The Amala Foundation is a humanitarian service organization that inspires the diverse youth of the world to live in unity, serve compassionately and lead peacefully. All of our youth programs are a place for empowerment and healing. Many of the youth we serve, including refugee and immigrant children, have experienced extreme poverty, child labor, gang violence, abuse and neglect; many have witnessed the atrocities of war and have literally run for their lives; many have been uprooted from their native cultures and struggle to integrate into an entirely foreign world. We provide a safe space for these youth to heal, express themselves, share their stories and connect with a loving and supportive community.

The Amala Foundation is involved in a number of local, national, and international humanitarian service projects. Camp Indigo was started in 2001 and is now in its 13th year of offering a week-long day camp experience to Austin area children ages 4-12. Camp Mana, now in its eighth year, offers a similar experience over two days in Hawaii. Our One Village Project, including the Global Youth Peace Summit, is in its 7th year and serves more than 150 local, immigrant, international and refugee youth each year. Our Young Artists in Service program provides free art instruction to at-risk children in addition to creating inspiring murals at places like the Austin Children’s Shelter. The Gui Village Living Water Program was a humanitarian service project we successfully completed in 2005, installing two water wells in a Nigerian village, saving 3,500 people (including 2,000 children) from disease. Our partnership with the Bhatti Mines School in Delhi, India helps ensure 200 Indian children a day are receiving an education instead of being forced into child labor.

While the Amala Foundation aims to serve the youth of the world, we are not a humanitarian service organization that only serves one group, population or community. We are not limited by a singular mission. We respond to needs as they arise, whether in our own community or in communities that cross our path. We provide opportunities for personal growth through humanitarian service projects that benefit under-served youth, including refugee, immigrant, American and International children. We recognize that the most direct way to experience a fuller life is to serve others. We unite those seeking more meaningful lives with those in great need by channeling this inspiration into humanitarian service projects that matter. It is through this transformative, holistic approach to service that youth are served and communities are united. Youth that participate in Camp Indigo and the Global Youth Peace Summit are given opportunities to live a life of service through year-long programs like our One Village Project as well as Young Artists In Service.

Over the last twelve years, we have helped thousands of people find peace in their hearts and meaning in their lives through humanitarian service to others, while directly impacting the lives of more than 1000 youth in Austin and around the world. Serving the youth of the world is an opportunity to give and receive in a very real and powerful way; it is an invitation to dive deep into the heart of Life. As a volunteer, we ask that you show up fully — as you are — with a willingness to give, to grow and to be impacted.

One Village Project 

The One Village Project is a year-long program that unites local, international, immigrant, at-risk and refugee youth with the objective of creating a diverse Village of youth leaders who are committed to supporting each other and serving Austin and other communities in need.

Since its inception in 2007, the One Village Project has seen 252 immigrant, immigrant, at-risk, local and refugee youth from 29 different countries unite as Peace Leaders in service to communities in need. With the help of 350 inspired volunteers, these youth leaders have impacted 1000+ people both here in Austin and abroad. The following community service projects were led by our youth leaders:

*Fed and clothed 150+ people at Austin Resource Center for the Homeless.

*Partnered with the Lower Colorado River Authority and Keep Austin Beautiful to clean up Town Lake.

*Spent time comforting patients at South Austin Care and Rehabilitation Center

*Cleaned up Bouldin Creek and the greenbelt in partnership with the Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association and Austin Parks Foundation.

*Held a peace rally in honor of The International Day of Peace.

*Sent Video Love Letters to One Village members who were in the midst of war in Nigeria.

*Harvested food for the homeless in partnership with Urban Roots.

*Created care packages for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

*Painted a mural at Casa Marinella, a shelter for immigrants in Austin as well as Austin Children’s Shelter.

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Please visit our Events Page for the most recent volunteer opportunities in Austin.