And keeping an eye on the future.
WHO WE ARE
Embracing the World is a global network of regional humanitarian organizations inspired by the India-based humanitarian initiatives of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math. Embracing the World exists to help alleviate the burden of the world’s poor through helping to meet each of their five basic needs - food, shelter, healthcare, education, and livelihood - wherever and whenever possible. We are especially focused on helping to meet these needs in the aftermath of major disasters.
Augmenting these efforts, we work in the fields of environmental conservation and sustainability to help protect the future of our fragile planet. And through Amrita University, our researchers are innovating new means of delivery of goods, knowledge, information, energy, and healthcare so that we can get help to those in need here and now, wherever they are.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
With the vast majority of our efforts carried out by volunteers, and zero paid administrators at the national and international levels, we’re able to do more with less. This combined with an ethic of personal renunciation demonstrated by Amma and filtered down to every level of the organization ensures that the funds raised directly reach the beneficiaries of our projects, instead of being dissipated in administrative overhead.
Click here to learn more about our volunteers.
OUR FOUNDER
Best known for her practice of tenderly embracing all those who come to her, Amma has served as confidante and counselor to many of the 38 million people she has embraced throughout her life. Each of Embracing the World’s projects has been initiated in response to the needs of the world’s poor who have come to unburden their hearts to Amma and cry on her shoulder. Click here to learn more about Amma.
WHERE WE WORK
Amma teaches that everyone - rich or poor - has the power to make a difference in the life of another, and that no selfless gesture is insignificant. Rather, it is the selfless actions we perform for one another that hold the keys to true peace - peace in the individual, peace in the community and peace among diverse cultures, nations and faiths.
Through her extraordinary acts of love, inner strength and self-sacrifice, Amma has inspired charity projects in more than 40 countries. This worldwide humanitarian movement is expanding day by day, as more and more people feel inspired by Amma’s example to share their time, energy and resources with those in need – both across the globe and in their own communities. Click here for contact information in your region.
In India, Embracing the World Projects are conceived and carried out by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM), Amma’s India-based humanitarian and spiritual organization. Best known for its massive housebuilding project, and as the leading nongovernmental provider of relief for Indian survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, MAM holds Special Consultative Status under the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Amritapuri Ashram is the headquarters of MAM, and the international headquarters of Embracing the World. It is also home to an international community of more than 3,000 people. Permanent residents include monastic disciples and families from all over India and abroad. Inspired by Amma, they have dedicated their lives to attaining the goal of Self-realization and serving the world. It is here that they live with Amma, imbibing her teachings, practicing meditation and participating in selfless service.
Amritapuri is also an international pilgrimage centre for people searching for solace, inspiration and inner peace. Thousands of people come to the ashram every day to experience Amma’s boundless love. Amma makes herself available day and night to meet everyone who comes, and to advise the disciples and volunteers managing the many humanitarian projects of Embracing the World. Daily, Amma leads the evening prayers and devotional singing. Several times a week, she sits with all the residents in meditation and holds open question-and-answer sessions on spiritual topics.
Embracing the World International was conceived by MAM. It is from Amritapuri that Amma’s disciples and volunteers are instructed to go out to manage MAM’s institutions and branch centres, and to conduct public programs in India and abroad.