In honor of International Day of Yoga, a global celebration of the ancient practice, yoga teachers from the UK and beyond have joined forces to support India’s most vulnerable children through the Yoga for HOPE campaign.
This June, yoga teachers will be hosting donation-based classes to raise funds for The Hope Foundation for Street Children (HOPE), a charity dedicated to protecting and empowering street-connected children and families in Kolkata, India. Since its establishment in 1999, HOPE has impacted the lives of over 3 million individuals through education, healthcare, and child protection.
Among the many dedicated yoga teachers involved in this initiative is Lille Sommerschield from Oslo, Norway. She will be hosting a special “Wise Women” gathering in a serene Norwegian forest to support HOPE’s cause. “I was first introduced to The Hope Foundation through my teacher and good friend Simon Low, many years ago,” said Lille. “It’s been an honor and privilege to support HOPE by hosting yoga classes from Norway and giving back to the people of India, a country that has shared the wonderful concept of yoga with the world.”
HOPE UK Patron and renowned yoga teacher Simon Low will also be leading an online fundraising class on June 22nd. Other teachers supporting the campaign include Jo Torode, Christina Gill, and Adelene Cheong. Jo Torode expressed, “HOPE is an incredible charity that is doing vital work, not only changing but saving lives. It has been a joy and privilege to support their mission through my teaching, both for me and my students.”
In recognition of its efforts, HOPE was awarded the title of Favorite Yoga Charity at the 2024 OM Yoga Awards. The organization recognizes the importance of incorporating regular yoga practice into the lives of the children in its care, acknowledging its positive impact on physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
As the birthplace of yoga, HOPE is calling on more yoga teachers to join the campaign and give back to the country that has shared this invaluable practice with the world. Those interested in supporting HOPE’s cause can visit https://www.thehopefoundation.org.uk/iyd/ for more information.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.