IMA MAKES POSITIVE IMPACT AMIDST COVID

As part of Africa Union Day on May 25, The Art of Living has for the past eight years been engaging in an annual continent-wide campaign called, I Meditate Africa (IMA) which has seen participation by over two million people from 33 countries in Africa and over 120 countries worldwide, promoting inner peace through meditation, mindfulness or quiet time as part of peace building and unity for the continent.

During the current Covid-19 global pandemic, the need for this practice has become incredibly important to help individuals fight with stress, anxiety and depression.

The year 2021 is the year to showcase the Power of Resilience, Mental and Emotional Strength, Courage, Tenacity and Perseverance. “A strong mind can carry a weak body, but a weak mind cannot even carry a strong body,” says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Global Peace Ambassador and Humanitarian

Leader, founder of The Art of Living Foundation, which turns 40 this year and is globally present in 156 countries.

As the global pandemic worsened exactly a year ago and most countries experienced full lockdown, meditation became even more important in helping individuals cope with stress and the daily uncertainties that unfolded. It was during this time that the I Meditate Africa series was launched during Africa month in 2020.

The programme aimed to engage with many African leadership from across the continent on a global online platform in conversation and meditation with renowned Global Humanitarian and Peace Ambassador Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Last year, IMA was showcased on various TV and Radio channels as well as social media platforms. The outreach through media channels was 7,598,540 and through social media platforms was 252,979. Approximately 3,101,558 people joined the meditations online with Sri Sri during I Meditate Africa.

Sri Sri guided live meditations each day for the month of May and conducted live sessions with different sections of society across the world, addressing among others, CEOs, businesspersons, media persons, journalists, doctors, scientists, academicians, politicians, and most importantly, the common man, providing them hope, solace, strength and solutions to face these unprecedented times.

Online Peace Meditation and Prayer has been taking place from the 1st and will end on 25th May in schools, universities, corporates, police stations, prisons, orphanages, NGOs, Religious-Interfaith, hospitals, governments, embassies, media, radio and women’s groups, among others.

The 10 min meditation can be downloaded at: https:// imeditateafrica.org/ index.html

This year’s campaign is themed, A Strong Mind: Building a Resilient Africa.