On Feb 26th 2010, an earthquake measuring 8.8 in the Richter scale hit Chile, affecting thousands of people. In the wake of this tragedy, The Art of living Chile has undertaken several initiatives to help the victims get back to their feet and start life anew. With many having suffered huge losses, Art of Living Chile provided support and conducted trauma care workshops to help the victims.
A group of 30 volunteers rushed to the "Rio Claro" community and teamed up with the local government officials and other NGOs to bring relief to the victims. They stayed there for four days and provided on-site help including cleaning up destroyed homes. The volunteers provided food, supplies and support to the remote areas of “Rio Claro” as well.
The volunteers conducted workshops for children in the affected area and distributed candies and food bringing smiles on the faces of the kids.
The Art of Living has lined up a series of activities to be conducted in the region in coming months
- Team up with "Techo para Chile", (an NGO that builds temporary houses) and conduct BWS (Breath-Water-Sound) workshops as temporary homes are built for the victims
- Have more BWS instructors in the region
- Conduct more healing and trauma care workshops
- Get more help. It is expected that around 200 volunteers and instructors from the Argentinean cities of Mendoza, San Martin and Bariloche will come to the disaster area in April
