INTRODUCTION
Raja Yoga Center empowers individuals to rediscover their highest qualities and values through meditation and self-transformation. We believe that a healed mind, harmonious relationships, and a healthy environment are essential for a successful, happy life.
Our initiative is centered around encouraging inner consciousness and spirituality as a means of fostering a deeper connection with nature and inspiring actions to protect the environment.
www.rajayogacenter.org
OUR ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE
Our journey began with organizing the first-ever Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) in the UAE—a virtual gathering that connected young environmental advocates across the region. This milestone expanded in 2023 through our participation in COP28, where we collaborated with the Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative to bring spiritual perspectives to climate discussions. Our delegation worked alongside international partners to highlight how consciousness and climate change are interconnected, advocating that sustainable solutions require both ethical and value-based approaches.
VISION
To create a world where inner peace and planetary wellbeing flourish together through conscious living and collective positive action.
MISSION
Raja Yoga Center empowers individuals through meditation and value-based education to heal themselves and the environment. We foster youth leadership, build collaborative partnerships, and create platforms that bridge spiritual wisdom with environmental action— inspiring at least ONE positive change that collectively transforms our world.
Participants gathering for a reflection session outdoors for Earth Day.
www.rajayogacenter.org
Inner Healing & Outer Action:
Empowering individuals to heal minds through meditation while taking environmental action guided by compassion and responsibility.
Conscious Living:
Promoting sustainable lifestyle changes rooted in mindfulness and respect for our planet.
Values Integration:
Bringing peace, compassion, and responsibility into environmental solutions.
Youth Empowerment:
Nurturing young leaders through initiatives like LCOY, developing cooperation and environmental stewardship.
Knowledge Sharing:
Bridging spiritual wisdom with scientific understanding through platforms like our Climate Studio.
ONE Change Movement:
Inspiring individual changes that collectively create meaningful environmental impact through pure thoughts and positive action.
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CONSCIOUSNESS & CLIMATE CHANGE
At Raja Yoga Center, we believe consciousness and climate change are deeply interconnected. We recognize that environmental challenges stem not just from physical actions but from our collective consciousness and values. Through our meditation practices, we cultivate awareness that sustainable solutions require inner transformation alongside external action. We advocate that healing the planet begins with healing ourselves—when we awaken to our responsibility as stewards of Earth and shift toward more mindful consumption patterns. Our approach emphasizes that positive environmental change happens when pure thoughts inspire conscious choices, creating a ripple effect that extends from individuals to communities and ultimately to global systems.
YOUTH PARTICIPATION
The Raja Yoga Center builds young environmental change enablers through several key programs. We started with the first Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) in the UAE, connecting young changemakers across the region. Our ONE Change Initiative helped youth make simple weekly environmental actions, such as reducing plastic use and saving water. In 2023, we expanded our impact during COP28 by creating a Climate Studio with live panel discussions that connected global climate talks to local youth action. Through these programs, we help young people develop both inner strength and environmental responsibility.
Youth conducted a workshop as a follow up and community reach out to the LCOY 2021 community in 2022 - the youth of Raja Yoga Center presented a moving Mime Act signifying the importance of small changes for the environment.
LCOY 2021 held online via Zoom by the youth of Raja Yoga Center - the sessions were broken down into, Conservation, Innovation and Sustainability.
Youth of Raja Yoga Center at the COP28 hosting a workshop at the Children & Youth Pavilion titled “Regeneration and Resilience for Earth”
Youth of Raja Yoga Center at the COP28 interacting with climate changemakers , environmentalists, policymakers from across the globe at the booth for Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative.
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT & AWARENESS
First LCOY in UAE: Hosted the first Local Conference of Youth, creating a platform for environmental discussions
Seed of Change: Launched in 2022 to inspire personal environmental responsibility
Inner Transformation: Using meditation as a foundation for environmental awareness ONE Change Initiative: Promoting simple weekly actions that youth can implement in daily life.
Mindset Shift: Participants reported pausing to think twice before using tissues or single-use items as a result of our weekly challenges
LCOY UAE online session hosted by Raja Yoga Cente. Featured above is Tatiana Ali - The founder of Goumbouk, speaking about the significance and care of the Ghaf tree which is native to UAE soil.
Raja Yoga Center held a hands on workshop for International Day of Peace wherein participants made a symbol of peace using waste paper & materials.
LCOY UAE online session hosted by Raja Yoga Center - featured above is a young green change enabler Riva Thulpule and her initiative to dispose waste in and around her neighbourhood
Youth of Raja Yoga Center visited a Mangrove for planting saplings on the border of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Youth from India, Nepal, UK and UAE geared up for COP 28 in Raja Yoga Center.
LCOY 2021 held online via Zoom by the youth of Raja Yoga Center - the sessions were broken down into 3 aspectsConservation, Innovation and Sustainability.
Youth of Raja Yoga Center organized a session on “Mocha and Meditation” a hands on approach to self reflection in association with Book Hero in Dubai.
CLIMATE STUDIO IMPACT
In 2023, we transformed our center into a dynamic Climate Studio during COP28, hosting the "Climate Wisdom from COP28" live panel series. This innovative platform brought together changemakers, scientists, and policy experts to share transformative insights directly from the conference. Our studio created a unique space where global climate discussions were made accessible to local communities while being livestreamed to international audiences, bridging the gap between high-level climate negotiations and everyday awareness.
The Additional Administrative Head of Brahma Kumaris, Sis Jayanti and Br. Golo with changemakers - Iyad Abu Moghli, Director Faith for Earth UN Environment Programme and Hemavathi S Shekhar, Climate Justice Advocate, Founder - Enact Earth Foundation
Sis Jayanti and Sis Sonja - UN Representation for Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative with changemakers Elena Cedillo, Program Executive for Climate Justice, LWF and Allen Ottaro, CYMESA, Nairobi - Kenya
Sis Maureen from the Global Corporation House - Brahma Kumaris in conversation with a young changemaker Kehkashan Basu, M S M FounderPresident, Green Hope Foundation
Sis Maureen from the Global Corporation House - Brahma Kumaris in conversation with a UN delegate Lora Almutairi, Researcher, Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs, Kuwait
Mark Ballabon, Environmentalist and Acclaimed Author conducted a train the trainers session for Raja Yoga Center youth participants.
Delegates of Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative with Sis Jayanti and changemakers Shantanu Mandal, Deputy Chair - ReSpECC (IUCN CEESP) Youth Task Force for UNFSS+2 and Hanna Soldal, Act Church of Sweden. Advocacy advisor with focus on climate justice.
Delegates of Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative and Raja Yoga Center with Sis Jayanti and changemakers
Dr. Vera Rodenhoff, Deputy Dir. Gen. Int. Climate Action and Energy Transition, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany and Carlos Zepeda, PhD, Assistant Director of Policy and Practice, at the Laudato Si ´Research Institute.
Delegates of Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative and Raja Yoga Center with Sis Jayanti and changemakers Apoorva Bose, Programme Coordinator, G20 Global Initiative on Land, UN Convention for Combating Desertification and Alan Bigelow, PhD, Program and Science Director, Solar Cookers.
www.rajayogacenter.org
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OUR COLLABORATION EFFORTS
Our Environment Initiative thrives through strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations. Through LCOY, we collaborated with youth networks, educational institutions, and sustainability advocates to amplify young voices. Our studio panels during COP28 featured partnerships with environmental experts, policy makers, and community leaders, creating a diverse network committed to environmental transformation. These collaborations demonstrate our belief that positive environmental change requires collective action powered by pure and positive thoughts.
For further information, please reach us on environment@rajayogacenter.org
