TPRF Real Stories

Alex Wiredu has undertaken the fascinating task of learning about the history and daily lives of the people served by the Food for People program that opened in Otinibi, Ghana on May 15, 2012, almost one year ago. Alex’s co-worker, Francis, is a photographer who has documented the development of FFP in Otinibi since the acquisition of the land it is built on. Soon a film crew will go to work to interview participants in FFP, or the Canteen as it is known locally. What follows is only the beginning of an ongoing story.

Francis and I went to the village again on May 7, to further look into which people to interview and to build their confidence to face the cameras. When we arrived at the facility, around 11:00 am, the cooks were preparing “banku,” a local food made from cooked fermented corn and cassava dough, served with the main meal.

We proceeded to the house of a 94-year-old man, Dorfur Tetteh, to find out how he was doing. As we came to his house, we saw him sitting under a huge baobab tree enjoying the mid-morning breeze. He offered us chairs, and soon we were deep in conversation. We didn’t know that he was the chief priest of the village until he told his story and, along with it, the story of how Otinibi came into existence.

Francis asked where the first people to live in Otinibi came from, and Dorfur began his story. “We have six clans forming the Ga tribe: Osu, La, Ga, Teshie, Nungua, and Tema. All these clans lived along the coast of the present day Accra, and their main occupation was fishing.

Being fed up and tired of always having fish as their main meal, compounded with petty squabbles that were going on, a group of three men and a woman decided to move inland. These were their names: Adjei Kweigyanmansa, Sowah Okumose, Nii Ayi Ampah, and their sister, Atwe. They were fishermen who needed a change.

They kept moving inland for months, roaming through the thickets. In time they discovered a natural pond, if not a small lake. Knowing water was key to their survival, they pitched their camp close to the lake on land that is called Otinibi today.

Because the lake never dried up even in the harmattan (dry wind) season, it was perceived to be a god. They worshiped it, as it became the source of their livelihood. Sowah and Kweigyanmansa shared the chieftaincy position. Nii Ayi Ampah became the first chief priest, and I am third of that lineage. That is why I had the authority to advise our immediate past chief, who has recently passed on, to offer the land for the facility.

And so we asked how they came by the name “Otinibi.” Dorfur explained, “When the four first arrived at the lake, there was an adjacent hill that was so bare that they called it eti a eni nwin, which means “a head without hair.” Over time the name has been corrupted to become Otinibi.”

When asked what kind of work the people did after settling, he replied, “Farming, of course. We cultivated maize, yam, cocoyam, plantain, and other vegetable crops. On market day we would exchange our crops for fish and other commodities.”

When asked how people work today, there was a certain sadness expressed. “It is a pity what modernity has done to us. In the old times you could eat at your neighbor’s hut without any problem, but today people are so greedy they do not even share with their neighbors. If they do, with the least provocation, they will use it to insult you. That is why I am very happy that this canteen is situated in my village. There you can eat in peace without thinking of any consequences.

“We are very happy to have this canteen in this village. The beauty it has brought to this village words cannot express.”

Photos by Francis Ahore

Path to the Lake

Sherry Weinstein has been TPRF’s Manager of the Peace Education Program for the past two years. In this two-part report, Sherry brings us up to date on the dramatic expansion of the program during 2012 and the TPRF plan for continued growth in 2013.

What do some inmates in Zonderwater, South Africa; a small community in Subotica, Serbia; and senior citizens in Sun City, Arizona all have in common? They all are students of the Peace Education Program (PEP), a 10-week multimedia workshop based on discovering inner resources such as joy, peace, and hope.

As the PEP Manager, I have witnessed the inception and evolution of PEP from its beginning as a prison-based program to one that is being received enthusiastically in all kinds of organizations across the globe.

The Peace Education Program (PEP) has expanded rapidly over the past year.

At the end of 2011, more than 55 PEP workshops were offered in 10 prisons to 1,200 participants with the help of 100 volunteers. By the end of 2012, there were more than 125 workshops with 8,549 inmates attending in 33 prisons in 12 countries, with hundreds of volunteers involved in setting up the workshops.

PEP is gaining recognition from various organizations that are seeing the impact in the participants’ lives. For example, in the Dominquez State Jail in San Antonio, Texas, the former head of Correctional Officers said, “This program has been so effective. There have been no incidents of violence among the participants and very few returning to this prison.”

Catherine Gavigan taught a pilot PEP class at an international business college in Brisbane, Australia. One of her students wrote, “I never knew we had inner resources.”

One of the parolees in the Oxnard, California PEP program asked, “Can I continue to come after I have finished all the sessions? I want to share with other parolees what I have enjoyed discovering and experiencing.”

In a recent PEP for staff at the Evergreen Hospice in Washington, one of the participants commented, “It gave me a lot of hope hearing Prem Rawat’s words that peace is possible.”

TPRF Founder, Prem Rawat, visited three prisons last year: Dominguez State Jail in San Antonio, Texas; Ezeiza Women’s Prison, unit 31, in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Zonderwater prison in South Africa.

Comments from inmates at Zonderwater prison about PEP:

“I wish that Peace Education could reach the ends of the world.”

“I would like to thank each and every person who made it possible for me to know about peace. It really changes my life a lot, and I wish that it can change other people’s lives, too.”

Texas PEP Panel Members

Texas prison officials recently invited a unique group of volunteers to offer a presentation of the Peace Education Program (PEP) at the annual meeting of the Texas Community Service Association (TCSA) in San Antonio, Texas. This association is comprised of probation and parole officers and other Criminal Justice professionals from around the State. The conference, designed to be a forum for the discussion of correctional solutions for juveniles and adults, featured appearances from Mayor Julian Castro, TCSA members, and some university professors, such as Dr. Michael Tapia and Dr. Michael Gilbert.

The invitation to participate in the conference came from Pete Gonzales, president of the TCSA.  Pete is the supervisor for the Community Service Restitution Program of the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department.  He heard Prem Rawat’s address at the University of Texas in San Antonio earlier this year and later requested a Peace Education Pilot Program for the local Juvenile Probation Department.

The Peace Education Presenters

The Peace Education Program was the final presentation of the three-day conference. As the last day served mostly as a wrap-up session, many people were wondering what this last session would be all about. The panel presentation began with a screening of the video Peace on the Inside, Part I.  Afterwards, when the lights came back on, many audience members were surprised to see some of the same people who had just appeared in the video seated before them.

The panel members included former Dominguez Peace Education students David Sigee, Chase Cowen, Lisandro Martinez, and Trinidad Silva. Roberto and Chantal Piriz, the class founders, and Hope Cavillo, serving as moderator, rounded out the panel.

Many people will remember these former Dominguez students from the Peace on the Inside videos, and most recently, Trinidad Silva, who gave the memorable quote, “If everyone in prison were to find peace, it would shock the world.”

Trinidad Silva

After the video, the presenters simply asked the audience if they had any questions for the panelists.  Many of the initial questions came from people wanting to know how the program could be implemented in their areas or how it could be applied to juvenile facilities.  One by one, the panelists took turns answering questions, sharing their experiences of the program and describing how it has benefited and transformed their lives.

Several of the panelists said that they regularly listened to Words of Peace videos and mentioned how they helped them to stay in tune with their inner peace.

One member of the audience asked what the students would do if, for some reason, they couldn’t watch the videos. Without missing a beat, Trinidad said that it is not only about watching the videos, but it is about a peace that is already inside of everyone. It is something that he can use in every situation.

It seemed to me the audience was completely unprepared for the level of sincerity, confidence, and passion coming from these students.  Several of the panelists had traveled long distances just to be there, and the audience appeared to appreciate their dedication and efforts.

Chase Cowen

The former offenders seemed to shatter any anti-social stereotypes with the open and articulate sharing of their own life lessons.

One woman in the audience said she could understand the purpose of the program because she too was working on finding peace, and could relate to a program aimed at helping people get in touch with their hearts.

Two other participants from different parts of Texas asked if the panel would be willing to travel and give similar presentations in their districts, and the panelists expressed an interest in this suggestion.

Mrs. Calvillo, who has been working in the corrections field for 25 years, kept the presentation moving by tying questions and answers together with relevant examples from the program. Roberto and Chantal Piriz each offered insights that helped to clarify the history, goals, and purpose of the class.  The hour-long presentation seemed to fly by, and everyone agreed it could have continued for much longer.

After the presentation, the audience gave the panel a rousing round of applause.  One parole officer said he was completely astounded, calling it a real showstopper.  The Vice-President of the TCSA said she had been in corrections for 20 years and that this was the most fantastic presentation she had ever experienced.  She added that she was retiring in a couple of years and would be interested in promoting this program in her own area.

David Sigee

Many participants took home literature and publications and seemed genuinely interested in the possibility of learning more.  In the end, there was an overwhelming consensus that the Peace Education Program was an exciting new possibility that merited further attention.

I am looking forward to viewing the video of this event when it is finally released.

John Snyder

Lisandro Martinez

I have been deeply moved many times in my life hearing Prem Rawat speak. But my experience watching the video he made for the Nordic Peace Conference was somehow unique. He created it for a group of people passionately committed to the cause of peace. Most of the audience members had never heard much about Prem Rawat before seeing the video.

I always find his message to be fresh and alive. But the clarity and universal human appeal of this presentation struck me as reaching a whole new level. The feeling inside of me as the impact of the message penetrated my heart was, “Every person should hear this!” I’ve felt that way before. But I was feeling something more—if ever a video was created that could realize that aim, this is it!

About 24 hours later I realized that I could not only briefly feel this urgent impulse to share the message, but could also actually do something about it. Today it’s quite possible to share a video with a great many people via the Internet, using tools like email, YouTube, and Facebook. As a student of online media, I was keenly aware of several notable recent examples of videos spreading with incredible speed. I felt that TPRF could realistically be the catalyst for such an avalanche. And as the manager of TPRF’s social media presence, it made sense for me to propose that TPRF undertake such an effort. So I did.

TPRF agreed, and the effort is now underway. Thousands of new views have been generated in just a few days. Let’s see how far we can take it. To me, it’s wonderful if even one person hears this message, but working as a global team of people interested in peace to share this video with as many people as possible and watching the YouTube view count grow—well, that’s my idea of a good time. I hope that it’s yours too, and that you will choose to be part of it.

September 21 is celebrated as the UN International Day of Peace. In support of this annual event, The Prem Rawat Foundation’s Independent Fundraising Team is offering support to groups or individuals who wish to host awareness or fundraising events about TPRF. We are hoping to focus on the Peace Education Program (PEP). For more info on this program click here: PEP

Lansing Michigan City Hall 2006

Newly released PEP brochures and a short DVD will be among materials available to assist in your efforts. There will also be a special blog you can use to post information about your plans and to inspire others to participate. In addition, there will be a map to enable people to find and connect with events in their area. You can also find information and updates on TPRF’S Facebook Page.

If you haven’t already chosen an activity for Peace Day, please visit www.tprf.org for event ideas that may be of interest to you. Look under “How to Help.”

To date, we’ve heard about a display at a City Hall lobby in Michigan featuring an auction of an original painting; a two day celebration at the Echo Valley Farm in Wisconsin; plans for an event in Woodstock, New York; and several other activities around the world. We know many more will be added to this list before September 21!

Many organizations and individuals have announced their plans for Peace Day. You might consider networking with other celebrations on the topic of peace as an alternative to organizing your own event, while still presenting information about TPRF and PEP.

Your event will be an independent local initiative sponsored by you and your team, rather than TPRF. The TPRF Independent Fundraising Team will be available to support and offer guidelines to assist you. Your first step in getting that support will be to fill out the form at the link called Submit Event Information.

Again, whatever kind of event you choose to host, the information on this form will help us greatly in supporting your efforts and in getting your event listed on our map.

Stay tuned for email and video updates in the weeks leading up to September 21.

Best wishes and have fun!

Candice Wilmore

candicewilmore@tprf.org

Top right photo: Echo Valley Farm in Wisconsin

Boston Area Independent Event

With the long wait over for the arrival of key equipment, the construction team in Ghana began tackling the final tasks necessary to open the Food for People facility in Otinibi.  Here is Kafui Esi Adjei’s report on the day-to-day events leading up to the historic inauguration of the third location for TPRF’s unique and highly successful feeding and education program.

We have had several guests visiting the facility. The Chief of Otinibi, Nii Adjei Kweidzamansah III, and his entourage came to the facility to have a taste of the favorite and delicious local dish “Ga  Kenkey” served with fried fish and hot pepper sauce.

Ga Kenkey is a staple food in Ghana made from corn/maize dough kneaded into a ball and then wrapped in a corn husk.  After boiling Ga Kenkey for about an hour and a half, it is usually eaten with meat, chicken, fish and soup dishes accompanied by a hot pepper sauce seasoning.

The District Chief Executive, the political head of the district, Honourable John Kwao Sackey, also came with the Assemblyman for the area, Honourable Adams Thoro. The head of the nutrition department of the University of Ghana was also there with her team on three different occasions as part of a base line nutrition study underway at Food for People Ghana.

The baseline study is a research project designed to gather statistics on the school children’s health status, school attendance, performance in class, and other related statistics. These benchmarks will be gathered before the feeding program begins. The same statistics will be gathered periodically after FFP Ghana opens.  By comparing the original benchmarks to the statistics gathered over time, the baseline study will reveal the impact the feeding program is having on the children in the community.

On May First it will be exactly a year since sod was cut for the beginning of the project. It is really amazing how things can move very fast. Finally, the long-awaited coolers arrived in a van after the close of work on Tuesday, April 3^rd. By the end the next day, the coolers had been fully assembled. After installing the refrigerator piping system, the construction team tested the coolers for over a week and the system checked out fine.

Everybody is happy for the arrival of the coolers, so we are ready for the inauguration of the facility. We anticipate feeding 450 people including invited guests at the inauguration.  We expect the opening ceremonies will happen between May 15 and May 22. From then onwards, we will be feeding about 500 people every day.

Photos by Francis Ahore

Praveena Chandrasekhar has a Masters Degree in Child Development and Family Relations.  She has worked for more than ten years with rural families in India to improve health, hygiene, nutrition, education, parenting skills, and economic development. Currently, Praveena is a TPRF volunteer helping with the launching of  a baseline study at the Food For People facility in Bantoli, Ranchi, India.

I walked towards the Food for People center on my first visit here in Bantoli. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be here when the children would come to have their food.  About six to eight kids were already in the garden, running around picking dried leaves, some looking at me curiously with shy smiles on their faces.

Most of the children used the toilets built conveniently near the entrance gate, as they do not have bathrooms in their homes. After washing their feet and hands, they lingered in the vegetable and flower gardens, picking up dried leaves and watering the plants.  The children performed all of these tasks willingly. Later, they walked in a calm way into the dining hall. I could see that they were relaxed and not rushing. They were at home!

Most of the children were neatly dressed, even though their clothes were old and faded. They carried themselves well. They were happy, content, and without the anxiety one typically sees in children from families caught in a cycle of extreme poverty.

In thirty minutes, about 60 children gathered, all sitting on mats laid in rows. They were enjoying the music playing softly in the background. The dining hall was spacious, and a cool breeze was blowing through the mesh windows on all four sides.

More and more children started trickling in—older siblings bringing their younger ones, parents bringing their little ones. Soon, half of the mats on the floor were occupied. I was amazed to see the kids waiting patiently, talking softly amongst themselves. The atmosphere was lively and yet serene.

I walked into the orderly, spic-and-span kitchen. Lunch was prepared and the cook was transferring the food into the big serving pots, which would go onto the serving counter.

As the serving time approached, children from one row at a time formed a straight line, picked up their thalis (food plates) and walked to the food counter. They filled their plates and calmly came back to their seats. Clean drinking water was available in tumblers in the corner of the dining hall. Many children went back for seconds, getting their favorite dhal or vegetable, along with rice.

I was pleasantly surprised to notice the children did not drop food from their plates on the ground while eating. It became obvious that they had a lot of respect for the food they were served. Leftovers were at a minimum. Even though the food was free, they obviously felt a great value for it!

I could not believe my own eyes that the children were so disciplined in such a natural way. There was no fear and no adult intervention. This shows the level of understanding and maturity in the children.

The staff in this facility are very caring and they treat the children with a lot of respect. The dining area was constantly mopped to keep it safe for the children to walk with plates full of food. The thoughtfulness of these caretakers brought tears to my eyes.

Joginder Oroan comes from Bajiatoli, a village one kilometer away from the facility. He is 16 years old and studies in the 10th grade. Joginder was in the first batch of children served meals by Food for People, Bantoli in 2006. “I feel safe and at home here,” he says. Joginder tells me that he used to be very aggressive and would fight with his peers all the time. Awhile after he started coming to this facility, he found there was “some kind of quietness and calm” within himself. He finds the discipline very balancing, as his home environment is very harsh with a drunkard father and violence. He says, “I get a chance to study and do my homework quietly here in the evening.” He is very appreciative of the loving staff and expressed his gratitude.

Phooleshwar Munda, also from Bajiatoli, is 11 years old and a seventh grade student. He has been enjoying the services of FFP since it began, and seems to be a very cheerful and happy child. He says, “I would not know about hygiene if it was not for coming here.” He now insists on following at least some of the hygiene practices at home.

Phooleshwar makes it a point to come to the center in the evening to help in the garden. He wants to become an engineer. “I appreciate the care they give me,” he says. “I do not feel that I am coming here for alms. I come every morning with dignity.”

In my opinion, this is not a simple thing to achieve in a facility of this size. It is an honor for me to be here for about 12 days to witness this phenomenal activity every morning. Nowhere else have I seen such beautiful interaction with children based on mutual love and respect!

Photos Courtesy of Premsagar Foundation

2012 marks the second consecutive year TPRF has partnered with The Adventure Project (TAP) to raise funds for their excellent water well mechanic training program. The program creates new jobs and re-establishes access to clean water in areas where water wells are broken. Becky Straw is a “clean water activist” and co-founder of The Adventure Project.  This is her World Water Day contribution to our blog, reporting on the success of TAP’s partnership with TPRF in 2011.

Last year, something remarkable happened. Four days before World Water Day, my new nonprofit, The Adventure Project, asked The Prem Rawat Foundation a last-minute, crazy question: “Would TPRF match what we raise in 24 hours?” Without hesitation, TPRF jumped on board, and turned March 22 into one of the best days of the year.

Over 150 people joined us in spreading our message on World Water Day, and over 400 people generously donated to match TPRF’s grant. Collectively, we raised over $23,000 for a revolutionary water program in India, implemented by WaterAid, in partnership with a local NGO, Gram Swaraj Samiti Ghosi (GSSG). This program trains and empowers local leaders to become well mechanics, fixing broken wells in their communities.

One year later, I am proud to report that WaterAid has successfully established two well mechanic shops in the Kako and Ghosi blocks in the Jehanabad district of Bihar. As of February 29, 12 new mechanics have repaired 85 hand pumps, restoring access to clean water for 12,386 people in need!

The two shops in Kako and Ghosi are thriving, serving a total of 10 communities. The shops are equipped with water quality test kits, tools and spare parts necessary for repair work, as well as a cell phone to receive repair requests and a motorcycle for transport to the repair sites. This is an innovative and enterprising way to ensure rural communities have access to sustainable water services.

Twelve mechanics have been trained in hand pump repair, pipeline fitting, and use of GPS technology. The mechanics provide an additional benefit in educating communities about maintaining their hand pumps to prevent breakdown, by establishing volunteer village water and sanitation committees.

The twelve mechanics are committed to rapid response times, with a goal to fully repair hand pumps within 24 hours of receiving the request, when possible. Of the repairs conducted to date, 54% have been completed in less than 12 hours, 91% in less than 24 hours, and only 9% between 24 and 48 hours after receiving the request (these are often major repairs requiring extensive labor or spare parts.) Furthermore, in the past three months alone, the shops have averaged 27 repairs per month. Of the total fee the community pays, 60% of the repair charge goes to the mechanics for their labor and 40% goes to the center to cover operating costs.

Water issues have always been close to my heart. I have spent the last five years of my career focused on evaluating water programs in developing countries. It always pains me to see so many broken wells throughout Africa and India, watching in dismay as mothers and children walk past broken wells to collect water from dirty rivers. The Gates Foundation estimates one third of all wells are currently broken, often because there are no spare parts or trained mechanics.

This partnership with The Prem Rawat Foundation gave us hope that there are organizations and citizens who believe in enterprising solutions to ending the water crisis. I cannot thank TPRF enough for all their support, inspiration and shared belief in investing with dignity.

Thank you,

Becky Straw

Co-Founder & Chief Adventurist | The Adventure Project

130 7^th Avenue #354 | New York, NY 10011  | 774.238.7761

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Photos by Esther Havens

During their February 2012 vacation in Southeast Asia, David and Debby Horsford are combining sightseeing with visits to areas where TPRF is helping people through its various partners. Debby is writing a diary and David is taking photos and videos of their journey.  While in Cambodia, the couple witnessed the transforming work of TPRF grantee the Cambodian Children’s Fund.

Patrick, a wonderful fellow who has moved from Scotland to Cambodia to work with the Cambodian Children’s Fund, picks us up at our hotel in the morning. He is a self-proclaimed introvert, buttoned up, non-smiling, ex-military man. Or so he says. It is difficult to imagine the picture he paints of himself. In this country, adoring swarms of children greet Patrick, and he is putty in their presence.

He takes us on a tour of six facilities. It is important to understand that the children here are not orphans. A few are, of course, but most have families or at least one living parent. The children we visit are from the families of people who were living around the dump outside of Phnom Penh. They are resourceful and industrious people. For example, a truck would pull into the dump to unload trash and they would dig through it to find food or materials they could salvage or sell. They are not apathetic or disempowered.

Nearly 700 children strong, CCF is thriving. The city dump is closed. A few children live on campus full time, some live on campus during the week and return to their families on the weekend, and the remainder live at home and attend school daily. TPRF has given grant money to provide nutritious meals for the most marginal of these children and their families. It is a joy to watch them at mealtimes. The breakfasts, lunches, and dinners served at all six facilities rotate by age groups.

We observe from the back of an open-air classroom the teacher announcing our arrival. Children, perhaps five years old, stand and sing a song they have memorized for class. They are learning to speak, read, and write English to best prepare them for the future. It is soon time for lunch, and the students are heading to the outdoor sink to wash their hands. Each child receives a generous portion of rice, broth, vegetables, and meat or fish. Patrick says they are growing like bamboo shoots. Most of the children arrive at CCF very stunted in height for their age with many health issues. They sit together at communal tables enjoying one another’s company instead of having to fight over food. The children have formed relationships of trust with one another. Their smiles and laughter are proof.

The benefit of nutritious food has surprised even the staff here. Over time, the children continue growing stronger and taller. As their immune systems improve, they are able to fight off common bacteria and viruses. The teachers say even their capacity to concentrate and study has increased. The children of all ages here share a common denominator. In the older children, we sense the appreciation of the incredible opportunity they have been given. They are enthusiastic about following their dreams of becoming teachers, nurses, and doctors. They are determined to go wherever their aspirations take them. I am convinced these children will become the face of change and betterment in Cambodia’s future.

Sovann (L) and Jorani

Jorani, a flourishing fourteen year old, has made it through a childhood that would be inconceivable to most of us in the West.  She comes to us and drags us over to see pictures on the wall of her accomplishments.  She is a straight-A student and loves science best of all.  Jorani’s friend, Sovann, shows us pictures of a dance production he was in last year in Chiang Mai.  He is now able to pursue his studies and his passion.  The enthusiasm of these two friends is contagious.  It is incredible to see what a small amount of assistance can do to bring dignity and confidence to a human being.

Photos by CCF and David Horsford

Volunteer team members Marcela Isaurralde, Silvia Acosta, and Edith Lombardia have worked tirelessly to bring Prem Rawat’s message of peace to the inmates of Ezeiza prison located thirty miles outside of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The team holds workshops featuring videos of Prem Rawat’s public addresses in Spanish and distributes printed material published by TPRF to inmates. Marcela Isaurralde recently submitted this report updating the progress of the “Peace Education Program” underway in the Ezeiza facility. 

The Peace Is Possible Workshop in Unit 31 started in 2006.  Mostly out of curiosity, the inmates turned up. As it turned out, many of them attended steadily for weeks, months, and then years!

Women Inmates Enjoy a Peace Education Class

Five years have passed since then. Now the time has come for many inmates to go back home! Before leaving, they thanked us time and time again for bringing Prem Rawat’s message into the prison. Each one seemed determined to continue listening and learning, and looked forward to sharing Prem Rawat’s words with their family and friends.

Prem Rawat’s message of peace has a very profound impact among the inmates. It is so unusual to hear about peace in this hostile environment, even to experience peace amidst so much grief and despair.

Some learn to speak from the heart, to believe in the heart, and to hold on tightly to the message of peace despite being surrounded by hard feelings of hate and betrayal.  It is truly extraordinary for someone who feels wrecked to the bones to be able to attend a workshop on peace and to have a chance to feel the longing of the heart to be happy, to feel peace, to have a life again.

I witness smiles and smile back, feeling the beauty emerge from an atmosphere colored by fear and failure. I see women who have been touched and transformed just by listening to Prem Rawat, feeling the nurturing strength and hope that his words inspire and seeing the possibility of leaving behind the burdens of hate and misfortune.

Even those who are being punished and imprisoned, left to feel shut down and hopeless, can feel their hearts again, so free and trustworthy. There is such gratitude for being able to hear this message of peace. Even those who can hardly write make the effort to send their thanks and appreciation to Prem Rawat in carefully written messages that we send to him.

So many wanted to meet him and hear him speak in person that the inmates of Unit 31 joined together to invite him to come to Ezeiza to speak to them. It seemed that the wait was long, but they waited and waited, feeling excited and hopeful that he might come.

Then one day he did, and the impact of that is still being felt. As one inmate said, “Gratitude is the memory of our hearts.”

*Photos Courtesy of TPRF Volunteers

Prem Rawat Responds to an Invitation to Visit Ezeiza Inmates