Volunteer Social Services Based on the Principles of Karma Yoga
Grounded in the philosophy of Karma Yoga—the path of selfless action—we have committed ourselves to guiding students in offering voluntary social services with dedication, compassion, and spiritual intention. With continuous care and supervision, we strive to ensure that all involvement in social welfare leads to growth, integrity, and meaningful outcomes for everyone involved.
Since 1998, our approach has been participatory and adaptive, designed to minimize the risk of misuse, dependency, or underutilization of human potential. We believe in aligning good intentions with action, offering our students and collaborators opportunities to contribute meaningfully, while also developing themselves along the yogic path.
We also uphold our commitment to institutional social responsibility.
Financial Integrity and Support Structure
In addition to using our Yoga Institute’s Reserved Fund, we have gratefully accepted external donations under a strictly separate financial system, independent from registration fees or operational revenues.
All funds are used under clear protocols and oversight, with the active participation of students and careful monitoring, evaluation, and supervision. These efforts are directed toward cases where our contribution can lead to real, positive impact, such as:
Offering emergency micro-grants to support low-income individuals and families for medical care, education, or skill-building to promote employment and self-reliance.
Working with trusted local community partners, especially in remote and rural areas, to identify deserving students or families in need.
Participating in legally registered welfare projects, where we have a clear role in monitoring, fund allocation, and quality control.
Responding to natural disasters, such as the Bam earthquake, by taking part in relief and temporary resettlement initiatives, including needs assessment, procurement, delivery, and installation of essential facilities. In such cases, many of our yoga students with professional expertise—including doctors, nurses, and engineers—have volunteered their time and knowledge.
Contributing to community development, such as improving school infrastructure, access roads, classrooms, sanitation, and playgrounds, while helping establish criteria for success and proper fund utilization.
Transparency and Documentation
All activities are fully documented. For each category listed in the attached table (six in total), we maintain original records including receipts, photographs, videos, and other relevant supporting materials to ensure transparency and accountability.
Selected Participatory Social Work Activities of Payam Mehr Yoga Institute
Table 1 – Initiatives Conducted Through Registered Welfare Institutions
| Institution | Target Group & Gender | Type of Service Provided | Location (Province/District) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahrizak Retirement Home for the Underprivileged, Disabled, and Elderly | Male & female patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | – Weekly to bi-weekly adapted yoga and breathing sessions conducted by trained yoga teachers and students- General wellness counseling- Purchase, packaging, and distribution of supplementary nutrition (nuts, dried fruits) based on weekly needs assessments- Procurement and technical supervision of a wheelchair, including modifications, delivery, testing, and follow-up | South Tehran |
| Emam Ali Organization – Street Children Empowerment | Street-involved boys and girls | – Food service for 50 children- Multiple food distribution events for 20–40 children- Provision of athletic ground protective mats- Winter clothing and custom-tailored school uniforms- Contribution to a job-creation project for mothers of street children, producing environmentally themed cloth shopping bags in partnership with a UNDP/GEF/SGP initiative | East Tehran (Khak Sefid)West Tehran (Saadat Abad)South Tehran (Molavi)Karaj |
| Behzisti (Welfare Organization) | Orphaned boys and girls | – Distribution of nutrition packs | North Tehran |
| Mehrparvaran Omid | Men and women with physical disabilities | – Financial support for purchasing assistive mobility devices | North Tehran |
Selected Participatory Social Work Activities of Payam Mehr Yoga Institute
Table 2 – Grants, Loans & Educational Funds (EFs)
| Program | Target Group & Gender | Type of Service Provided | Location (Province/Region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Mountain Climbing Group | 10 female climbers | – Donation of a computer for office use- Financial support to equip and empower young women climbers with the goal of reaching high mountain peaks | Kurdistan |
| High-Risk Occupations | 2 male park rangers | – One-time grant issued with a repayment plan over one year | Tehran |
| Yoga Students & Trainers | Male & female students and family members | – Numerous interest-free loans and grants provided over the years for:skill development, housing (mortgage), marriage (bridal fund), vehicle purchase, medical costs, childbirth, and educational expenses- Distributed within the close network upon request and need | Tehran, Gilan |
| Educational Fund (EF) | Group of 8–15 boys and girls (male & female) | – Ongoing revolving fund active since 2005, managed through local community developers– In collaboration with schools, students with strong potential and financial challenges (from elementary to university level) are selected- Recipients are evaluated seasonally; 3 disbursements per year- Several beneficiaries have since graduated from university | Ilam, Darreh Shahr |
| Educational Fund (EF) | Group of 10–20 boys and girls (male & female) | – Operated from 2000 to 2010 through local facilitators- Supported numerous students from underprivileged backgrounds, including university graduates | Kurdistan, Sanandaj |
| Educational Fund (EF) | Female university student | – Financial support for art supplies (Graphic Design major) | Hormozgan, Rudan |
| Educational Fund (Post-Earthquake Support) | Group of 8 boys and girls (male & female) | – Covered rehabilitation and education-related expenses for youth affected by the Bam earthquake, through a local volunteer center | Kerman, Bam |
| Marriage Fund (Housing Support) | Young couple | – Provided as a mortgage loan, repayable over 3 years | Ilam |
Selected Participatory Social Work Activities of Payam Mehr Yoga Institute
Table 3 – Refugee & Immigrant Support Funding
| Support Program | Target Group & Gender | Type of Service Provided | Location (Province/Region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghan Refugee Family I | Single mother with three children (1 girl, 2 boys) | – Father killed in a well-drilling accident- Long-term emotional and financial support provided over 10 years– Helped with school registration, medical appointments (including accompaniment)- Funded computer and English classes for all three children- Family later migrated to Europe through a UN resettlement program | South Tehran, Varamin |
| Voluntary Afghan Schools | Undocumented Afghan children – boys & girls (Primary, Junior High, and High School levels) | – Covered monthly rent of 3 informal schools for 3 consecutive years to ensure educational continuity– Monitored school activities regularly- Provided gas heaters for winter months- Donated custom school supply packs at the beginning of each academic year | South Tehran, Varamin |
| Afghan Refugee Family II | Single mother with two children (1 daughter, 1 son) | – Father killed in war- Provided multi-year financial and emotional support– Assisted with doctor visits and accompaniment when needed– Funded skill-building classes (computer and English) for the daughter- Family eventually resettled in Europe through a UN program | South Tehran, Shahr-e Rey |
Selected Participatory Social Work Activities of Payam Mehr Yoga Institute
Table 4 – Natural Disaster Relief & Recovery Fundings
| Disaster Response | Target Group & Gender | Type of Service Provided | Location (Province/Region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bam Earthquake Response | – Women- Orphaned kindergarten children (boys & girls)- Medical student | – Collaborated with mother-and-child NGOs to provide emergency relief and temporary housing– Financial assistance for playground equipment and outdoor facilities for children through Donya Children’s Research Institute– Performance monitoring to ensure positive impact on children’s well-being- Student volunteers (doctors, nurses, engineers) offered their professional services for specialized tasks- Supported a resident medical student from Sistan affected by the disaster | Bam and surrounding areas, Kerman ProvinceArab community, BamSistan (student origin) |
| Ilam Flood Relief | Students | – Financed and supervised the replacement of broken windows during winter months to ensure safety and warmth in schools | Darreh Shahr, Ilam Province |
| Bushehr Earthquake Response | General affected population | – Financed and monitored the purchase of sanitary water barrels for emergency aid and hygiene needs | Bushehr Province |
Selected Participatory Social Work Activities of Payam Mehr Yoga Institute
Table 5 – Medical Aid Funding
| Medical Assistance | Target Group & Gender | Type of Service Provided | Location (Province/Region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hearing Aid Support | School-aged girl | – Partial financial coverage for hearing aid device | Bam, Kerman Province |
| Hearing Aid Support | School-aged girl | – Partial financial coverage for hearing aid device | Ilam Province |
| Vision Aid Support | School-aged girl | – Partial financial coverage for visual aid apparatus (e.g., glasses or optical device) | Ilam Province |
| Cataract Surgery Support | Elderly woman | – Financial contribution toward the cost of cataract lens replacement | Ilam Province |
| Support for MS Patients | Young women diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis | – Movement assistance classes- Relaxation and anger management sessions | Tehran |
| Support for Cancer Patients | Female patients | – Partial financial support to cover the cost of medications | Tehran and Khuzestan Provinces |
Selected Participatory Social Work Activities of Payam Mehr Yoga Institute
Table 6 – School Aid: Renovation & Facility Upgrades
| School Support Activity | Target Group & Gender | Type of Service Provided | Location (Province/Region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Renovation & Facility Improvement | Girls in primary and junior high school | – Participation in:• School access road upgrades• Classroom construction• Sanitary facility improvements• Playground enhancements | Ilam Province |
| Computer Donation | Girls’ school students | – Donation of well-functioning second-hand desktop computers to a rural school | Damavand area (Tehran Province) |
Support the Movement — Make a Difference with Your Donation
At Payam Mehr Yoga Institute, our social impact work is deeply rooted in the principles of Karma Yoga — selfless service for the well-being of others. With your support, we can continue expanding our efforts to reach vulnerable communities, support education, provide medical aid, and uplift those affected by conflict, poverty, and disaster.
To make our donation process accessible and borderless, we accept cryptocurrency contributions. This allows supporters from around the world to become part of our mission, free from banking restrictions and with full transparency.
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Thank you for walking this path with us.