Rasshmi Shankar, Washington D.C.

At the start of 2021, the Wellness Mentorship Program was launched by Shri Vivek, the resident guide of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, and a team of Chinmaya Setu Karis in North America. The program — connecting more than 100 seekers from over 75 cities — focuses on providing a safe space for Chinmaya Setu Karis (Mentors) and Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (Mentees) to share, connect and speak openly. Through a semi-structured program including video chats, workshops and activities, mentors share their experiences and insights with mentees on daily living through a Vedantik context. These diverse opportunities have encouraged deeper friendships and connections between the JCHYKs, CHYKs and Setu Karis.

While many have formed these relationships informally through satsangs and interactions in local centers over the years, the formal program provides a semi-structured way to connect Youth and Setu Karis across the country. The program structure also includes an advisory board, made up of Chinmaya Mission sevaks from the wellness and mental health fields, to provide advice and act as a sounding board to mentors on any difficult topics that may arise in their conversations. After three months since the program kick-off, mentors and mentees have shared that during times of high stress, loneliness and anxiety, this forum to build community has been a joyous and uplifting experience.