Sewa International's Fourth National Youth Convention Emphasizes Mindfulness in Dealing with Climate Change

Houston, TX (August6 2024): Sewa International held its Fourth National Youth Convention on July 27
featuring a four-hour video conference with twelve sessions. The event saw participation from over 750
Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) students across 29 US chapters, garnering more than
1,500 Facebook views. LEAD, Sewa's youth engagement program for 9th to 12th graders, fosters leadership
and organizational skills through community service, with participants completing at least 100 hours of
service annually.

The convention began with an inaugural speech by Anil Bansal, founder of Indus American Bank and
a notable community leader. Bansal emphasized the importance of community service, setting the tone
for the event. In the second session, keynote speaker Ami Ganatra, an accomplished author and
business strategist, addressed the interconnectedness of humans and the environment, urging
mindfulness in lifestyle choices and environmental conservation. She reminded them that protecting
the environment is ultimately self-beneficial, as nature will always find a way to correct itself. During the third session, nine-panel discussions focused on climate change and sustainability. Sandesh

Shinde, a sustainability advocate, IT professional, and founder of Green Cell in Atlanta focused his
talk on how cultural roots drive sustainable development. Attendees were encouraged to take simple
actions like reducing electricity use and supporting eco-friendly initiatives. A social media campaign
was proposed to promote sustainable habits. The fourth and final session showcased the 9/11 Sewa Day of Service Project, marking Sewa’s twentieth
anniversary. This initiative, in collaboration with AmeriCorps and 9/11 organizations, involved over 3,100
volunteers, 2,200 trained individuals, and 7,600 service hours across 75 cities. The project focused on
environmental initiatives and community engagement, with more than one hundred events. The session
concluded with a resolution on "Environmental Protection – Everyone’s Responsibility," which was
supported by 98 percent of the 500 LEAD delegates.

Chief Guest, Suhag Shukla, co-founder and executive director of the Hindu American Foundation,
reflected on the significant contributions of 1,500 volunteers who dedicated over 150,000 hours of
sewa (selfless service). Shukla highlighted the positive impacts on volunteers, including fulfillment,
physical and mental health benefits, and spiritual growth. She encouraged the continued practice of
sewa beyond initial commitments, integrating it into daily life as part of one's dharma (duty). She
introduced the DPS (Dharma, Punya, Sukham – duty, beneficence, happiness) framework, guiding
participants to navigate life's challenges and pursue happiness while serving others.