Prem Rawat: Man Of Peace – Biography 11 – Evolution from Elan Vital to Words Of Peace Global ...

 

Until December 2008, Prem Rawat’s speaking tours and engagements were arranged by Elan Vital (EV), a charitable organization incorporated in 1971 in the US. EV also provided support for the production of materials containing his message. In November 2001, he established The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) to further his message of peace, and to provide humanitarian aid to people who are often overlooked by other aid agencies. He conceived this idea during a conversation with active philanthropist, Linda Pascotto. Later, he asked her to become the first president of TPRF.

"The main humanitarian focus of the Foundation," says Pascotto, "is to provide nutritious food and clean water for people who don't have access to them. And not just ready-to-eat canned rations. Maharaji wants these people to have good-tasting foods and to give them the dignity of a decent meal. He's talked to me about when he was a child, how hungry people would come to his house, knock on the kitchen door, and any time of day or night, they would get something to eat. and he's often expressed how gratifying it is to see the face of a person who was hungry and has had a satisfying meal." (p. 296, Peace is Possible, by Andrea Cagan)

When news of the devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004, hit the headlines, Prem Rawat phoned Pascotto: "I'd like the Foundation to send some money. How much can it afford?" TPRF was short of funds at the time, so he auctioned off several works of art and donated the proceeds, which enabled TPRF to give enough money to the UN World Food Program to feed 9,000 survivors for a month and also to fund future humanitarian initiatives.

One such initiative, the Food for People facility in northeastern India, now serves more than 100,000 free hot meals every year to poverty-stricken people living in a remote tribal area. Prem Rawat said, "Just because people are poor does not mean they are miserable. They all have beautiful smiles on their faces, but they need food, and this project will deliver real food to them."

 

TPRF also holds free medical clinics in India, where eye consultations, appropriate medicines and eyeglasses are provided to people in need. So that help can reach a greater number of people more rapidly, the Foundation partners with non-profit organizations such as the UN World Food Program, Oxfam and the Red Cross.

In 2008, Words Of Peace Global (WOPG) was incorporated as an international charitable foundation, registered in the Netherlands. It is funded by donations from sponsors and the sale of materials. WOPG hosts events with Prem Rawat ranging from small, intimate talks to international tours. WOPG also hosts television programs on a wide range of channels across the world, as well as regular LiveStream broadcasts and webcasts of Prem Rawat’s talks. WOPG is also associated with the The Prem Rawat Foundation, which strives to address fundamental human needs: providing aid for people in urgent need of life-sustaining resources like food and water — especially in areas where larger foundations may not be present — and helping to make Prem Rawat's message available internationally.

"There are people here who might have reasons
why there cannot be peace on this Earth.
I have 6.7 billion reasons why there should be peace on this Earth."

In 2008, Prem Rawat traveled a total of 90,000 nautical miles to 40 different cities in 18 countries. He visited 14 of those cities for the first time. His itinerary included a four day event in Israel. In Corleone, Sicily, he was made an honorary citizen and declared the "Maestro of Peace" by a local official after an enthusiastic reception. (See the essays page for details.) His Derby, UK, event was broadcast live to an estimated one million viewers worldwide.

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