Every year Aspen Yoga Society picks a few charities that our close to our heart to support. Our goal is to help both local and global charities. For 2013 we chosen the following charities to focus most of our support to.

• Global Seva Challenge
• 3Generations
• Yoga Ed
• Yoga Votes

Global Seva Challenge – Each year, Off the Mat (OTM) sponsors an international service project called the Global Seva Challenge. The Seva Challenge is a transformational journey that builds community, provokes awareness and action around global issues, and raises significant funds to support communities in crisis. Since 2007, the Seva Challenge has raised over two million dollars for projects in Cambodia, Uganda, South Africa and Haiti. In 2012 the Seva Challenge will be focused on the issue of sex trafficking in India and worldwide.
OTM empowers Seva Challenge participants to raise significant funds by collaborating with their local communities. The grassroots fundraising process of the Seva Challenge builds leadership skills and cultivates dedication and passion for taking direct action. Upon reaching their fundraising goal, participants are invited to join OTM founders on a powerful journey where they spend two weeks working directly with the organizations their funds have helped to support. During these trips, participants connect with local yogis and organizations that are bringing yoga teachings into the schools and underserved areas. After the trip’s completion, OTM then selects an ambassador who continues to work in support of our Seva Challenge partners and projects in that country.

To make a donation to the Global Seva Challenge. All proceeds go towards organizations on the ground actively working to eradicate sex slavery.

DONATE

* write Gina Murdock for the Seva Participant

 

3Generations – Child sex slavery is occurring today and everyday in the United States. While it is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, it exists nationwide. The 3Generations “In Focus” Campaign is designed to shine a light on this complex and growing human rights abuse. Through stories and targeted partnerships they want the public to understand the truth and take action. AYS is going to work with the Denver affiliate of 3Generations to bring awareness to the public and to help fund mentoring programs for runaway and at risk youths in the Denver and surrounding areas.

Yoga Ed – Getting Physical Education and Yoga incorporated into the Aspen school system. Did you know that high school students in Aspen are only required to do one semester of physical education in their 4 years.

Yoga Votes -  YogaVotes is a nonpartisan campaign to engage the yoga community in the 2012 election and beyond. YogaVotes is an opportunity for the yoga community to become a constituency of conscious voters, a block of voters engaging in the political process in a new way and asking to be heard. By sheer number, we can have an impact, as millions of yogis show up to vote using the values and principles of yoga. We have a chance to create real change in the political process simply by taking part in it. read more