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STARTING A SEVA CENTER

So you found out that there isn't an Seva Center/ HASC Chapter in your community, town, or campus? 

Here's how to get started:
  1. Be inspired.... Our suggestion from Swami Vivekananda.... "Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life-think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced. Others are mere talking machines.

  2. Talk to your friends and see who is interested in building communities with seva

  3. Advertise at local temple, ashram, religious clubs, and social action groups to find interested people.  Talk with Temple management to give you space to hold your meetings.

  4. Hold a brainstorming meeting with those interested in faith and interfaith service-learning projects. Be sure to ask why these projects are needed in your community (how are yu addressing the needs of your community and that of the community at large.  As preparation read the report HASC gave to the President

  5. Consider how your own dharmic tradition informs you of such work, and how seva should look in your community. You can also hold faith or an interfaith dialogue.

  6. Some of the projects we are focusing on are
    • Eco Dharmic Seva (energy and environment)
    • Military Families
    • Health, healthy living, nutrition
    • Promoting yoga such as through YogaPALA Challenge
    • Developing services for Seva centers
    • Expanding UtsavSeva
    • Securing places of worship with Department of Homeland Security
    • See HASC site for other programs

   You can create a seva group without being a registered HASC Chapter, but here are some reasons why you and your team may want to consider being part of the HASC Seva Network gives you:

  • Connection to the seva movement as a whole 

  • Use of the Hindu American Seva Charities website and Facebook for publicity 

  • Access to media outlets through Hindu American Seva Charities

  • Assistance from a team of experienced seva leaders to guide your Seva Center / Chapter's development

  • Access to HASC trainings and literature

  • Utilizing the existing infrastructure of HASC

  • Access to custom publicity materials, such as flyers, logos, cards, and more!

 To learn more about how to start an HASC Seva Chapter, please contact us.