Amala Foundation

Listing Information:

The Amala Foundation unites people from all walks of life and inspires them to grow as individuals and as leaders in service to humanity. The majority of our programs are focused on young people, including refugee and immigrant youth. Many of these individuals have experienced war, abuse, neglect, extreme poverty, child labor, and gang violence. We provide a safe space for these youth to heal, express themselves, share their stories and connect with a loving and supportive community. We empower all of our youth to rise up as leaders in their communities and schools. The youth who participate in our programs represent many countries, ethnicities, religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Some have grown up in refugee camps, while others have been raised in middle and upper class families. Many come from countries that have been at war with each other for years. We inspire youth to recognize that regardless of where they come from or what adversities they have faced, we are all human beings that ultimately want the same things: love, acceptance, human connection and peace. Founded in 2001, the Amala Foundation has served over 2300 youth with programs in 5 countries and 4 states. Over the last 13 years, the Amala Foundation has created volunteer opportunities for 2500+ volunteers. The Amala Foundation is headquartered in Austin, Texas. The Amala Foundation is involved in a number of local, national, and international humanitarian service projects. Camp Indigo was started in 2001 and is now in its 14th year of offering a week-long day camp experience to Austin area children ages 4-12. Camp Mana, now in its ninth year, offers a similar experience over two days in Hawaii. Our One Village Project, including the Global Youth Peace Summit, is in its 8th year and serves more than 150 local, immigrant, international and refugee youth each year. Our Young Artists in Service program provides free art instruction to at-risk children in addition to creating inspiring murals at places like the Austin Children’s Shelter. The Gui Village Living Water Program was a humanitarian service project we successfully completed in 2005, installing two water wells in a Nigerian village, saving 3,500 people (including 2,000 children) from disease. Since 2007, our partnership with the Bhatti Mines School in Delhi, India has helped to ensure 200 Indian children a day are receiving an education instead of being forced into child labor.