In partnership with the Government of India, more than 800 young people from poor communities have received state-of-the-art training in critical, industry-relevant areas – a nearly unimaginable opportunity to earn for themselves and their families.

India’s National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which ranks the country’s institutions of higher learning, has given Amrita the highest possible grade. The ranking especially recognizes the university’s international collaborations and sustainable development initiatives.

A gathering for all of UNESCO’s 36 gender-related chairs and networks united to address the challenges faced as a result of COVID-19. The vision is to co-build a bright future for all women and girls around the world. The virtual event was hosted by Amrita University’s UNESCO Chair on Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality.

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, bestowed the degree upon Amma virtually as part of its 17th Annual Convocation Ceremony. The institute wished to recognize Amma’s “great contributions in the fields of spirituality, education, environmental issues, humanitarian efforts, love and compassion”.

At the Amma Center in Pontgouin, France, members are developing an ecovillage on a neighboring property. Their goal is to live nearby to support the center and its humanitarian activities, alongside a vision to create a community that embodies an ecological, supportive and respectful way of life for all.

In rural India, there has been widespread hesitancy to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and the area accounts for 65% of the country’s population. Doctors with Amrita Hospital are reaching out to our teams in villages to help share information about the safety of the vaccine, especially in remote tribal areas.

As the second wave of the pandemic begins to drop, our youth wing is finding ways to get food, basic supplies and support to people in urgent need. This includes a range of actions, from caring for villagers and slum dwellers with no income to counselling people in post COVID-19 recovery.

So far, men and boys have been largely excluded from the discourse on promoting gender equality. UNESCO New Delhi and our UNESCO Chair on Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality have collaborated to contribute to a global paradigm shift.

The Amriteswari Foundation of Malaysia has started a food bank to reach people in the town of Puchong and its surrounding areas. Over the last year, many are not able to afford essentials like rice and milk powder, and the country’s national lockdown that started on June 3rd has made things even more challenging.

Workshops have begun with the Central Reserve Police Force to bring them resilience and help them become more open towards gender equality. In collaboration with the Center for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality, the initiatives are planned for the next two years and will reach about 25,000 officers.