World Culture FestivalAbout Us
For the past 40 years, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and volunteers from the Art of Living Foundation and the International Association for Human Values have been working to promote mutual understanding and harmony between diverse groups to form a stress-free, violence-free one-world global family.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is recognized globally as a humanitarian, spiritual leader and peacemaker. Dedicating himself to placing human values at the center of relations between individuals and peoples, Sri Sri has touched the lives of more than 370 million people around the world, resolving conflicts through dialogue and self-awareness, teaching positive approaches to living including techniques to alleviate stress and anxiety, and by his example of selfless service.
Sri Sri’s message is universal, drawn from his understanding of values underlying all faith traditions. In an age where violence is often preached from the pulpit, he has spoken out strongly against this perversion of religion. Sri Sri is actively engaged with the leaders of the world’s great faiths in interfaith dialogue and programs to promote tolerance and a violence free world. From the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles to the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, to South America, Africa, Central Europe, East Asia, and beyond, Sri Sri has carried his simple yet profound and universal message: Love and wisdom can prevail over hatred and distress.
Art of Living Foundation
Operating in 156 countries, the Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) is a non-profit, educational and humanitarian organization founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. All of AOLF’s programs are guided by Sri Sri’s philosophy: “Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world peace.” The AOLF community is diverse and inclusive, and attracts people from all walks of life, backgrounds and religious orientations.
AOLF offers numerous highly effective educational and self-development programs and tools that facilitate the elimination of stress and foster deep and profound inner peace, happiness and well-being for all individuals. These programs, which include breathing techniques, meditation, yoga, and practical wisdom for daily living, have helped millions around the world to completely transform their lives.
International Association for Human Values
The International Association for Human Values (IAHV) offers programs to reduce stress and develop leaders so that human values can flourish in people and communities.
We foster the daily practice of human values – a sense of connectedness and respect for all people and the natural environment, an attitude of non-violence, and an ethic of social service. Our programs enhance clarity of mind, shift attitudes and behaviors, and develop leaders and communities that are resilient, responsible, and inspired.