SEATTLE--Glory of Peace and Love, GOPAL, has been selected as a 2024 Washington State Volunteer Service Volunteer Program award.
GOPAL's mission is to preserve and practice the culture, teachings and traditions of the Vedic religion. The ages-old Vedic religion has guided and continues to positively transform the lives of millions of individuals from time immemorial. It propagates a spiritually-oriented life through its teachings of peace, integrity, service and mutual respect for all living beings as equal children of God.
GOPAL currently has around 40 volunteers who collectively log more than 400 hours per week.
Volunteers with GOPAL help expose children of Indian heritage to Indian culture and traditions, languages and values. Volunteers work with to school administrators and school boards that have students who live in Indian communities to offer cultural awareness programs at schools, according to GOPAL spokesperson Golpalcharan Pal. He says it's not uncommon for children in Indian families in King County to have parents who work long hours and aren't able to devote a lot of time teaching them about Indian culture and traditions. He adds that bringing GOPAL programs into schools can remove these barriers as well as create cultural and diversity awareness throughout the greater community.
We inform them and empower them about who they are and how they culturally belong in India and its values," Pal said. "We are trying to provide an overall rounded knowledge for our students volunteering for this mission and the program is really bringing our next generation Indian community a great gift and knowledge they use to stay culturally connected to their community and roots."
In 2023, more than 200 students took part in GOPAL programs and more than 4,000 people have connected with GOPAL through public events. Volunteers also began facilitating in-person and virtual yoga programs for schools and other communities to help improve physical, mental and emotional health. More than 50 students and eight adults participated in yoga classes.
Glory of Peace and Love: https://gloryofpeaceandlove.org/
