Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) is a spiritual and a charitable organization. “To serve mankind as one’s larger Self” is one of the Aims and Ideals of YSS. In fact, our beloved Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda himself started his worldwide work with a small school for boys!
The charitable activities of YSS include: medical care, like hospitals, clinics, and medical camps; educational activities, like running educational institutions, coaching centres and scholarship schemes; help to orphanages and leprosy colonies; and providing emergency relief to those afflicted by natural and other disasters.
YSS Noida Ashram has been engaged in various charitable activities and relief work over the last few years. Offering educational support and medical care without any cost, the ashram runs a Free Coaching Centre and a Free Dispensary in its premises for the last few years. Hundreds of patients and young students from the nearby slum areas and Khoda village utilise the services of these charitable centres being run with the aid of volunteers - qualified and experienced doctors and teachers.
Medical Activities at YSS Noida Ashram
Although only partially built, the Noida Ashram had started its spiritual activities in 2010. A little later, we were able to start our charitable work. A temporary structure of a few rooms was partially converted into a charitable clinic. The covered verandah was used as a waiting area for patients; two rooms were modified as doctor’s chambers, and for disbursing medicines. Allopathic doctors now include General Practitioners, Gynecologists and Pediatricians; most are devotees working free on a voluntary basis; there is also a Homeopathic doctor. Consultations with doctors, medicines and routine tests are totally free. Making the patients aware of the importance of sanitation, hygiene and preventive measures to maintain good health are an integral part of our work; this includes creating awareness of, and help in, pursuing family planning measures. Chronic patients are helped on a long term basis. Efforts are also made to assist serious patients by referring them to other suitable charities. The clinic is a boon for economically weaker sections of society, living in and around Sector 62, Noida and neighboring areas in Ghaziabad, like the Khoda village and the Khoda colony. On an average day, about 30 patients visit the clinic, held in the mornings on all week days.
Free Coaching Classes
It was our patients who persuaded us to start a Coaching Centre. They would bemoan the poor teaching standards in the local schools; they would complain about the high cost of tuitions which was unaffordable; finally, they requested us to start a charitable coaching centre. And we responded positively. Initially, the clinic verandah, used for waiting patients, was converted into a classroom in the afternoons, when students could come after their school hours. We started with only class X with a few students. All subjects were taught by qualified devotees as volunteer teachers. The Board results were satisfying and we were encouraged to expand. Today, after nearly 5 years, we have 57 students in classes 9 to 12. Many have been with us for 2 or 3 years; some are siblings of former or present students. All the available rooms, and the verandah, have been converted into class rooms. And we are still short of space; we have had to put some applicants on waiting lists. Most subjects are taught. In addition, we teach a basic course in Computers, as also a course in Spoken English. Both are popular and have been found to be useful. Coaching is totally free. The Board results of 2018 are encouraging. For example, 4 students of class X scored over 80 % marks, one reaching 87 %. In addition to coaching, we also try to provide career counseling.
The Ashram also helps deserving schools, catering to the weaker sections of society, in various ways; this includes Paramahansa Yogananda Swarn Bal Vatika, an informal coaching centre for children from very poor families, run by a devotee at her residence.
