, but His immortal discourse and teachings will be resounding forever in Atlanta and His memories will be alive with us for rest of our lives. Jai Srimannarayana!

Dec 9th 2023 Atlanta VT Seva youths feel joy in sharing their books for their friends in Africa and we collected more than 1500 books on Dec 9, 2023. It’s a great eco-friendly project to re-use and recycle books to save on paper and also spread literacy in Africa. In 2023, Books For Africa shipped approximately 4,029,000 books, valued at over $32.6 million, to 32 African countries, the most books ever shipped by Books For Africa in a single year. We are very fortunate that VT Seva Atlanta has shipped 5,000 books in 2023 by conducting 3 book drives in a year and were able to do small contribution to spread literacy in Africa! There is a saying by Dr. Seuss, ‘The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go’, and we hope that our books will empower African children with knowledge and create pathways to accomplish their dreams. ‘Books For Africa’ is a simple project but its impact is trans­formative. It transform lives of African children and VT Seva Atlanta youths are very fortunate to be part of this positive transformation! July 2023 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!

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.

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!

On Labor Day 2023, VT Seva 8th Youth Club in Chattahoochee Highschool was established. Another inspirational story of persistence, not to quit inspite of several rejections✌️✌️✌️ Hi all, this is Parthu Valluri, the President of VT Seva club at Chattahoochee Highschool. I'm proud to say that we have established VT Seva Youth Club in our school on Sep 1st. This club has been in the works since last year; the idea of the club was introduced to me by Madhu Aunty when I first joined VT Seva. Although it has been in the works for a while now, these last three weeks have been a series of unexpected twists and turns, as finding a proper sponsor was a huge issue. Our first two sponsors both quit immediately after submitting the application. Finding teachers only got more difficult as dozens rejected me and quickly, two weeks had flown by. It wasn't looking too good for us as time was running out. Thanks to Yoshna, one of our Vice Presidents, we managed to get a sponsor that was willing to help us last minute and thanks to him we are able to start our club! Now we are going to get started on pitching our club to the school this coming week and work together to spread VT Seva to Chattahoochee. Community service always starts small and becomes a big and beautiful collaborative activity, exactly what VT Seva Chattahoochee aspires to become. I look forward to working with my wonderful team of officers here in order to bring value to our community and to support the cause that VT Seva has brought to the world. - VT Seva Chattahoochee High School Team

March Everyday, we text people because it is quick and easy, but sometimes, writing a letter can be more personal, allow for more depth of communication, and can have more formality. It is vital that we are connected with our loved ones, and we should make them feel appreciated whenever possible. To do this South Forsyth High School VT Seva, started a letter-writing activity that has helped teenagers connect with their loved ones on a deeper level. It was a fairly successful project and we observed that our volunteers were able to connect with their family and friends! October SFHS youth made book marks, kindness stones, and thank you cards in the month of November to celebrate and appreciate the hard work and support of teachers , and promote education and reading. They gave cards to healthcare workers, police officers, and fire fighters to thank them. VT Seva Atlanta - South Forsyth High Nature write up SFHS VT Seva's first project was the Nature Writeup in which our members wrote paragraphs about times when they helped nature, how nature has affected them, or simply about the beautiful aspects on nature. We chose this topic as we thought of the start of seasonal change in September, when the a light chill mixes with the air, the sky blue deepens in shade, and the leaves of the trees gradually turn orange and red. This beautiful nature compelled us to start this project and spread the knowledge and appreciation of nature to everyone around us. We had a total of 22 very well written responses, and we compiled them all into a portfolio named "The Canvas of Nature" to portray our members' creativity and inspiration from nature! https://www.canva.com/design/DAFvlXzoMtI/rJdENHfFn5NMiYUnjfbeyQ/view?utm_content=DAFvlXzoMtI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink#1 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.

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!

77th Independence Day Flag March After working together to make pins to sell at the independence day event, members of VT Seva Atlanta gathered at Gas South Arena and put out a word for both VT Seva and for 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. Around 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. Adding sweets and walking around talking to people about helping the cause were some of the most effective ways to raise funds. Swapping out badges for tulsi plants after a while also caught people's eyes. Directing people to the stall helped as they would get face paintings or henna. Badge and Flag Making Event 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. The student created 3 unique designs that each represent the Indian flag as shown below. Infographic Social Media Posts VT Seva Atlanta youths celebrated 77𝒕𝒉 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒚 by sharing informational posters about Past, Present, & Future of Bharath! This project allowed the students to learn about India’s deep-rooted history and the inspirational leaders behind it. All of the posters were very creative in their own way while explaining the significance of each topic. The importance of encouraging this activity was very prominent, it allows the youths to be proud of their culture and understand the trials and tribulations a person can have to reach success. Collectively over 30 infographics were submitted by all the youths!

“Live in the present and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.” – Ida Scott Taylor In 2023, a remarkable annual initiative, Tribute to Bharath, once again illuminated the incredible diversity of Indian states. Spearheaded by Oviya, a passionate member of the VT Seva Youth Board in Detroit, this project was a journey into the heart of India, celebrating its unique states, cultures, and traditions. The Tribute to Bharath project was an innovative departure from the norm. Instead of delving into the pages of history, it focused on the vibrant present of India. Youth from Maryland and Detroit united to embark on this enlightening journey. A dedicated team of 28 Detroit youth board members and 19 Maryland Youth board members came together to research and create informational posters for each day of the month. These posters were windows into India's diverse states' cultural, historical, and geographical aspects. This project aimed to foster a deep connection with India's rich cultural roots. These posters were not mere information sheets; they were bridges connecting viewers to the fascinating tapestry of India. They showcased languages, traditions, and unique aspects that make each state a treasure trove of culture. One of the most significant achievements of this project was highlighting the unity in diversity that defines India. Each state has its own distinct identity, yet together, they form India's vibrant mosaic. This project emphasized the importance of cherishing this diversity and celebrating it as one of India's greatest strengths. Please take a moment to watch the video below: The success of the Tribute to Bharath project owes itself to the dedication and passion of our young board members. Let's acknowledge and celebrate the individuals who worked tirelessly to bring this project to life: Detroit: Oviya Jaisankar, Sreenika Perumalla, Kushal Durga, Shruthi Adduri, Eashan Daram, Sai Sriram Karnati, Sriraam Hebbar, Aditi Jethri Kompally, Vahini Murkathas, Shreya Shetty, Veena Karthik, Nirvan Daram, Rishab Mavatoor, Amogh Mavatoor, Anvika Perumalla, Rishi Chowdhury, Hiba Zyna, Harsh Ahire, Akhil Peteti, Nikhil Aerabati, Aanya Janga, Kalki Renga Anand, Rachana Raghunathan, Rishi Adduri, Kavi Renga Anand, Tanay Shah, Adhip Pisipati, Sathvik Tirumala Kanduri Maryland: Taara Vasudevan, Aadya Gillella, Akanksha Subramaniam, Divya Putthana, Gautham Venkatramanan, Kaniskar Sekaran, Keerthana Ganesh, Rohan Putthana, Sana Shenoy, Abhiram Tammana, Anika Gillella, Arjun Challa, Bhavya Yarlagadda, Mahesh C.G., Mridula Vasudevan, Nikitha Tokala, Rashmika Patel, Shreemayi Chityala, Yashmita Dillibabu Blog Written By: Oviya Jaisankar Detroit Tribute to Bharath Video by: Oviya Jaisankar Maryland Tribute to Bharath Video by: Mridula Vasudevan

In a stunning display of grit, determination, and unmatched talent, the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind emerged victorious at the IBSA World Games, securing the coveted Gold medal. This remarkable feat not only celebrates their exceptional sporting abilities but also shines a light on the power of inclusivity and the impact of organizations that support them. Hailing from diverse backgrounds and regions, the Indian women who competed in the IBSA World Games showcased their exceptional cricketing skills, defying all odds. What makes this victory even more inspiring is the fact that three players representing India hail from the Nethra Vidyalaya school and colleges. These players have not only exemplified their prowess on the field but have also demonstrated the value of quality education and sports training. Behind this triumphant journey lies the unwavering support of VT Seva to Nethra Vidyalaya School and Colleges, an organization that has played a pivotal role in nurturing these players' educational pursuits and sporting aspirations. VT Seva's commitment to empowering these women through education and sports has undeniably been a driving force behind their success. A significant part of this incredible journey can be attributed to the vision of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, the visionary founder of Nethra Vidyalaya and VT Seva. His foresight and dedication to creating an inclusive environment for differently-abled individuals have been instrumental in shaping the lives of these cricketing champions. Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji's vision goes beyond just sports; it encompasses the holistic development of individuals who are often overlooked, emphasizing education, skill-building, and self-confidence. He closely followed their progress and He announced a reward of 1 lakh Indian rupees each for the three players who are the students of Nethra Vidyalaya, He also announced a reward of 2 lakh India rupees to other Indian team members. As we celebrate this remarkable victory, it's important to recognize and appreciate the collective effort that made it possible. Volunteers and donors who selflessly dedicated their time, resources, and expertise to support these women deserve heartfelt gratitude. Their contributions have not only helped in honing the players' talents but have also paved the way for a more inclusive and accepting society. The IBSA World Games are the largest high-level international event for athletes with visual impairments, with more than 1000 competitors from more than 70 nations. Games took place at the University of Birmingham, across the Edgbaston area and wider region from 18-27 August 2023. The triumph of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind at the IBSA World Games is a testament to the potential that lies within every individual, regardless of their abilities. It underscores the importance of equal opportunities and the positive impact that educational and sports initiatives can have on shaping lives. In a resounding display of women power and the power of visually challenged, the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind secured an awe-inspiring victory at the IBSA World Games, emerging as undisputed champions. Their journey to the Gold medal was not just a feat of athletic prowess, but a testament to the indomitable spirit that defies limitations and breaks down barriers. The journey of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind to their astounding victory at the IBSA World Games Gold was nothing short of a triumph against all odds. Throughout the tournament, they exhibited unparalleled dedication and a remarkable display of skill. Their journey began with a compelling eight-wicket victory over Australia. In a testament to their resilience and strategic prowess, they effectively restricted Australia to 59/6. This opening victory laid the foundation for what was to come — a demonstration of sheer determination and a remarkable ability to adapt to challenges. As the tournament unfolded, the Indian team's dominance became increasingly evident. Their match against England showcased their explosive batting prowess, as they amassed an impressive 268/2 in just 20 overs. This display of power not only secured them a staggering 185-run victory but also solidified their position as true contenders for the Gold. With an unyielding spirit and an unwavering focus, the Indian team went on to pummel Australia once again, this time by a remarkable 163-run margin. Their consistent performance showcased their relentless pursuit of excellence and their commitment to pushing their limits beyond conventional expectations. Against England in the subsequent match, the Indian team displayed their prowess yet again, emerging victorious by a substantial 153-run margin. The momentum they had built over the course of the tournament was a testament to their exceptional teamwork, skillful execution, and unshakeable determination. As the climactic moment arrived—the finals—the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind faced Austalia with their eyes on the Gold. Demonstrating their incredible batting and fielding prowess, they clinched a resounding nine-wicket victory, sealing their victory and etching their names in the annals of sporting history. This triumphant journey not only underscores the prowess of women in sports but also challenges the notion of limitations. The Indian team's feat celebrates the essence of women power and visually challenged, proving that determination, skill, and teamwork can overcome any obstacle. Their dominance, perseverance, and relentless pursuit of excellence serve as an inspiration to the world, a reminder that true champions are those who dare to break barriers and redefine what is possible. The victory of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind is a story of empowerment, resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit—a story that will inspire generations to come.

What an incredible triumph for our blind cricketers representing India! Traveling to England and defeating both England and Australia is a testament to their unwavering determination and remarkable skills. Games are taking place from August 18 - 27, 2023 at the University of Birmingham, England. The IBSA World Games are the largest high-level international event for athletes with visual impairments, with over 1000 competitors from more than 70 nations. The Indian team beat Australia by 8 wickets in the first match, won the second match against England with 185 runs, and won the third match against Australia with 245 runs Our beloved Nethra Vidyalaya students are taking part in this wonderful victory A special shoutout to the inspiring trio of female students from Nethra Vidyalaya School who shone brightly on the field. Ravani's outstanding performance, with a splendid half-century while batting and a wicket while bowling, Sandhya & Ravani taking a wicket truly exemplifies their sheer talent and hard work. None of this would have been possible without the dedicated efforts of VT Seva volunteers and donors. Your unwavering support has paved the way for these athletes to achieve their dreams and make our nation proud. Let's celebrate this remarkable accomplishment and continue to empower these individuals to reach even greater heights! Celebrating the incredible success of our blind cricketers representing India, and there's even more to this heartwarming story! Recollecting the memory with joy - A group of 16 enthusiastic VT Seva volunteers - high school students from the US had an extraordinary opportunity as part of their summer internship in June - July 2023. They interacted, ran with, and provided a token of encouragement to the talented girl cricketers by gifting sports backpacks. Click here for the pictures from the internship trip. Such acts of kindness and solidarity truly make a wonderful memory by empowering these athletes who have brought glory to our nation and more importantly remind us of the responsibility we volunteers have to continue our support in their journey of achieving dreams. Let's continue to celebrate the spirit of achievement, collaboration, and support that binds us all together. Together, we are building a brighter future for these extraordinary individuals! VT Seva is Volunteering Together for Service

We are thrilled to announce a significant stride forward in our mission to empower visually challenged education. VT Seva is honored to share that we have been awarded a grant from General Motors Austin location, a testament to their commitment to fostering inclusive education and societal progress. With immense gratitude, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to General Motors for their generous grant of $20,000, which is driving us closer to our vision of creating a dynamic listening space at the Texas School for Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI). This transformative project named "Real Voice" is dedicated to enhancing the blind reading abilities of visually impaired students, enabling them to dive into the world of literature, knowledge, and imagination listening to the audio books recorded by the VT Seva young volunteers in an entirely new way. General Motors' unwavering support not only fuels this exciting initiative but also resonates with our shared commitment to empowering individuals and building an inclusive future. We are deeply grateful to General Motors for their belief in our mission and their partnership in creating a world where every individual, regardless of their abilities, has equal access to education. This grant exemplifies the positive change that can happen when businesses and nonprofits join forces to address societal needs. Stay tuned as we embark on this journey of VT Seva Listening corner at TSBVI Library. We can't wait to keep you updated on the progress of our listening space and the incredible impact it's bound to make. Thank you, General Motors, for partnering with us to light up the path to literacy and transform the lives of visually impaired students. Together, we're shaping a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow!

One day, Sridevi, the Chicago branch director of VT Seva, was at the local farmers market in Buffalo Grove. She saw two high school kids at a booth. She headed over there and saw that they were fundraising. They had chocolates out and were selling it for as much as people would pay for them. Needless to say, that’s when Sridevi had the brilliant idea to sign up VT Seva for a booth at the farmers market. She researched and emailed people until she finally got us a slot: Sunday, June 25 from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Now, all we needed were volunteers to man the booth and things to sell. Hence, Sruthi created a signup to bake, to help out at the booth, or do both. There were many whom had signed up for volunteering at the booth. We split the times up into slots, fearing it would be too tiring for the youths to handle. Sudheeshna, Veda, Sahithi, and Kiva stayed the whole time. Sruthi made a huge batch of cookie dough the day before this event and made enough dough for 100 cookies. On the day of event we found out home made goods weren’t allowed because of some precautions. Luckily, we brought plants, water bottles in iceboxes, store bought cookies, and brownie brittle to be received as a thank you gift for donating. Reshma also joined us. We experimented with hooks that could lead people to our booth. We started with “would you like to help our community?”. Then went on to “would you like to help local food pantries?”. Then, finalized our hook: “would you like to know how we help our community?” “Business was slow at first as many people didn’t want to carry around plants but they came back and purchased plants.” Some of our families even came out to support us. Reshma described how as the day progressed, “there were times when people we approached simply didn’t want to listen to what we had to say. At these moments, we would just laugh it off and move on. When people were interested, we all worked together to effectively explain the depth of our cause” Youth volunteers shared the QR code for VT Seva home page for people to learn more about VT Seva and donate. Sudheeshna developed her persuasive catch phrase, “A dollar goes a long way!”, which convinced many to donate. A reporter from Capital Gazette approached the youth volunteers and he was so inspired by VT Seva that he decided he would write an article about VT Seva and youth volunteers which would be published in the following weeks. All the youth volunteers were so grateful for the opportunity. Kiva reflected on the day, she felt: “At the beginning I felt really shy but as the day went on I felt really confident going up to people and saying my lines.” Overall, all youth volunteers learned how to communicate with people better. When asked what Reshma learnt, she told: “I learned that sometimes it takes patience and time before you can start achieving your purpose." In terms of this event, volunteers had to continue to approach people even though most of them didn’t want to hear what we had to say. "However, this didn’t stop us and we continued to talk to more people, and eventually we created a lot of awareness about VT Seva, created enthusiasm about the activities we are doing, got some donations, and added new volunteers, which was such a great result” Blog Written By: Sruthi Ranga

August 4th, 2023 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! Dr. Praveen Gudipati provided a high-level overview of the dental care process, roles, and responsibilities of a hygienist, dental assistant, and office staff to our VT Seva youths. He also explained career opportunities in the field of dentistry and the digitalization of the patent care process. Moises, Dental Assistant explained the dental diagnostic & treatment process to our VT youths. It’s a great learning experience for all of us today! Donna, the hygienist has a job security… find out how by watching this video 🦷🪥

We concluded an amazing high-energy *2023 4th Annual VT Seva 'Soccer for a Cause'* tournament successfully! With the funds raised in this tournament, we can support the education of 12 children at Nethra Vidyalaya School for the entire year. The players, referees, volunteers, viewers/supporters, and parents were simply FABULOUS in supporting the cause. The games were played with the right spirit and attitude from the beginning to the end. The game coordinators and timekeepers were extremely diligent in ensuring the scores and timings are kept as per schedule. After an electrifying Group 2 final, Look Ma, No Hands team from New Baltimore, MI came as out the winner defeating the tough-playing Novi Lightning Blue. What a nail-biting finish, it was with the two Semis and Final games in the knockout stages after the firepower round-robin group games between the 12 teams!! Detroit FC clashed against Manchester Divided in the finals knocking out CPFC and Team Abhinav in the semis. Detroit FC came up victorious and took the championship trophy 🏆. The rolling trophy has now passed on from last year's winners Saginaw-FC to Detroit FC, who are the new champions of the tournament in Group-3. Very special shoutout to VT Seva youth captains - Kalki, Adhip, Yug, and Abhinav who promoted the event and formed their own teams. Lots of appreciation and thanks to all the referees from the Group 3 teams and Group 2 referees Grace, Darshan & Adam for ensuring the games are played fairly. Special shoutout to Alvin, whose support, drive, and initiatives were critical to the tournament this year. Alvin has been a constant supporter of our cause and this year he played a major role in being part of the VTS Soccer management team, pulling in so many teams, working through the schedule with us, and working hand in hand with our VTS team. Thank you so much! 👍✌️ The event would not have been a grand success without the valuable contributions of VT Seva Volunteers. HOURS & HOURS OF PREP WORK WENT INTO MAKING THIS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT so hats off to the DETROIT STRONG VTS Volunteering team Youth & Adults. Volunteers list: We are so grateful for the support from our event Sponsors- Vani Foods, BSHM Financial Services (Texas), and our corporate sponsor Yazaki North America, Inc. 🙏🙏🙏 Thanks to Akshaya Patra, who provided food for sale at the venue. More details with Game Stats, photos, and special mentions are forthcoming soon in the form of a website blog post!! Event photos can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lm4hn8WZK7Cz4Xj5A Standings & Scores of the event: Group 2: Group 2 Final Game: Group 3: Group 3 Semi-Finals & Finals Scores: Facebook Link https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid02DKruDSFQUSsXYF5D73jjFnGRoANN7zwVSJbJndRvfX6Qz84vVpGF619V9mYbjZKal Youtube Link Blog Written By: Suresh Rajan Blog Published By: Nandini Cheemalamarri

Over the course of the second quarter of 2023 (April - June) VT Seva volunteers have made a huge impact. Participating in over 15 projects, VT Seva volunteers have made sure to make this world a better place. Every project was great and allowed youth and adult volunteers alike to extend their time to further such a noble cause. VT Seva’s volunteers did everything from litter cleanup on earth day to helping package food for people in need. VT Seva’s wide-ranging scope of projects has made sure to enrich the community, empower positive change, and enhance the world. Below are the projects we have done from April to June this quarter: Youth Board Projects: CASS Community Social Services Centers Kitchen Volunteering – April 8th Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant Center Tour – April 16th Mother’s Day Cards – May 10th Troy Nature Center – May 13th VT Seva Detroit Youth Board 4th Anniversary Celebration & College Planning Webinar - May 19th Walkathon Kickoff – June 16th Father’s Day Cards – June 18th RRRASOC Recycling Webinar – June 26th Detroit Projects: Ford Wellness Center – April 1st Forgotten Harvest – April 15th VT Seva Table Tennis and Badminton tournament - April 22nd Earth Day Litter Cleanup Walk – April 29th Novi Police Department Appreciation Lunch – May 13th Stamp Out Hunger – April-May Forgotten Harvest – May 20th Mercado Food Hub – June 10th VT Seva Soccer Tournament - June 24th 4/8/2023 - CASS Community Social Services Centers Kitchen At this event, VT Seva volunteers helped the CASS community serve meals for 200 to 300 people. The volunteers helped make bagged lunches, make sandwiches, organize the pantry, clean spice racks, organize kitchen shelves, cut up vegetables, and then cleaned up afterward. They worked so hard and well, in fact, that they finished all the jobs early. Project Lead: Oviya JaiSankar Youth volunteers: Amogh, Eesha, Hajanthan, Hrudya, Lalitaditya, Rishabh, Shraya, Siya, Yana, Varshan Adult Volunteers: Komathy ji, Neha ji, Vanitha ji, Nalini ji, Ravi ji, Kishore ji, Deepak ji, Muhinthan Murugesu ji, CASS community center Event FB Link 4/16/2023 - Ann Arbor Waste Water Treatment Plant Tour In this activity, VT Seva volunteers got the amazing opportunity to learn a lot about Wastewater treatment. The volunteers toured a number of treatment units in the facility and learned what wastewater treatment is as well as how it is done. For example, the volunteers learned that wastewater treatment is a process to remove waste materials from the wastewater, to enable the resulting clean after to be reused. The waste that is removed from the water is sent to a landfill or waste-handling storage facility. Youth volunteers: Aditya P, Deekshitha R, Hajanthan M, Harish J, Hrudya K, Nidhi R, Oviya J, Rishi A, Samhith E, Shraya V, Shruthi A, Vahini M, Varshan M, Veeksha S Adult Volunteers: Manjunath, Murukathas, Nalini, Komathy, Neha, Ranga Rao , Priya, Jaisankar, Kishore Ann Arbor wastewater treatment plant tour FB link 5/10/2023 - Mothers’ Day Greeting Cards Project To celebrate Mother’s Day VT Seva volunteers created beautiful cards to wish all the moms at 3 senior centers: Oakmont Communities, Woodhaven, and Manoogian Manor. All of these cards displayed incredible passion and creativity and were sure to put a smile on their recipients. Through this event, VT Seva volunteers created 170 amazing cards to share in the old age centers. Project Lead: Rishabh Mavatoor and Oviya Jaisankar Youth volunteers: Aadya, Aanya, Abisrishti, Adithi, Akshith, Akshita, Amogh M, Anirvin, Ankita, Chakrikaa, Deekshitha, Harsh, Hrudya, Jishnu, Kushal, Nidhi, Nikhil, Oviya, Rakshan, Rishabh, Rishi A, Rishi C, Ruthvi, Sohan, Sai Sahasra, Sai Sri Ram, Sanjana, Sathvik, Shraya, Shruthi, Sriraam, Supraja, Tanay, Vahini, Varsha, Varun, Vedhya, Veena, Yathi Adult Volunteers: Asha, Jisha, Jyothi, Keerthi, Mythili, Nalini, Neha, Niveditha, Priya, Swathi, Vandana, Srinath. Mother's Day event link 5/13/2023 - Troy Stage Nature Center During this project, VT Seva Volunteers went to the Troy Nature Center where the volunteers learned about invasive species and also helped to clear an area of trees that were invasive in order to help the ecosystem. Project lead: Saisha Srivatsam Youth volunteers: Aakash S, Abhiram, Akshay, Ishan, Lalit Aditya, Nishant, Praneel, Tanay, Saisha, Saiabhiram, Saichakrika, Shrinidhi, Sneha, Varnika Adult Volunteers: Chandrasekar, Jaisankar, Priya, Ravinder, Shreya Troy nature center link 5/19/2023 - VT Seva Detroit Youth Board 4th Aniversiary Celebration(College Webinar) To celebrate the 4th anniversary of VT Seva Detroit, VT Seva hosted a College Guidance webinar. Ashleigh Taylor - founder of Empowered 4 College and a former University of Michigan Admissions Officer - covered application essentials: academics, testing resumes, recommendations, and essays. Both parents and youths joined and the event was a huge success! Adult volunteers attended this event to help it run smoothly. VT Seva Detroit Youth Board 4th Anniversary Celebration(College Webinar) FB Link 6/16/2023 - Walkathon Kickoff & 4th Youth Board In-Person Celebration This event started VT Seva’s 4th annual walkathon, it was a grand celebration that got the event off to a great start! The proceeds of the walkathon go to Angles of Hope – A family cancer foundation. Both Detroit youth board members and adult volunteers attended this event to make it a great success. 6/18/2023 - Father’s Day Greeting Cards Project VT Seva volunteers handmade beautiful cards and distributed them to the seniors at Manoogian Manor and Oakmont Senior Communities as a celebration of Father’s Day. What a way to touch the hearts of so many on such a special occasion! Project leads: Rishabh Mavatoor and Oviya Jaisankar Youth volunteers: Aanya, Deekshitha, Nidhi, Oviya, Rishabh, Rishi C, Rishi A, Sai Sahasra, Sai Sriram, Shruthi, Kushal, Veena & Sriram Adult Volunteers: Nalini, Niveditha, Priya & Srinath Father's Day FB Link 6/26/2023 - VTS DET YB Webinar About Recycling By RRRASOC During this webinar on recycling and how it can help the earth, the volunteers learned a lot about how recycling works, why to recycle, and why some things can and can’t be recycled. This webinar also taught the volunteers how to be more conscious of what they are throwing away. It was overall a very informative webinar and a great opportunity as well. Youth volunteers: Adithi, Adhip, Deekshitha, Durga, Eashan, Jonath, Harsh, Hiba, Lalitaditya, Nirvan, Rishi A, Rishi C, Saisha, Saisahasra, Shruthi, Sneha, Sreenika, Sudeshna Adult Volunteers: Archana, Architha, Vanitha, Priya, Nalini Event FB Link 4/1/2023 - Ford Wellness Center Volunteering VT Seva helped Destined for Greatness in sorting clothing, books, food, kits for women, baby products, and oral hygiene assessment kits, the volunteers also helped clean the areas and move things from one place to another to help organize the center. All of this was done for their 13th annual Easter Basket and Easter clothing giveaway and completed in a span of 3 hours. The work that VT Seva has done here will benefit more than 500 Detroit families in need. Youth volunteers: Hrudya Kishore; Nikhil Aerabati; Lalitaditya Akkaraju; Tejas Raja; Vedhya Raja; Leo Schmidt Adult Volunteers: Raghunath Aerabati; Kishore; Rajesh Raja; Ravinder Akkaraju; Suresh Rajan & Vanitha Gopalan Ford wellness center event FB Link 4/15/2023 - Forgotten Harvest Volunteering VT Seva volunteers are on the cause of fighting hunger. Through this project, the volunteers sorted and packed food to be distributed to people in need. They also loaded the pre-sorted boxes onto the correct pallets, dismantled the boxes that the food came in, cleaned and sanitized the tables, and stowed them away just to name a few. Through all of this hard work, the volunteers had a huge impact – packing over 7500 pounds of food all within the span of 3 hours! Youth volunteers: Nikhil Aerabati, Kushal Durga, Amogh Mavatoor, Rishabh Mavatoor, Aditya Prayagi, Nitin Ramkumar, Saisha Srivatsan, Sathvik Surapaneni, Siva Suravarapu Adult Volunteers: Vandana Durga, Vaishnavi Aerabati, Shalini Musunuru, Meena Ramkumar, Srivatsan Santhanam Forgotten harvest volunteering FB link 4/22/2023 - VT Seva Table Tennis and Badminton tournament VT Seva hosted a tournament for both youth and adults to play badminton or table tennis as a fundraiser to promote their main cause of helping visually challenged children and tribal school students’ education. This event was held at SPARC Arena in Novi and was a huge success! Adult volunteers attended this event to help it run smoothly. VT Seva Table Tennis and Badminton Tournament FB Link 4/29/2023 - Litter Walk Annual Spring Cleanup Earth Day Activity For Earth Day – the day in which we bring awareness to the earth and its needs – VT Seva teamed up with the city of Farmington Hills, Michigan, and cleaned up the city roads. This is their 10th annual earth day cleanup. Not only did the volunteers make a huge impact on their community but they also learned a lot about littering and being community and environmentally-oriented citizens. Youth Volunteers: Jishnu Kadalam, Kushal Durga, Hrudya Kishore, Haji Muhinthan, Varshan Muhinthan, Aditya Prayagai, Amogh Mavatoor, Rishabh Mavatoor Adult Volunteers: Priya Prayagai, Niveditha Mavatoor, Kishore Anam, Vandana Durga, Vanitha Gopalan Litter walk event Link 5/13/2023 - Novi Police Department Appreciation Lunch Followed By Tour Of The Facility In order to honor National Police Week, VT Seva Detroit brought lunch to the Novi Police Department and a plaque expressing their “Thank You” for the officers and everything they do. We were fortunate enough to get a tour of the police department. This tour showed us a lot about the facility: places such as holding cells, arraignment area, dispatcher area, sergeant’s office, lieutenant’s office, briefing area, conference room, parking area, garage for repairs, training room, records area, officer cubicles, mailrooms, gym, and lunch area. Youth Volunteers: Amogh Mavatoor, Rishabh Mavatoor, Yathi Shekar Debbata, Hajanthan Muhinthan, Aditi Jethri, Abisrishti Ram, Jishnu Kandalam, Sohan Kancharla, Nikhil Aerabati, Raksha Samynathan, Nemish Debbata, Sathvik TirumalaKanduri Adult Volunteers: Suresh Rajan, Srinathbabu Karnati, Sreenivas Cheemalamarri, Ram V Ramanathan, Durga Nalini S, Asha Puranam, Poojitha Bollineni, Shobana Balasubramanian, Samynathan Thirunavukkarasu, Niveditha Mavatoor, Swati Debbara, Vanitha Gopalan Novi police department event link April-May 2023 - Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive VT Seva volunteers packaged up non-perishable food items and mailed them to gleaners' foodbank via the postal service. This at-home project had a massive impact, causing 1600 bags of nonperishable food to be folded and mailed to gleaners where they will be given to people in need. Youth volunteers: Kaustubh Dingari, Hajanthan Muhinthan, Samhith Enganti, Varshan Muhinthan, Nikhil Aerabati, Varun Aerabati, Bindhya Suriyanarayanan, Sruthi Adduri, Rishi Adduri, Nithin Ramkumar, Siva Suryavarapu, Akshitha Mylavarapu, Amogh Mavatoor, Rishabh Mavatoor, Kushal Durga, Adithi Jeithri, Sriram Hebbar, Akshita Narla,Abisrishti Ram, Supraja Pattangi, Shraya Ved, Pranav Kota, Sai Sri Ram Karnati, Rohan Patil, Veeksha Somula, Vrishnak Somula, Sathvik TirumalaKanduri, Chakrikaa kurapati, Hrudya kishore Stamp out hunger food drive FB link 5/20/2023 - Forgotten Harvest Volunteering VT Seva volunteers went back to the forgotten harvest to package up food, clean and sanitize tables, took the garbage out, dismantle the boxes that the food came in, and much more. In fact, this time the volunteers made a 4500-pound increase in the food packaged, totaling over 12000 pounds. Youth volunteers: Lalitaditya Akkaraju, Eesha chigullapally, Rishabh Mavatoor, Sai Sahasra Nammuduri, Akshith Ashwanth, Yana Panchal, Siya Sandeep, Saisha Srivatsan, Siva Suravarapu, Shraya Ved. Adult Volunteers: Vandana Durga, Vanitha Gopalan, Raghunath Nammduri, Nirmala Srivatsan, Suresh Rajan, Ravinder Akkaraju Forgotten Harvest FB Link 6/10/2023 - VT Seva Detroit Mercado Food Hub Volunteering During this event at the Mercado Food hub VT Seva volunteers performed a wide range of tasks which had a massive impact! Some of the tasks that were done are: prepping the warehouse for the packing of food, packing produce into carts to be loaded into cars, packing emergency carts, loading the carts into the cars, sweeping and mopping the floors, and taking the garbage out. All of this hard work by the volunteers resulted in 7400 pounds of food being packed for 123 families in a span of 5 hours. Youth volunteers: Jishnu Kandalam, Saisha Srivatsan, Shraya Ved Adult Volunteers: Vandana Durga, Srivatsan Santhanam, Vanitha Gopalan, Neha Ved 6/24/2023 - VT Seva Soccer Tournament VT Seva hosted a tournament for youth ages 6 and above to play soccer as a fundraiser to champion their main cause of helping visually challenged children and tribal school students’ education. This event was held at total sports in Novi and is the 4th annual soccer tournament for a cause that VT Seva has held. Adult volunteers attended this event to help it run smoothly. Blog Created by: Lalitaditya Akkaraju Video Created by: Shreya Shetty Blog Edited and Published by: Nandini Cheemalamarri

Troy IAE and Troy High School students are organizing the first Tennis Tournament to support Nethra Vidyalaya student’s education in India. This is the doubles tournament for middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults. Come have a friendly play with your friends. To have more fun both middle schoolers and high schoolers will play together. Have fun playing, win the trophies and provide education! Come join and support the efforts of high school students who are working together to support underprivileged student’s education Play for a day and support 20 days of education for one student! Block your calendar for August 27, 2023 from 9 AM @ Troy High School courts Registrations fee is considered as donation, so it will not be refunded. Rules & Regulations: All Players must go through the rules & regulations and sign the Waiver Form in registration form.

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.

Life becomes more purposeful when you’re doing something good.” Brendan Locke Cancer has a major impact on society in the United States and across the world and it is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Our VT Seva Detroit Youth Board members made an effort to alleviate some of the financial strain that cancer patients goes through. VT Seva Detroit Youth Board successfully completed their 3rd annual hybrid walkathon on July 16, 2023, to support Angels of Hope - A Family Cancer Foundation supporting Michigan families impacted by Cancer. This year's walkathon kicked off on June 16th immediately after the end of school year. VT Seva leadership team kicked off this event with a lot of energy and instill motivation in all of us. Third annual hybrid walkathon was conducted for 30 days from June 16, 2023 to July 16, 2023. 213 participants , 43 team leads raised more than $3600+ and walked 7700+ hours. By the end of the first week, 50% of the team leads registered, and overall around 50 people registered. And by July 16th, we have 42 team leads registered with 213 people. Many of the team leads went above and beyond and were able to recruit more than 4 members in their team. Final day… On July 16th, the final walkathon day... with 60+ participants, We kicked it off with a yoga session by Srilatha , all participants got an opportunity to learn about Yoga and practice a few exercises. Most importantly.. beneficiaries of the walkathon also joined the event, which is Angels of Hope and a cancer impacted person helped by this organization. It was eye-opening to many of the volunteers to hear the financial and mental problems that they go through and how their lives are impacted. Angels of Hope stood next to these people and helped them to pay their rent, utility bills as well as groceries and ensured they go through a speedy recovery. Hearing these directly from the affected people, all volunteers got motivated and inspired to help out more for this cause. Joining this well-organized, thoughtful event really opened many of our eyes to how reality is for others who are still part of our community. It spread a lot of awareness to myself and my peers on struggles others go through, and how we can help them. In the end, we successfully raised more than $3,500 which will be used for the greater cause of helping cancer families. VT-Seva's Annual Walkathon will surely be an event that many of us will attend again due to its huge impact across many people. One of our youth team Oviya Jaisankar donated her hair for the organization Wigs 4 Kids which supports the children who are impacted by cancer. This event would not have been possible without our Team Leads! Huge shoutout to: Varnika Jakka, Oviya Jaisankar, Abhiram Mudeganti, Hajanthan Muhinthan, Akshaya Palanisamy, Akshita Mylavarapu, Anvika Perumalla, Sreenika Perumalla, Aanya Das, Adhip Pisipati, Pelon Lin, Rishi Chowdhury, Saisha Srivatsan, Sathvik Tirumala Kanduri, Aditi Jethri Kompally, Akshay Kumar, Akshith Ashwanth, Anuraag Balaji, Arya Tarun Cheemalamarri, Eesha Chigullapally, Ishan Iyer, Jayanth Bhatti, Kalki Renga Anand, Rishi Adduri, Ruthvi Ala,Sai Sahasra Namuduri, Sai Sri Ram Karnati, Samhith Enganti, Sanjana Datla, Shivam Shah, Shivani Nimmagadda, Shraya Ved, Sneha Chandrasekar, Sriraam Hebbar, Supraja Pattangi, Teja Tanush Cheemalamarri, Varshan Muhinthan, Veena Karthik, and Vishnu Athreya This year our team leaders not only walking and raising money for Angels of Hope, they were walking across national parks. Rishi Chowdhry a team leader put together a google map for all national parks in the contiguous states in USA. Many team leaders learned about those national parks and shared their learning with others. On top of achieving the goal of getting at least 4 team members, some team leads exceeded that! This year’s winners are: Individuals with more miles 1st Place - Kalki 2nd Place - Rithvik 3rd Place - Priyanka Team with more miles 1st Place - Oviya 2nd Place - Adhip 3rd Place - Rishi C Team Leads with more members 1st Place - Varnika (22 Members) 2nd Place - Oviya (14 Members) 3rd Place - Abhiram (9 Members) This year’s Walkathon would also not have been possible without the parents who sponsored the snacks and drinks that kept all the participants' energy up! Thanks to the parents (Vidya ji, Jaisankar ji, Jisha ji, Nandhini ji, Nalini ji & Kanchana ji) who sponsored water bottles, fruits, snack bars, and cookies. Not only did some sponsor for treats, but we would also like to thank the families and team members (Suresh Kaku (Sai Sriram) ji, Aarthi ji, Architha ji & Siri ji) that chose to donate more. We raised a $600 donation for this cause through this! Thanks to 𝐔𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐣𝐢 for website creation and providing support with website maintenance and updates. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with setup to cleanup ! We are very grateful for a successful Walkathon this year, and thank all the contributors. Reflection from few of our walkathon team leads! Oviya Jaisankar: This is 3rd year I’m participating as a Team Leader. Knowing the impact this project creates in the families impacted by cancer, I try to reach out more to contribute more. Moreover, this project motivates me to walk every day and stay healthy too. Prayers to all the families and patients impacted by cancer. Veena Karthik: It is very overwhelming for Cancer patients and their families when they are saddled with bills and out of pocket costs while dealing with life altering illness and treatments. I was glad to be part of VT Seva Detroit - Angels of Hope partnership Walkathon 2023 to raise funds for those impacted families and help ease their financial strain during this difficult time. This walkathon also helped our family to stay active during summer. Anvika Perumalla: The walkathon was a wonderful experience as I was able to raise money for those fighting cancer and see the true impact right in front of me at the finale. It made me realize that the impacts which I had created may seem insignificant to me, but it was instilling buckets of hope in others. I am so glad I was able to be apart of this opportunity and I wish to continue to spread joy in my community. Pelon Lin: It was a really nice event to attend. I really enjoyed walking throughout the whole Walkathon and the final kickoff event at Shiawassee Park. My family and I are very active people, and we each enjoy different forms of exercise, such as running, walking, swimming, and playing basketball. This Walkathon was really memorable to me because it was great seeing more than 200 people participate in the Walkathon to help support Angels of Hope. Although some people did not log mileage, this Walkathon helped encourage many people to walk, which will benefit their health. Sreenika Perumalla: When VT Seva started the walkathon this year, my initial feeling was just one more project with a focus on helping cancer-impacted people. However, this thought process totally changed and made me a more changed (committed and motivated) individual by the end of the whole program. And I believe the same reflection is on youth as well as adults. Video By: Adhip Pisipati Blog Written By: Sreenika Perumalla Blog Edited By: Priya Jaisankar

September 16TH, 2023 from 9:00 AM onwards at the Sand Volleyball Courts – 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48706 One of the most awaited Sports events of VTSeva is back in action. With the amazing turnout back in 2022, we are excited to host the V T Seva Volleyball & Throwball Tournament benefiting the visually challenged children yet again in 2023. Please mark your calendar for Sept 16th, 2023, from 9:00 AM onwards at the Sand Volleyball Courts – 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48706. 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 either as a Player or as an audience. Register as a Team at: Rules & Regulations: All Teams/Individual Players must go through the rules & regulations and sign the Waiver Form.

SUBHA 2023 - Another Year of Success!! According to Bhagavad Gita, “You are what you believe in. You become that which you believe you can become”, VT Seva Atlanta team strongly beliefs in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ the world is one family and we all play an important role to keep our family robust, strong, and safe. The joy is ours to see others in joy and we are spreading this joy and happiness with all through our Subha Annual event on Oct 7th, 2023. The word 'Subha' represents the first ray of light in the horizon, the light that transforms the lives of visually challenged / blind students into cadre compassionate leaders of tomorrow. The VT Seva Atlanta team aimed to spread this light into the lives of 175 visually challenged children of Nethra Vidyalaya in India, with our Subha program. The preparations for SUBHA 2023 began well in advance and with Swamiji blessings, SUBHA 3rd annual event was a monumental blast in terms of youth participation, richness in the cultural program, funds raised for the Nethra jewels, and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in our thought, word, and action. We are able to not just meet but rather exceed our goal and raised funds for 200 Nethra students with your Blessings and generous support of our donors and sponsors. The program started with lighting of the lamp and rendering prayer. Later, our emcee, Kate Chiraponsuk welcomed everyone to Subha program with an inspirational and motivational message. Thereafter, our youths rendered US and India national anthems, setting the tone for a special evening. Afterwards, VT Seva Director, Dr. Madhu Nemani welcomed the Chief guests, Judge Carnesale, Seshu Puranam, Sergeant Dmitri, Police Officer Ann, and all the VT Seva volunteers and sponsors. She shared the story of Lalitha Killaka, a Nethra Vidyalaya student who had a humble beginning and now a super star by winning National Championship at IBSA 2022 (International Blind Sports Federation) and many other accolades in the field of sports. Next, was a presentation by Anuradha Gazzala, VT Seva Treasurer on acknowledging and appreciating the support of our sponsors. The Subha evening was filled with magnificent dances, soul-stirring instrumentals, profound messages, remarkable emceeing, a captivating skit that resonated perfectly and created an aura of celebration and commemoration for all. Our Chief guest, Judge Caresale delivered an insightful message that left everyone in awe. Later, momentous were given to the Chief guests, sponsors, VT Seva children, and volunteers. In the end, VT Seva Youth Director, Hithesh Gazzala appreciated the hard work, dedication, and selfless service of the entire Atlanta team. He also sincerely thanked all the volunteers who worked round the clock to make this event successful. The program ended on a soothing note with a melodious Carnatic orchestra, leaving the audience with a sense of peace and contentment. In Subha event, all youths and adults joined hands and worked as a team to support the cause and at present we have more than 800 plus volunteers in our Atlanta VT Seva Team. The highlight of our program is the presentations from All 10 VT Seva Youth Clubs - 9 High schools and 1 Middle school participated and demonstrated their club volunteering activities and its impact on the community. There are youths from all ethnic backgrounds in the clubs and this is a paradigm of embracing equality, diversity and inclusion and inspiring young hearts for the selfless service to all beings. We were thrilled to announce the recipient of the SUBHA 2023 Youth Club Award for the highest youth attendance, goes to Alliance Academy youths. They were honored with a Special Subha trophy and two Starbucks gift cards. In the runner-up positions, we had two outstanding high school clubs: Alpharetta High School and South Forsyth. They each received two Starbucks gift cards. Overall, it was an exceptional Subha, a true testament to outstanding teamwork and the meticulous event preparations that went into making it a success. The outstanding decorations and warm welcome gave a festive look and the excellent Tech support ensured that everything ran seamlessly. Fantastic photography and videography captured every moment, and inspiring volunteers played a crucial role in facilitating registrations, managing backstage affairs, and ensuring impeccable food arrangements and plant sales. This year's event marked the best Subha ever, with an exemplary program that drew more than 350 enthusiastic participants who gathered to celebrate the ‘Spirit of Volunteerism’. All of this was made possible because of sincere efforts, unwavering dedication, passion for serving, humble attitudes, and compassionate giving. We stand together as one big VT Seva family, united by the motto of 'Serve All Beings as Service to God.' We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, donors, and all the VT Seva and Jet volunteers who made this event successful. SUBHA 2023 KICKOFF HH Shri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji gave His Blessings for Subha Annual Event 2023 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. Later He visited VT Seva exhibits in which our youths showcased their volunteer works through tri-folds on Bird Feeding project, Books for Africa project, Laurel Heights Special Needs project, VT Seva Summer Camp, April Cool Seedling project, Adopt a road, CPR, Visit to Court House & City Council and many more projects. In addition to these exhibits, our 5 VT Seva high school youth clubs (Lambert, Denmark, Northview, Alliance, and Alpharetta) also displayed their year round club activities. Sri Swamiji was extremely pleased to see the volunteer work for VT Seva youths. Afterwards, He visited Prajna projects and was very happy to see their Bhagavad Gita & other projects as well made by Prajna kids. Next, was His welcome on stage and lighting up the lamp. He graciously lit the lamp and Jet and VT members also participated in lighting of the lamp. Subsequently, emcee welcome His His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and His Parivar to Atlanta. Then Prajna youths rendered opening prayer in melodious voice. Afterward, was SUBHA Kickoff. Sri Swamiji did the Subha Kickoff by pressing a button and rendering His Blessings for Subha 2023. Such a high spiritual leader blessed everyone by raising His hand and showering His grace to all. Later, He delivered a discourse on ‘Path of Compassion: Exploring Spirituality & Social Service' which was very enlightening and inspiring. He touched the hearts of more than 600 people who gathered there and everyone was filled with His aura and magnificent discourse. Consequently, SRS and VT Seva donors recognition was facilitated by Sri Swamiji which was followed by concluding prayer and Prasadam distribution. On July 20th morning, ‘Teertha Goshti’ was organized in which Swamiji gave His Blessings to all the devotees and delivered an inspiring and motivating discourse. He gave Prasad to devotees and token of appreciation to VT Seva youths, VT core members, Prajna youths, Prajna teachers, and Jet Atlanta core members. As every good thing has an end, so was the Swamiji’s visit to Atlanta, but His immortal discourse and teachings will be resounding forever in Atlanta and His memories will be alive with us for rest of our lives. Jai Srimannarayana!

Its been a tremendous year of achievements and community service in 2022. Below are our highlights

VT Seva Austin had created an exhilarating summer camp to learn about crochet and birdhouses. It was a 5-day camp that Gwen, Pranavi, and Shreya led. Gwen taught us all about the wonders and creativity that revolve around crochet. Several of the students were able to create amazing scarfs and it was an inclusive experience for all. Along with that, Pranavi, and Shreya led the birdhouse and birdfeeders activity. So many students made beautiful birdhouses and birdfeeders. In Austin, we had scorching temperatures over 105 degrees Fahrenheit, so we knew that we had to help the birds and the rest of the wildlife community. In commemorations of flag day, we made letters for the frontline heroes that serve to protect and improve our community. They truly are exceptional and hard-working people, so a thank-you letter can go a long way. Finally, to end our session, we wrote letters for Father's Day to express our gratitude for their contributions to our lives.

#BOUNDLESS – Let’s celebrate the 2022 achievements & the incredible power of youth volunteerism. As often said, the mark of a good action is that it appears inevitable in retrospect. Come join us to look back & celebrate all the amazing achievements and accomplishments of 2022 by our amazing volunteers. #Boundless a youth led National event celebrating the incredible power of youth volunteerism. Let's gather virtually on August 19th at 3pm PST/5pm CST/6pm EST and gain inspiration to be profoundly selfless in the spirit of volunteerism. #Boundless #Boundless2022 #YouthVolunteers Watch Promo Videos at : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS8h--2_tYv5xiiCqk_tThQsiIzRxaXvM Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/3q9STv1

Our CEO and Founder, His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji’s vision is to empower impoverished communities across the world with equal access and opportunities to quality education, healthcare, and self-confidence to live a life filled with dignity and pride. His goal was to inspire in children a passion for public service and equip them with the skills to develop and lead philanthropic projects. With this vision, Swami ji established a global non-profit service oriented organization called VT Seva in 2008. Swami ji has spearheaded many programs for the welfare of society including Free Medical Camps, Animal Welfare, Disaster Relief Activities, Free Educational Services and many more. Swami ji is visiting the USA from July 2 – August 14, 2023! In centers across the USA, there are many events planned with Interactive Sessions with our Youth. Youth are the future who can garner wisdom from a great social reformer & visionary who spent decades of his life in service of our society. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet Swami ji who was also honored with 𝐏𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐧 Award this year. The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India. The award was conferred on April 5th, 2023 at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan in the national capital - New Delhi in honor of his services to the nation for more than four decades. Please reach out to your branch director to get more details about the events planned in your city. * Schedule might change City Arriving Date Departure DateFrom UK to USA Sunday, July 2, 2023 Sunday, July 2, 2023New Jersey Sunday, July 2, 2023 Thursday, July 6, 2023Connecticut Thursday, July 6, 2023 Friday, July 7, 2023​Boston Friday, July 7, 2023 Sunday, July 9, 2023Rock Island, IL Sunday, July 9, 2023 Sunday, July 9, 2023Chicago Sunday, July 9, 2023 Wednesday, July 12, 2023Minneapolis Tuesday, July 11, Monday Tuesday, July 11, 2023Nebraska Wednesday, July 12, 2023 ​Wednesday, July 12, 2023Detroit, MI ​Wednesday, July 12, 2023 ​Friday, July 14, 2023Pittsburgh Friday, July 14, 2023 Sunday, July 16, 2023Washington DC/Virginia Sunday, July 16, 2023 Monday, July 17, 2023Cary North Carolina Monday, July 17, 2023 Monday, July 17, 2023 Charlotte/concord, North Carolina Monday, July 17, 2023 Tuesday, July 18, 2023South Carolina Tuesday, July 18, 2023 Wednesday, July 19, 2023 ​Atlanta Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Thursday, July 20, 2023Orlando Thursday, July 20, 2023 Friday, July 21, 2023California Friday, July 21, 2023 Tuesday, July 25, 2023Seattle Tuesday, July 25, 2023 Monday, July 31, 2023Houston -Woodlands Monday, July 31, 2023 Tuesday, August 1, 2023Houston ALT Temple Tuesday, August 1, 2023 Sunday, August 6, 2023Bentonville AK Wednesday, August 2, 2023 Wednesday, August 2, 2023 San Antonio Sunday, August 6, 2023 Monday, August 7, 2023Austin Monday, August 7, 2023 Thursday, August 10, 2023Dallas Thursday, August 10, 2023 Monday, August 14, 2023 * Schedule might change

Come join us on July 23 2023, 11 am at ICC Milpitas with His Holiness Shri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji to learn about VEDIC techniques for stress management. Interact with youth, adult volunteers and representatives of benefitting organizations. Agenda: - Cultural Program - Recognize beneficiary organizations - Learn Vedic techniques for Stress Management by His Holiness Shri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji - Learn about Service (Volunteerism), Spirituality (sense of purpose and hope), and Society (impact on society and world at large) - Q&A session - Youth volunteering and VT Seva Bayarea / how you can be part of local branch Date: JULY 23, 2023 TIME: 11AM-2PM Location: Indian Community Center (ICC) - Milpitas (525 Los Coches St, Milpitas, CA 95035) Cost: FREE Seating is limited. Please register below. Once all seats are booked, registration will be closed.

VT Seva successfully concluded its 2nd yearly Table Tennis & Badminton Tournaments this year, on April 30th, 2023 at Sparc Arena Sports & Recreation, in Novi, Michigan. It was amazing fast-paced game day with both Table Tennis and Badminton Tournaments running parallelly on the same day! With 95 players playing 160 games in 7 different formats - Girls Singles, Girls Doubles, Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Women's Doubles, Men's Doubles - Badminton and Open Table Tennis games. We had 20 volunteers who bolstered our activities and 2 sponsorships for the event!! Girls Singles Badminton: We had 7 players in total for this segment. · Nishka won the 1st place with 6 wins · Kavisha won the 2nd place with 5 wins Girls Doubles Badminton: We had 6 players with 3 doubles teams who played the exciting Girls Doubles games. · Anvi & Kavisha won the 1st place with 2 wins · Navya & Riya won the 2nd place with 1 win Boys Singles Badminton: We had 9 players in total for this segment. · Satvik won the 1st place with 8 wins · Sam won the 2nd place with 7 wins Boys Doubles Badminton: We had 8 players with 4 doubles teams who played the exciting Boys Doubles games. · Nitin & Satvik won the 1st place with 3 wins · Chanakya & Sam won the 2nd place with 2 wins Women's Doubles Badminton: We had 12 players in total with 6 Women’s Doubles Badminton Teams. What an electric performance from both teams!! · Sushma & Chandrasena won the 1st place Women’s Championship Trophy · Manjula & Chandana won the 2nd place. Men's Doubles – Badminton: We had 40 players in total with 20 Men’s Double teams vying for the Men’s Championship Trophy. Semi Finals was between Rahul-Jayanth vs. Sreedhar-Manoj, Yunpeng-Ej vs. Mittulal-Rohit. What exciting Semis it was!! The Tournament Finals was played between Mittulal-Rohit vs. Sreedhar-Manoj. The stats below would show how much of a nail-biter it was. Mittulal-Rohit came out to be the victorious Champions of the Men’s Doubles Tournament. Open Table Tennis: We had 24 players in total with 12 teams in 2 groups in the Open Table Tennis tournament. As expected, the games were fast paced and fascinating. The teams that reached the Semis were: Deen-Mansour vs. Ali-Zhicheng & Harshini-Sriraj vs. Sidd-Abhishek The Championship Final was between Ali-Zhicheng vs Harshini Sriraj and Ali-Zhicheng’s team came out victorious to win the 1st Place Open Table Tennis Championship Trophy with 2nd place being Harshini-Sriraj. Photos from the event can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/BQ42pEvqSVPwxJL6A VT Seva Volunteers: The backbone of our organization is our tireless, selfless and ever enthusiastic Volunteers, without whom any event is a non-starter. Big THANKS to all the players, parents, volunteers, sponsors & supporters of this great cause and in encouraging us with their participation throughout the day!! Despite the initial challenges of gaining momentum, VT Seva Detroit volunteers' continued resilience & never-ending efforts made it a great success!! Without your continued support and contributions, it is not possible for VT Seva to provide quality education, food and lodging for our lovely Nethra Vidyalaya visually challenged children. On behalf of VT Seva Detroit, my heartfelt THANKS to all for making the event a SUCCESS!🙏🙏 🎊 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS! 🎊 See you soon next year… Blog written by: Suresh Rajan Blog published by: Nandini Cheemalamarri

VT Seva Cincinnati is so excited to conduct Art Workshop for the summer of 2023 Date : Session 1: June 26 - June 30, Session 2: July 10 - July 14 Time : 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Venue : Online Join us to have fun, learn a skill and support Nethra Vidyalaya Schools & Students All proceeds benefit Netra Vidyalaya, a VT Seva supported school with a state of the art technology for visually challenged children empowering them to be self-reliant

VTS Cincinnati presents the most needed Seminar for any high schoolers! Please make sure to join on July 9, 2023 from 2:30-4:00 PM to learn about ACT, PSAT & SAT from a distinguished mentor. Mr. Madhu Sanakari is known for his distinguished work in tutoring and guiding students for standardized testing. Madhu has always had an extensive passion for education and mentoring academics. His work began at the University of Cincinnati as a part-time Mathematics professor and soon progressed into building his own educational center calls APlus Advanced Learning center in the year 2009. His contribution to PSAT/ACT/SAT prospects for the last 12 years has lead to National PSAT finalists and current IVY league students. This positive and motivational energy towards academia transitioned inti acquiring franchises of Sylvan Learning Centers of Greater Cincinnati, which has enhanced and advised hundreds of students accomplishing their best scores. For any questions please reach out to cincinnati.director@vtsworld.org

Superior Court Visit on June 9th, 2023 VT Seva Atlanta has organized a Superior Court visit today, June 9th for our middle schoolers and high schoolers to have hands-on experience in the field of Law / Political Science. Our youths had a great interactive session with Judge Rachelle Carnesale and her team of public defenders and prosecutors. Judge Rachelle Carnesale took time out from her busy day and explained everything in layman terms to our VT youths which is really commendable. She was highly impressed with what we do in VT Seva and told me to share VT Seva logo so she can put on her website. This is just the beginning and we’ll go again to the court house and support her drive - ‘My Journey Matters’ campaign to support innocent child abuse victims going through legal proceedings. She also appreciated how we support Special needs kids of the Laurel Heights hospital and blind / visually challenged kids of Nethra Vidhyalaya India. A great friendship bond is built today with Judge Rachelle Carnesale & her team of prosecutors and VT Seva team.

Robotic Workshop June 2nd, 2023 VT Seva Robotics Workshop was an incredible hands-on experience for Atlanta youths today. Robotic surgeon, Dr. Ravi and his staff demonstrated how they leverage robots in surgical operations. All youths were able to touch, feel, and program robots. This visit is a hands-on experience of the Robotics course for the VT Seva Summer Camp. Dr. Ravi was highly impressed with the VT Seva youths inquisitiveness about robotic surgery. This visit to the Robotic lab was organized by Bob Erramilli, Johns Creek City Councilman. We have build good relationships with the Johns Creek city council members.

VT Seva Columbus is so excited to conduct Tennis Clinic in the summer of 2023 Date : June 18th, June 25th, July 9th and July 16th Time : 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Venue : 3584 Home Rd, Powell, OH 43065 Join us to have fun, learn a skill and support Nethra Vidyalaya Schools & Students All proceeds benefit Netra Vidyalaya, a VT Seva supported school with a state of the art technology for visually challenged children empowering them to be self-reliant

"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak" - Rachel Zoe As we approached the deadline of 7/31/23, submission form is closed. Thanks to all who submitted the designs. Calling all our amazing & creative youth talents to help us design our new T-shirt! Winning design will be printed on the T-shirt. It will be a gratifying moment for the designer to have their design worn by VT Seva Volunteers throughout the Nation! We look forward to receiving your submissions for the contest. Here are some general guidelines for your design submissions. Please go through the below guidelines & submit your creativity by JULY 31st, 2023, contest is open to all youth between the age of 8 yrs. and 18 yrs. Submissions Must follow the below rules: · be limited to a maximum of 1 submission per participant · Submissions can be hand drawn or digital format using any software. Upload the output of your artwork in either of the listed formats: .PDF, .DOCX, .JPG, OR .TIFF, · be the original artwork/creations of the participants · be related to one or more of the 4 pillars of VT Seva · be submitted in high resolution format by July 31st, 2023 · be contained in one page - letter size (8.5"x11"), one sided only · contain VT Seva Logo · not have been previously published or submitted to any other contest/competition · not contain profanity, trademarks, or other organization's logos · not contain any copyrighted works of any other person, organization, or business By submitting an entry, all participants agree · to all the contest rules · that all submissions will be the property of VT Seva and VT Seva has all rights over the submission · to sign a waiver to allow VT Seva the use of their design, free of charge, for any and all printing and promotional purpose · to submit the original art to the local VT Seva branch upon winning · contest is subject to cane based on responses. VT Seva team can update the rules or cancel the contest without advance or prior notice Based on the number of design submissions and upon meeting all the guidelines mentioned above we will go for a voting process during the #BOUNDLESS event ‘Celebrating VT Seva volunteerism 2022 and International youth day’ on August 19th, 2023. There is a chance that a design may get chosen & printed on VT Seva t-shirts. If you have any questions, please email NYD@vtsworld.org

We trust this message finds you well. We regret to inform that due to unforeseen circumstances, we are forced to cancel the AMUSE event. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We understand the effort and enthusiasm you have put into preparing for the event, and we share your disappointment in having to cancel. Our utmost priority is to ensure a safe and well-organized event, and unfortunately, we are unable to meet the necessary requirements to guarantee a successful competition. We will be processing full refund of the registration fees paid within the next 1 month. Please allow for this period as we work diligently to ensure that the refund process is completed accurately and promptly. We genuinely appreciate your understanding and support during this time. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our dedicated team at amuse@vtsworld.org. Once again, please accept our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience this cancellation may have caused. We value your participation and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you to our future competition . Thank you for your understanding and patience. Warm regards, AMUSE Team UPDATES: 1) Registration date has been extended to SEPTEMBER 05 2023 based on requests from multiple music and dance schools. 2) Prelim round results will be communicated to all the participants, to their registered email, starting August 17th. Please contact amuse@vtsworld.org for any questions By registering to the AMUSE competition, I Accept and Agree to all of the below listed - "TERMS and CONDITIONS" "RELEASE OF CLAIMS and WAIVER AGREEMENTS" VT Seva & JET USA Inc. AMUSE The term “organization” is used throughout the section refers to both VT Seva and JET USA Inc. TERMS and CONDITIONS The organization has the right to change these terms & conditions at any time without any advance notice. Participants will be notified if any changes occur. Penalty for breach of any of the terms and conditions is Disqualification. The competition is open to all participants ages 10 years and above and that reside in the United States of America. Age category is determined by the age of the participant as of SEPTEMBER 05, 2023. If requested, proof of age MUST be provided for each participant. Organizers of AMUSE and/or members of their immediate families are not eligible to participate. People whose livelihood is teaching music and/or dance are not eligible to participate. Gurus/teachers/instructors of music and/or dance are not eligible to participate. Full-time and/or paid professional performers are not eligible to participate. Participants may register in multiple categories (Vocals & Dance). Please note that separate registration is required for multiple entries. Free-choice program for all rounds - choice of music is at the discretion of the participant as long as it is relevant to the category of the competition and the music does not have any slang or derogatory language. A participant may NOT perform the same music/dance from round to round. Competition Age Groups 10 years to 15 years 16 years to 20 years Competition Categories Competition Rounds There are 4 rounds to the competition: Date & Location 1) Preliminary Online Submission Deadline to register and submit YouTube link - SEPTEMBER 05th 2023 If qualified, participants move to Quarter-Finals. 2) Quarter-Finals In-Person Held in 3 centers on weekend of September 09, 2023 - Austin, Dallas and Houston (venues in each city will be announced) Top 5 from each of the 6 competition categories, from each of the 3 centers, move to Semi-Finals. 3) Semi-Finals In-Person Held in Dallas on September 30th, 2023 (Venue will be announced) Top 5 from each of the 6 competition categories move to Finals. 4) Finals In-Person Held in Dallas on October 1st, 2023 (Granville Arts Center) Registration Fee & Guidelines 1) Preliminary Registration fee: $25 (US Dollars) per participant per category. All registration fees are nonrefundable. The application form must be accompanied by a link to the performance video. The video recording cannot be older than two months prior to submission of the Entry Form and must match with your age category at the moment of submission. Appropriate dress attire is required. The deadline for receiving preliminary round registrations is SEPTEMBER 05th 2023 11:59 PM CST The video recording, entry form, and registration fee must be received by the deadline - SEPTEMBER 05th 2023 11:59 PM CST Video recording link can be submitted at the time of registration or can be emailed later, but before September 05th 2023 to Amuse@vtsworld.org If you are submitting recording link later via email, please include in the email: your first name, last name and Seat# (listed below the QR Code from the email ticket confirmation that you will receive from Funzippy). Video guidelines for Preliminary round: Ensure that you have permission to perform a selection if your work is not in the public domain. For Vocals, Instrument or Karaoke accompaniment is NOT allowed in the video submission. Video performances must be performed by the applicants and may neither be edited nor enhanced in any way. Video submission should be in the form of a YouTube link. Maximum length of the video performance should be 5 minutes The submitted video should be recorded within the last 6 months prior to preliminary round deadline - should be recorded on or after February 15th 2023 The YouTube video title should have the name of the participant and the category in which they are competing. Examples: LastName_FirstName_Youth_Vocal_Classical LastName_FirstName_Youth_Vocal_SemiClassical LastName_FirstName_Adult_Vocal_SemiClassical LastName_FirstName_Adult_Vocal_Film LastName_FirstName_Youth_Dance LastName_FirstName_Adult_Dance Do not announce yourself or provide any text to your video. Please be sure your videos are set to “Public” or “Unlisted”: VIDEO MANAGER → videos → Basic Info → from the dropdown menu, please choose “Public” or “Unlisted” only. The organization takes no responsibility for videos that have permissions set to limit viewership or are published through any other video sharing platform (Vimeo, etc). Ensure that your video is viewable by a third party, even if you choose to make them unlisted. Only one performance video is allowed per registration. Once the performance video is submitted, it cannot be altered, changed or swapped - it is not negotiable. Recordings must always consist of uninterrupted video footage of the participant, preferably from a single camera angle with coverage of the performer’s full or upper body. No video splicing (editing a video by putting different video takes together is allowed). Although the organization does not require professional recordings and accepts video made at your home studio on your devices such as computer, tablet, or phone. The video and audio quality must be such that the judges have a clear and fair representation of your performance. 2) Quarter-Finals Registration fee: $40 (US Dollars) per participant per category. All registration fees are nonrefundable. Appropriate dress attire is required. Participants should send the song/dance to be performed in advance Participants will not be allowed to refer the lyrics while singing. Maximum performance time limit is 5 minutes 3) Semi-Finals No Registration fee Appropriate dress attire is required. Participants should send the song/dance to be performed in advance Karaoke tracks can be used for Vocals and must be sent in advance Participants will not be allowed to refer the lyrics while singing. Maximum performance time limit is 5 minutes. It is expected that each competitor's choice of music fits within the time allowed for each round. Timing begins with the first note of the performance and continues between pieces. If a competitor exceeds the given time allotted, that competitor will be asked to stop but at no penalty to his or her evaluation. Performers will be stopped when they reach the time limit and any performance exceeding the given time limit will not be counted. 4) Finals No Registration fee Appropriate dress attire is required. Participants should send the song/dance to be performed in advance Karaoke tracks can be used for Vocals and must be sent in advance Participants will not be allowed to refer the lyrics while singing. Maximum performance time limit is 5 minutes. Finals will consist of 2 rounds Competition Awards Quarter-Finals Top 5 in each of the 6 categories will be awarded trophies All participants will receive Certificate of Participation Semi-Finals Top 5 in each of the 6 categories will be awarded trophies Finals For each of the 6 competition categories: 1st prize Cash/Scholarship award of $1500 Round-trip flight ticket for the participant (1 ticket) and their Guru (1 ticket) to India to perform at Statue of Equality Performance at Statue of Equality in February 2024 Performance in album 2nd prize Cash/Scholarship award of $1000 Performance at Statue of Equality in February 2024 Performance in album 3rd prize Cash/Scholarship award of $500 Performance at Statue of Equality in February 2024 Performance in album *Important notes on the Awards* Cash/Scholarship award - Scholarship award for winners (Ages 10 years - 20 years) Round-trip flight ticket award – Only for the winning participant (1 ticket per winner) in Economy class – round trip from either Dallas or Houston to Hyderabad. Only 1 round-trip flight ticket to the Guru of the winner (only 1 Guru) from either Dallas or Houston to Hyderabad. The Guru's flight ticket will be provided only if the winning participant will be performing at Statue of Equality. Only 1 round-trip flight to the Guru irrespective of the number of students winning different categories. If the participant does not include the Guru name at the time of registration, no additions and/or changes will be allowed later - no exception. The flight booking/reservation will be made by the organizers at their discretion (Airlines and dates in February only). If any of the winner does not avail the flight ticket, no flight ticket will be provided to the participant's Guru. If any of the winner and/or their Guru does not avail the flight ticket, no equivalent cash will be awarded, and the flight ticket will be forfeited. The organizers at their discretion can award the flight tickets to the 1st runner-up and their Guru in the same category. Performance at Statue of Equality – The performance will be at Statue of Equality in February 2024 The song selection will be provided by the organizers, only the song(s) provided by the organizers should be performed. There will be mandatory practice sessions both online while in USA and in-person prior to the performance day in India - it is mandatory for participants to be in India for in-person practice sessions. All travel and accommodation (lodging and boarding) expenses (except for the round-trip flight tickets to the winner and their Guru) are the responsibility of the participants. An appropriate dress code is mandatory, the details of which will be provided to all the participants. Opportunity to perform at Statue of Equality is subject to operational logistics. Performance in Album – The song selection will be provided by the organizers, only the songs provided by the organizers should be performed. Opportunity to perform in album is subject to operational logistics. Travel Expenses For Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals, the participants are responsible for their own as well as their accompanists’ travel, accommodation (lodging and boarding) expenses. Photo/Video All photos/videos taken during the AMUSE Music Competition by the authorized personnel or agents of the organization are copyrighted and owned by the organization. Candidates cannot claim legal rights to video recordings and/or photos submitted or broadcasts that may be made in connection with the competition. All legal rights are reserved by the organization and no fee is payable to any competitor for performances, photos, recordings or television broadcasts. Publicity By submitting the entry form, each participant, parent or legal guardian (if such participant is a minor) authorizes the use of competitor’s name, photo, audio and/or video recording for the publicity and advertisement purposes related to the competition by the organization. General Terms The organization is not responsible for and shall not be held liable for: (a) lost, late, delayed, damaged, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, or misdirected entries; (b) telephone, electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, or computer malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind; (c) failed, incomplete, partial, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions; (d) any condition caused by events beyond the control of the organization that may cause the competition to be disrupted; (e) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the competition; (f) any claims, suits, actions, liabilities, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind in connection with the competition or resulting from acceptance, possession, or use of any prizes and awards. In addition, the organization cannot guarantee that someone will not be exposed to and contract COVID-19 or other contagious disease(s). By attending any of the live events conducted by the organization each attendee, competitor, parent / legal guardian, teacher, and guest: (a) does so at one’s own risk with possibility of being exposed to contracting or spreading COVID-19 or other contagious diseases along with all related consequences, (b) agrees to comply with all health and safety protocols based on applicable federal, state, and local rules and guidelines as implemented by any of the venues where the organization conducts its live events, and (c) gives up a right to bring any claims, including but not limited to claims of negligence, resulting from attending such live events. The organization has the right to cancel the event or cancel / merge any categories based on the number of registrations received. By entering AMUSE Music Competition, each entrant, parent / legal guardian (if such entrant is a minor), agrees to accept these rules and be bound by the decisions of the organization, its judges and staff, which are final and binding in all matters. Please contact amuse@vtsworld.org for any questions VT Seva & JET USA Inc. AMUSE The term “organization” is used throughout the section refers to both VT Seva and JET USA Inc. RELEASE OF CLAIMS By participating in the event (AMUSE), I (I or the “Participant”) hereby execute this waiver and release (the “Agreement”) effective as of the date I register for the event. In consideration of my participation, I agree as follows: I hereby release the organization and their respective officers, directors, members, representatives, sponsors, volunteers, successors, and assigns (the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, demands, damages, rights of action, or causes of action, arising out of my participation in AMUSE. This Agreement extends and applies to all unknown, unforeseen, unanticipated, and unsuspected injuries, damages, loss, and liability, and the consequences of them, as well as those disclosed or known to exist. I expressly waive all provisions of any state, federal, local, or territorial law or statute which provides that releases will not extend to claims, demands, injuries, or damages that are unknown or unsuspected to exist at the time to the person executing the release. I indemnify and hold harmless the organization and their respective officers, directors, members, representatives, sponsors, volunteers, successors, and assigns (the “Released Parties”) from any loss, liability, damage or cost they may incur while I am at the Event or on the Premises, whether or not caused by the negligence or gross negligence of the Releasees. I release, waive, discharge and covenant not to sue the organization and their respective officers, directors, members, representatives, sponsors, volunteers, successors, and assigns (the “Released Parties”) from all liability to me, my personal representatives, assigns, heirs and next of kin, for any claims, causes of action, obligations, lawsuits, charges, complaints, controversies, damages, costs or expenses of whatsoever kind, nature, or description, whether direct or indirect, in law or in equity, in contract or in tort, or otherwise, whether known or unknown, arising out of or connected with my (or my child’s/ward's) attendance at the Event or while on the Premises, whether or not caused by the negligence or gross negligence of the Releasees. If any provision of this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and this Agreement will be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted. By entering into this agreement, I knowingly and voluntarily waive any and all rights I might have to a trial before a jury, and agree to mandatory binding arbitration of all disputes or claims arising out of this Agreement. This agreement is legally binding upon me and my heirs, estate, assigns, legal guardians, and personal representatives. This is a release of liability. By registering for the event (AMUSE), I hereby accept and agree to all terms of this Agreement. WAIVER AGREEMENTS AUDIO AND VIDEO WAIVER I authorize the organization assignees to use and publish (with or without my name, company name, or with a fictitious name) any audiovisual recordings, photographs, pictures, portraits or images of me in any and all forms and media and in all manners, including, but not limited to, composite images and distorted representations, for the purposes of publicity, illustration, commercial art, advertising, publishing (including publishing in electronic form or on Internet websites) for any product or services, or for any such other lawful uses as may be determined by the organization. I waive any and all right to review or approve any uses of my name, likeness, images, written copy, or finished product. COVID / HEALTH HAZARD WAIVER I acknowledge that there is a chance of exposure during the event. I hereby release the organization and their respective officers, directors, members, representatives, sponsors, volunteers, successors, and assigns (the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, demands, damages, rights of action, or causes of action, arising out of my participation at AMUSE as it relates to COVID-19 and any other communicable disease. I recognize and acknowledge that there are hazards and risks of physical injury or illness to Event attendees and that not all such hazards or risks can be fully eliminated. I freely and voluntarily agree to assume the full risk of death, bodily injury or property damage, regardless of severity, that I (or my child/ward) may sustain as a result of my attendance at the Event, whether or not caused by the negligence or gross negligence of the Releasees. JUDGING WAIVER A jury of qualified judges will evaluate all rounds of AMUSE based on criteria for artistry such as technical ability and musicality. Contestants will be judged solely on their musical abilities and not on the basis of their race, gender, or other protected characteristics. The decision of the judges is final and cannot be appealed. No disputes or disagreements arising from the competition’s results will be entertained or reviewed. By participating in AMUSE, I agree to these rules and waive my right to dispute the allocation of all/any prizes and awards. Please contact amuse@vtsworld.org for any questions