Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

The Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) is a spiritual and humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in the 1960s by Sathya Sai Baba, an Indian guru and spiritual leader.^[1] It primarily works within the areas of education and humanitarian aid, in India and internationally.^[2]

The SSSIO is an umbrella organization which runs several institutes, trusts and associations.^[1] There are 1,969 Sathya Sai Centers in 120 countries.^[3]

The Organization has been conducting medical conferences and camps in various countries through its regional arms. Medical camps have been conducted every year in Fiji since 2006.^[4] In 2017, Fiji arm and the Australian arm of the Organization conducted a regional conference at the Sangam School of Nursing in Labasa where the Fijian Minister for Health and Medical Services, Rosy Akbar was the chief guest.^[5]

The SSSIO of Sri Lanka established a hospice called Sathya Sai Suva Sevana at Hanwella, 20 kilometres from the National Cancer Institute (Sri Lanka) in 2002 for providing palliative care to terminally ill cancer patients.^[6] It is funded totally by donations made voluntarily and can accommodate up to 50 inmates. A physician visits the hospice four times every week and is always available for emergency calls.

In April 2024, Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya, Musalia Mudavadi, appreciated the organization for conducting medical camps in Kenya.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12]}

The Sathya Sai International Organization has helped followers set up similar schools in other countries,^[13] with the goal of educating children in the five human values of Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Duty), Prema (Love), Shanthi (Peace) and Ahimsa (Non-Violence). Schools have been founded in 33 countries, including Australia,^[14] Mexico, United Kingdom, Kenya ^[15] and Peru.

The Times of Zambia^[16] had once published: "The positive influence of Sathya Sai is unprecedented in the annals of education in Zambia. Sai Baba's education ideals as embodied in his human-values-based approach to education are enlightening to educationists in Zambia."

In Australia, at the Tweed Shire Council's inaugural Tweed Sustainability Awards (2019), the SSSIO's Sathya Sai College at Murwillumbah, a K-12, non denominational school in which the NESA curriculum is integrated with the five human values of Love, Peace, Truth, Right Conduct and Non Violence ^[17] won the Sustainability Award in Education.^[18]

In Canada, the Fraser Institute,^[13] an independent Canadian research and educational organization, had ranked the Sathya Sai School of Canada as one of the top 37 elementary schools in Ontario.^[19] The Sathya Sai School had scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in the institute's overall rating for academic performance.

A Sathya Sai School was set up in the Lopburi province of Thailand in 1991 by Art-Ong Jumsai na Ayudhya, with focus on 'human values' along with academics. The school is a role model in Thailand, with hundreds of students from kindergarten up to high school level, and offers everything, including boarding, free-of-charge.^[20] The school is able to fund itself by growing its own rice and vegetables. It also produces solar and hydro electricity, selling surplus supply to the Provincial Electricity Authority.

The Federal Senate (Brazil) held a special session to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of Sathya Sai Institute of Education (an arm of the organization) in Brazil ^[21]

1. Sri Lanka - The SSSIO of Sri Lanka has been actively carrying out educational, spiritual, and service activities and projects all across Sri Lanka through its arms in the North Region, North Central Region, Central Region, Southern Region and Western Region.^[22] It constantly builds on the good work previously done, expanding the number of samithis or service stations.^[22] Activities include providing permanent homes with all facilities to the needy.^[23] Another regular activity is the 'Walk For Values' where members pledge to follow the universal human values - truth, right conduct, peace, love and non-violence in daily life and inspire others also to do the same.^[24] In September 2023, an international conference was held by the organization at the University of Jaffna on the theme "My Life is His Message".^[25]

• Official website
• Service Activities of the SSSIO
• Sri Sathya Sai Humanitarian Relief