One of the main projects launched by AYUDH Europe during their 11th Youth Summit was the ‘RespAct’ project against (cyber) mobbing in schools. To ‘kick-start’ the initiative, on Monday 13th July, all 250 AYUDH members visited the Theodor Litt Schule, a middle school with 500 students in the town of Michelstadt in Germany. The school had recently reported a lot of cases of (cyber) mobbing and the faculty had been struggling to find a strategy to counteract this alarming development.

Amma, who was invited for the daylong function by the Special Envoy for the Protection of the Planet of French President François Hollande, could not physically make it to the venue because she was concluding her seven-week American tour. However, an audio-visual address of hers was sent. Here is the message:

“Amma bows down to all of you who are the embodiments of pure love and the supreme self.

Amma received renowned French star Jean Dujardin and legendary French film Director Claude Lelouch, along with actors Elsa Zylberstein and Alice Pol. They were visiting Amritapuri to film scenes for Lelouch’s upcoming movie “Un Plus Une”.

About the film, Mr. Lelouch said, “In today’s world, Amma is the symbol of love for others. In my coming movie, I wish to honor her and show the whole world who she is. Amma gives meaning to life. It is so beautiful to see her do what she does.”

At the Vatican, Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi) joined Pope Francis and other leaders of the world's major religions to sign the Faith Leaders' Universal Declaration Against Slavery. Present by the personal invitation of Pope Francis, with whom she met privately, Amma added her voice to a historic interfaith pledge to work together to eradicate human trafficking and every form of modern slavery by 2020.

27 October 2014 — Alexander Palace, London - Europe Yatra 2014

Upon Amma’s arrival in London, her 27th visit to the United Kingdom, Amma was welcomed onstage by three dignitaries: Lord Andrew Stone of the House of Lords; Ms. Scilla Elworthy, peace activist and founder Rising Women, Rising World, the Oxford Research Group and Peace Direct; and Academy Award-winning film director Alfonso Cuarón.

As far as Amma is concerned, there is nothing different about this day. Like every day, Amma will see her children, listen to their sorrows and console them. Today is just another day like that. Therefore, Amma has only one thing to tell you: ‘Our lives should be of some benefit to the world. We should sincerely love and console at least one life, for at least a moment, without any expectations.’

Amma turned 61 on September 27th. She used the occasion to launch an array of new humanitarian initiatives, and to speak to the assembled crowd. In her talk, Amma addressed many of the most pressing challenges facing the world today and invited each of us to be part of the solution. Read Excerpts here

Some of the humanitarian initiatives that were launched on this occasion:

Amritadyuti Solar Home-Lighting System

Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi) took part in Stanford University's acclaimed Conversations on Compassion series, joining neurosurgeon Dr. James Doty — founder and director of Stanford's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) — for a wide-ranging dialogue. Held in the 1,700-seat Memorial Auditorium, the ninety-minute conversation drew the largest audience in the series' history.

Responding to Dr. Doty's questions, Amma spoke of compassion not as mere sentiment but as the very foundation of a meaningful life:

Delivering the 2014 commencement address at the University of Southern California, Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff publicly credited Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi), whom he affectionately calls “Ammachi,” as the inspiration behind his philanthropic vision. Benioff recalled meeting Amma early in his career and receiving a piece of guidance that would shape both his companies and his life:

Don't forget to do something for others.

— Amma