One of the many commendable programs of the Art of Living Foundation is the 5H Program, which focuses on—Home, Health, Hygiene, Harmony in Diversity and Human Values. It aims at bringing about a social transformation so that the complete potential of each individual is expressed. By focusing on the five main areas of health, homes, hygiene, human values, and harmony in diversity, the 5H program has managed to adopt a holistic approach to social upliftment.

The Art of Living Foundation works in association with Ved Vignan Mahavidyapeeth (VVM) and Vyakti Vikas Kendra (VVK) in implementing the 5H Program.

The Focus
The aim of the 5H program is to uplift individuals, families, communities and nations so that the finest human qualities are nurtured and the full potential of human life can be expressed throughout society. Ultimately, the long-term goal is far-reaching social transformation, where poverty, misery and disease are eradicated, and where peace and harmony prevail throughout the world. This lofty and noble vision of a golden age in the new millennium can definitely be realized through cooperative and earnest efforts.

The current priority of the 5H Program is social and community development in rural areas of developing countries. Numerous projects are presently underway in India, with plans to expand to Africa, South America, and Central America in the near future.

The Work
Social transformation begins with a happy and healthy individual who has attained a decent standard of living and has received essential education in health, hygiene, and life skills.

Addressing substandard housing and sanitation alone cannot result in the long-term eradication of misery nor bring about a fundamental social transformation. Education is essential, particularly education in human values. Once the material conditions of living have reached an adequate level, there is a possibility for true humanness to be expressed in life. A sense of belonging, sharing, nonviolence, caring for life, and caring for the planet are among the values that need to be nurtured.

The 5H program works towards the development of human values, essential to create loving and happy families, cohesive communities, and harmonious relations among all people and nations—a prerequisite for peace, harmony and well being on the planet.

Benefits
Human suffering has many faces. In some parts of the world, people live in squalor and abject poverty, without proper sanitation or housing. Unhygienic conditions and lack of proper education about health and hygiene give rise to disease and poor health.

In other parts of the world, people may have achieved a decent standard of living, but we find dissension, disharmony, stress, violence, crime and other social ills.

In some parts of the world, war has decimated the social fabric and brought great suffering. There is a pressing need for healing at all levels.

In each of these situations, the 5H Program, assists in eradicating misery and in transforming society.

Health
Good health is a first step towards a happy, fulfilling life. Yet vast segments of the world's population have neither access to proper nutrition nor medical and dental care, nor have they received even the most rudimentary education in achieving and maintaining good health.

The 5H program has already initiated projects in various areas of India, organizing health care camps, which provide medical and dental care to the rural population. As well, medical assistance has been provided to children suffering from polio in a number of regions in Gujarat, India.

Our medium-term program objectives are to expand the areas of service, including expansion to other developing countries in Asia and Africa; setting up medical centers in various rural villages; providing ambulances for remote areas; and initiating alcohol/tobacco/drug de-addiction and rehabilitation programs. As well, volunteers will provide basic health care education.

Hygiene
Achieving and maintaining good health is difficult where there are inadequate sanitation practices, a lack of clean drinking water, and insufficient means for garbage disposal. Yet many of the world's poor live in such deplorable conditions.

The 5H Program is currently addressing this situation in rural villages in India through the simple yet effective means of building toilets, providing bore wells for clean drinking water, constructing water storage tanks, and providing garbage bins where needed. Volunteers create awareness about hygiene among the rural population. This program is being expanded into other regions of India as well as to other developing countries in Asia and Africa.

Homes
Many of the world's poor are homeless, living on the streets or in substandard housing. This serious problem is being addressed by the 5H Program through its "Homes For Change" initiative, which builds modest but durable homes for poor families, at no cost to the recipients. Each home is comprised of three rooms, a kitchen, a bedroom, and a family room, with a separate toilet provided. All homes are built of durable brick and cement.

Through "Homes for Change," houses are presently being built for poor families in rural south India. This program is being expanded to other countries. It costs approximately US $2,000 to build one of these homes in India. Donors can contribute the cost of an entire house for a designated family, or they can contribute the cost of particular items, such as a toilet, materials, or labor.

All 5H projects are planned in consultation with the local population to ensure that the greatest needs are met for both individuals and the whole community.

Human Values
There is a growing awareness that the long-term eradication of poverty and human misery requires a fundamental shift in consciousness. Many projects aimed at improving the material conditions of life for the poor have had disappointing long-term results, and have been ineffective in eradicating the roots of poverty. The 5H Program provides a holistic ongoing framework of education and support that has the potential to lift people permanently out of the trap of poverty and misery.

Human values are the hallmark of human evolution and the basis of a peaceful and prosperous world. These values can flourish once basic material needs of a community have been met. Violence, hatred, crime and other pervasive social ills are the direct result of a lack of attention to human values. The foundation for developing human values is a sense of belonging and oneness, which arises spontaneously through the participation of the whole community in the upliftment of each of its members in the context of 5H projects. Also, life-skills educational programs that emphasize values, as well as multiethnic festivals organized by volunteers, all contribute to the development of a sense of belonging and an ethic of service, bringing cohesion to families and communities.

Harmony in Diversity
Harmony in Diversity is the overall objective of the 5H Program. A number of projects are presently underway in war-torn regions of Eastern Europe that focus specifically on this objective. In the aftermath of armed conflict, there is a need to work with survivors to promote healing and restore harmony.

The 5H Program has developed a volunteer program, in collaboration with its partners, to respond to this pressing need in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. The program provides an opportunity for volunteers to commit one year to helping victims of war rebuild their lives and begin emotional healing. Volunteers receive intensive training in teaching a carefully designed program that promotes harmony and healing. The volunteers also coordinate service projects to rebuild homes and provide clothing.

Ending violence in society is one of the greatest challenges in today's world. All forms of violence—including youth violence, domestic violence, human rights violations, criminal behavior, and war—spring from the same seed of hatred. How can hatred be eliminated? The present crisis is basically one of identification: How do people see their basic identity? What is their fundamental concept of who they are? Limited and fragmented identification leads to hatred, violence and war. People usually identify themselves with their profession, religion, race, culture, nationality, language, region or sex. Many are prepared to go to any lengths to protect this identity, even giving up their life in the process. We need to bring about an understanding in all people that they are, firstly, part of the universal spirit, and, secondly, human beings.

All religions have three aspects: values, symbols, and customs. While values are the same in all the religions, symbols and customs differ. Today, we have forgotten the values, but are holding on to the symbols and customs. Right education is that which creates a reverence for diversity in nature and a sense of belonging with the whole world. A person learns to own all the religions of the world, and can choose to practice one without decrying the others.

The 5H Program, in collaboration with its partners, provides educational programs for all sectors of society aimed at bringing about this fundamental understanding, which is the basis of Harmony in Diversity and ultimately world peace.

Testimonials
"I was a totally pessimistic person who saw only negativity in everything around me. Depressed in life, I was suffering both physically and mentally. Unenthusiastically I dragged myself for anything as the days and years passed. The YTP is the best thing that happened in my life. I think this is the most unique program in the world. It has revolutionized my outlook of life from failure, sorrow and stress to enthusiasm and dynamism. I feel incredibly strong."
—Ms. Sajda Rehman, Student, Jamshedpur, India.

"Before YTP I was like a kite, whose thread has been snapped, wandering aimlessly in the sky, wanting to rise and soar on the horizon. I was like a machine, who lived because I was alive. I lacked confidence and liked to stay aloof. YTP has transformed my life completely. Now my life has commitment, responsibility, love and patriotism. I feel strong and am ready to serve the people."
—Ms. Ahinsa, Student, Surat, India.

"After my YTP Course, I realized that I had restricted my life to only one area. Now I can reach farther to every corner of my country—India. YTP has strengthened my drive for service. I can now face any challenge whatsoever."
—Mr. Hanumantesh, Yoga Teacher, Shimoga, India.