June 2023 Sai Calendar

Sairam. Please find below the June 2023 Sai Calendar.

Highlights of June are Vesak Day & Guru Poornima Special Bhajans.

In addition, there are several seva activities during the month. Please mark your diary and participate in Sai activities of your interest. If you wish to volunteer at Sai Society, please sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/oEJ9ptEP59hjNgBQ2.

Free English & IT Classes for Domestic Helpers – New Batch

We are starting our 9^th Batch of Free English & IT Classes for Domestic Helpers. If you are a domestic helper, or an employer of a helper, this is important information for you.

The applicant (helper) must register in person on the date and at the time given in the flyers below. Please read the details in the flyers, available in different languages. These are given below, and also available for download at https://bit.ly/English-Term9. Seats are limited. Online English classes are also available.

The “Help the Helpers” – one of the youngest initiatives of Sri Sathya Sai Society Singapore offers tremendous help to the women who moved to Singapore from several regions of Asia to work as domestic helpers in Singapore homes through imparting English and basic IT skills training at the Sai Centre. Please see earlier articles on the topic on this website at: https://saisociety.org.sg/2023/04/hth-graduation-2023/ and https://saisociety.org.sg/help-the-helpers/.

You may also watch the video on our youtube channel –

https://youtu.be/gClL1YhGCZ4

If you wish to volunteer, or know more details write to [email protected]

Behind the Scenes @Aradhana @Moulmein Road

A glimpse of our volunteers working tirelessly to welcome devotees to receive His Divine Blessings on Sai Aradhana 2023 on Monday, 24th April at Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, 133 Moulmein Road.

Join us at Swami’s abode in Singapore at the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre at 133, Moulmein Road with your family on this auspicious Sai Aradhana and let us express our gratitude and love as one Sai family in Singapore. Soak in His divine bliss and seek His blessings throughout this holy day with satsang and spiritual activities.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and prasadam will distributed.

Graduation of Help the Helpers Programme Term 8

She exuded confidence as she entered the room wearing her Sunday best, a stunning pink dress. Smiling warmly before starting to practise a speech that she had written. Parina Tamang, a foreign domestic worker from Darjeeling, learnt from her friends about the English language classes conducted at the Sri Sathya Sai Society from a WhatsApp group. She has come a long way since joining the classes six months ago. Today, 9 April, is her graduation ceremony and she was thrilled to be able to face a big crowd and share her experiences and takeaways from attending the English language classes.

“I knew very little English and hesitated to speak much before joining the classes. My teachers here make the lessons interesting and fun for us. I look forward to attending the classes every 2^nd and 4^th Sunday. I would like to thank my teachers and everyone who has helped me. My employers are happy and pleased to see me learn new things. I am now ready to join the IT lessons for the next term.”

Just like Parina, 180 foreign domestic female workers have benefitted from the Sri Sathya Sai Society’s Help the Helpers Programme this term. Aimed at empowering the workers who spend all day doing household chores at the homes of their employers, these ladies look forward to attending English or IT lessons at 133, Moulmein Road every 2^nd and 4^th Sunday of the month.

Basic communication and written skills are taught over a period of six months after an assessment and interview to determine their level of proficiency. The ladies are grouped in various classes named after colours based on their competency.  Dedicated volunteer teachers who have no prior experience in teaching undergo workshops to equip them with the necessary skills to teach.

“It is so inspiring to see the students put in enormous effort in improving themselves.”

• Sister Chandrika, teacher of Pink Class

To date, The Help the Helpers programme has benefitted more than 1,300 ladies. Eager to improve their communication skills and knowledge, some of these ladies have gone on to find better jobs and opportunities for themselves after their contracts in Singapore.

As Brother Sriram recounted, one of the ladies contacted him to thank the organisation for the lessons and IT skills that she had picked up at the Centre. She took up a job in Israel that paid her five times the amount she earned in Singapore. Another former student now works for an elderly dementia-stricken couple there, where she is able to communicate with them fluently in English and assist them with simple IT tasks such as operating the computer and printing documents.

The programme would not have been a success without the labour of love of devotees and well-wishers who have been supportive since it started in 2016. About 16,000 meals have been lovingly prepared in the kitchens of volunteers with a logistics team of volunteer drivers delivering the meals in time for lunch before the lessons begin. The admin and IT team of volunteers ensure that the premises are clean and the classrooms are ready for use.

It is also heartening to know that these ladies receive much support from their employers. Mr and Mrs Kapoor were all praises for their helper, Sukhmani who has been with them for five years.

 “Sukhmani is from Punjab and knew very little English when she first joined us but she is able to write the grocery list in English.”

-Mrs Inder Kapoor

It was an emotional moment for Sukhmani as she received her graduation certificate. The ladies have completed the term but many of them are looking forward to attending the classes for the next term. The friendships and bonds formed amongst the ladies and the teachers are indeed heartwarming. Here are some photos. More photos are at https://photos.app.goo.gl/FTj4XZb1fXjzVhCC8.

The next batch begins shortly, and intake is on 14^th and 28^th May 2023, from 1 pm to 3 pm on both days. The admissions may close sooner if the response is overwhelming. For more information on the Help the Helpers programme, please visit https://saisociety.org.sg/help-the-helpers.

True education is not for a mere living, but for a fuller and meaningful life.

-Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thank you, Swami.

Education in Human Values (Sai Spiritual Education)

The young minds of children are not polluted and hence they can be led into good ways of living, simplicity, humility and discipline.

Guide the children in the spiritual path, through simple and moral living; Install in the young minds, the importance of duty, devotion and discipline; Help them understand the five human values, so that they can practice these in their daily lives; Guide them to Love all and Serve all. In short help them grow into worthy citizens to serve the world.

The SSE classes (called Bal Vikas in India) are conducted on Sundays from 9:15 am to 11:45 am. Currently the classes are online. Students between ages 4 years and 18 years are part of this programme.

Curriculum includes Enriched syllabus on Life, Teachings and Works of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba blended with spiritual knowledge and wisdom from the Holy Scriptures, based on the 5 basic Human Values of Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence.

We are delighted that a new batch of SSE commenced in January 2023. If you wish to know more details, or about the registration process, please see detailed information on this page: https://saisociety.org.sg/sse/.

Use the QR CODE below to register for SSE (or)

Use this link to register for SSE : https://bit.ly/SSE-application

#sathyasaibababhajans #sathyasaieducare #sathyasaieducation #sathyasaisocietysingapore #sathyasaiwithstudents #sse #singaporeinstagram #singaporeinsta #sathyasaibaba #educare 

Weekly Yoga Classes at Sai Centre

The weekly Yoga Classes are held on Friday evenings from 7 pm at the Sathya Sai Baba Centre, 133 Moulmein Road, Singapore 308083. If this is your first time, please arrive early and meet the Yoga instructor. He will guide you.

Yoga classes have been conducted at the Sai Centre for over 25 years and by the same instructor.