Join us for an immersive concert of soul-stirring music, evocative visual storytelling, and profound reflection.
Wednesday, October 7
6 p.m.
Moe Auditorium
Bonita Performing Arts Center
10150 Bonita Beach Road SE, Bonita Springs
Swami Dayananda Saraswati
AIM for Seva Founder
In thousands of rural villages across India, a child’s desire to learn is often met with daily obstacles – long, unsafe journeys, limited resources, and few support systems. All India Movement for Seva was created to change that reality. What began with one woman’s plea for a safe place for her children to stay near school became our founder’s vision of bringing education to the doorsteps of the children of rural India by building hostels near schools. From Swamiji’s vision was born the chatralaya or free student home.
A single chatralaya in 2001 has flourished into a far-reaching network of 91 spanning 17 states and 3,000 villages of rural India. These caring homes provide over 4,000 children in grades 4 through 12 each year with access to a formal education, lodging, nutritious meals, clothes and uniforms, academic support, extracurricular opportunities, and health care – all at no cost.
AIM for Seva began establishing its own educational institutions in 2005 – each rooted in value-based learning and strong academics. Today, our eight schools and one college, serving over 5,000 students annually beginning in kindergarten, are nurturing not only academic success but confidence, values and life skills. Our students are empowered to dream bigger and to pursue higher education, meaningful careers, and lives of purpose. At its heart, AIM for Seva ensures that where a child is born does not determine how far they can go.
Our vidyalaya residential school campuses embrace a well-rounded approach to nurturing and educating children in rural India. Dynamic academics, value-based learning, cultural enrichment, life skills, and compassionate care come together to help each child build the confidence, knowledge and character needed to thrive in school and in life.
Each campus comprises a K-12 English-medium school serving 1,500 students, a boys’ hostel and girls’ hostel, each housing 100 children, and staff quarters.
When you contribute to AIM for Seva, you’re supporting a holistic model of care that reaches children during their most formative years, creating the strongest foundation for lifelong success. You make education accessible, opportunity attainable, and futures full of promise. Your generosity creates a ripple effect – uplifting not just one child, but families and entire communities over time.
20 Million
lives touched
since 2000
3,000
villages reached across rural India
10,000
students per year
90% graduation
rate
80% of students
pursue higher education or secure employment
10,000
students per year
The Founding Vision of AIM for Seva
“Before 1999, Pujya Swamiji’s primary focus was on preserving our ancient knowledge by establishing gurukulams and teaching Vedanta. He had not yet undertaken large-scale social initiatives. However, two pivotal events sparked AIM for Seva: Swamiji took a strong stance on preserving indigenous cultures and protecting them from proselytization, and mothers from remote villages approached him, sharing how incredibly difficult it was for their children to access basic schooling.
Recognizing that while other organizations were building schools, the children still couldn’t reach them, Swamiji was inspired to launch a nationwide movement – much like India’s freedom movement. In 2000, he officially founded the All India Movement (AIM) for Seva.
His brilliant solution was to build chatralaya (free student homes for boys and girls) near existing government schools to provide tribal and rural children with education, lodging and basic health care. He even composed the anthem Bharata Desha Hitaya to inspire this mission. Over the last two decades, this movement has beautifully and effectively served its profound purpose.”
— Piyush Shah, President, AIM for Seva USA, and Southwest Florida Resident
Our Journey with AIM for Seva
“Over two decades ago, we attended a retreat at the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam where Pujya Swamiji spoke profoundly on the topic of Living vs. Getting On. His teachings focused on the shift from simply surviving to actively contributing to the world. Deeply moved by his message on compassion, inner growth, and vidya danam (the gift of knowledge), we knew we wanted to help bring this vision to life.
This mission quickly became a family endeavor. Our daughters – Vinita, Lakshmi and Namita – wholeheartedly embraced the cause, spending a week of their summer break visiting a chatralaya (free student home) and rallying their friends to raise funds. For several years, we enthusiastically led and participated in fundraising activities throughout New Jersey.
Upon relocating to Bonita Springs, we brought our passion for AIM for Seva with us. With the encouraging support of local resident and AIM for Seva USA President Piyush Shah, the Southwest Florida chapter was born. We hosted our inaugural event in 2019, partnering with the Bhagavad Gita Home Study group of Fort Myers and Raaga, an organization dedicated to bringing Indian classical music to our area.
Since then, we have brought several AIM for Seva productions to the community, uniting our neighbors in support of Swamiji’s vision to educate and empower rural India. We invite you to join us in this movement from consuming to contributing, helping change the destinies of countless children.”
– Viji and Krishnakumar (KK) Davey, AIM for Seva Southwest Florida Chapter Coordinators
“I consider that living begins when one contributes something that will bring about more joy, more happiness, more light, and more freedom. […] Seva work provides an avenue, an occasion, an opportunity for people to care for others.”
— Swami Dayananda Saraswati, AIM for Seva Founder
Southwest Florida Chapter Coordinators
973-262-8449
239-634-1597
239-851-0480
239-281-4352
AIM for Seva has consistently earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating.
Here are just a few ways your generosity can help, but every gift, large or small, contributes to life-changing outcomes.
Honor a loved one by funding a school or special project in their homeland and dedicating it in their name.
There are many options for contributing to AIM for Seva, allowing you to make the best choice for your life and financial goals.
Make a one-time contribution – or set up convenient recurring payments for a more significant impact in the lives of our children.
We can accept your personal or business check made payable to AIM for Seva and mailed to: PO Box 639, Saylorsburg, PA 18353.
Give seamlessly and easily through an ACH or wire transfer. Simply call our office at 570-402-1244 to make the necessary arrangements.
Make your one-time or ongoing contributions to AIM for Seva through your donor-advised charitable fund.
Check our matching gift company list to see if your employer offers a matching gift program. If your company is not listed, you can inquire as to whether they would consider matching your contribution, allowing your gift to have greater reach and impact.
A gift of long-term appreciated stocks and mutual funds can offer you not only income tax savings but also the advantage of reducing or eliminating capital gains taxes. For stock transfer instructions, please call 570-402-1244.
For those 70½ or older, a QCD can be made from a traditional IRA free of federal income tax, while receiving a charitable deduction for income tax purposes. Your contribution might also satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.
Consider naming AIM for Seva in your will or living trust. Bequests, which can be a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate, help maintain the long-term financial health of our nonprofit organization.
If you’re looking to volunteer your time and talents to touch a child’s life in a more tangible and direct way, please email swflorida@aimforsevausa.org to learn about volunteer opportunities.
