Costa Rica
In August 2024, the Sai Center in Escazú was officially inaugurated, marking a significant milestone for Sai devotees in Costa Rica. That same month, the Board of Directors and the Coordinating Committee for Costa Rica were formally established to guide and support the activities of the SSSIO Costa Rica. Later, in November 2024, a special conference was held featuring guest speaker Mr. Marcelo Berenstein from Argentina.
Dominican Republic
A medical camp in June in La Ceiba de Mata Mamón served about 130 people, offering healthcare, medication, food, and clothing.
In July, Young Adults organized reforestation in Duarte Province, planting 400 trees. They also hosted a second virtual panel for Guru Poornima, with over 40 participants.
From August 30 to September 1, the National Retreat was held in Jarabacoa, with 74 participants. It featured talks by Mr. Oscar Morado, Chairman of Zone 2A, and other speakers.
On October 20, Avatar Declaration Day was celebrated with over 100 attendees, including the public, and featured a keynote address by Dr. Anupom Ganguli, Director, Sri Sathya Sai World Foundation.
In November, Akhanda Bhajans were held in La Vega. A second medical camp was organized in Mata los Indios, where 150 people received food, medicines, and clothing. The month concluded with a public talk by Mr. Oscar Morado in Duarte Province, attended by 51 people, including 34 public attendees.
El Salvador
Two ‘Practical Spirituality’ Workshops were held with approximately 40 attendees, including six from the public. The sessions took place on March 23 and 24, featuring talks on core spiritual values such as truth, right action, peace, love, and nonviolence. Discussions were also held on Tai Chi, meditation, and vegetarianism. Speakers included Adonay Sosa, Eduardo Umaña, Gaby Sosa, Francis Sosa, Juan Cerna, Zinnia Umaña, Pepe Rodríguez, and Dr. Hector Castañeda. The workshops were promoted through Radio El Mundo and social media to reach spiritual aspirants.
On October 14, 2024, Mr. Leonardo Gutter, Chairman of Sri Sathya Sai World Foundation, visited El Salvador to share Baba’s teachings. He talked about spirituality, selfless service, and inner peace, participated in a radio interview, and had an interactive satsang with young adults. His sessions attracted 59 attendees, including newcomers, and emphasized spiritual growth and the true goal of life.
The 99th Year of Advent of the Avatar was celebrated in San Salvador on November 23-24, 2024. Volunteers served food to over 100 homeless people, held a medical camp for 50 patients, and organized children's activities for 95 kids. On November 24, over 40 SSSIO members joined a program that included Gayatri Mantra chanting, an SSE children’s program, a talk by guest speaker Jorge Soto, bhajans, and a joyful birthday celebration for Swami. The joyful event was marked by happiness, motivation, and Swami’s love and blessings.
Guatemala
The Sai School in Guatemala provided education to 215 children from low-income families across preschool, primary, and secondary levels, supported by 13 teachers. Students received value-based instruction and practiced daily meditation.
Throughout the year, 10 to 15 Sai devotees lovingly served food to around 150 to 200 homeless people on more than 40 occasions.
Additionally, in Antigua, monthly service was conducted at a retirement home. Around five volunteers visited the home 12 times, in the year providing snacks to 30 to 40 elderly residents.
Haiti
Despite the challenging situation and political upheaval in Haiti, the Avatar's teachings are being disseminated through the Sri Sathya Sai Centers in Port-au-Prince and Gonaives. In Port-au-Prince, volunteers meet when possible and focus on service, particularly donating food to the homeless. The Gonaives Sai Center continues its activities regularly, offering devotional singing and human values education to about 12 children. On Swami’s birthday, they also donated food to those in need and organized a Christmas celebration for children.
Mexico
On January 13, 2024, the Sri Sathya Sai Iztapalapa Community Center in Mexico City celebrated Three Kings Day, bringing joy to 67 children gifting toys, new jackets, candy bags, Rosca de Reyes, and hot chocolate. The event also included a human values class and meals for the children. Twenty volunteers participated, including three mothers who benefited from the service.
On April 27, 2024, the “Children's Day” celebration at the same Sai Center featured activities including a visit from beekeepers who taught the children about bees and how to make beeswax candles. It also included soccer games with prizes for the winners, and the distribution of toys, thermos flasks, caramel apples, and candy bags. Fourteen volunteers, including two mothers from the community, helped organize the event.
The 4th SaiMed Medical Camp held May 4-5, 2024, at the Sathya Sai School in Cuernavaca, provided medical consultations and medicines to 91 people, including students and parents. Three students received additional services. The camp featured four general practitioners, an otolaryngologist, and a pharmacist supported by 20 volunteers and five teachers. The 4th National SaiMed Meeting held October 4-5, 2024, in San Luis Potosí, aimed to strengthen healthcare principles and promote human values. The event was attended by 34 people and focused on integrating love, compassion, truth, and peace into medical practice. Topics included medical camp models, experiences from Sai Medical Camps, common diseases, SaiMed pharmacy, and medical ethics, fostering collaboration and holistic patient care.
The 5th SaiMed Medical Camp held November 16-17, 2024, also at the Sathya Sai School, provided medical care to 92 children. The multidisciplinary team included specialists in otolaryngology, family medicine, pediatrics, and dentistry, with 30 general volunteers. All patients received free medications and treatment. Additionally, the Sri Sathya Sai Centers of Guadalajara and Polanco organized 10 medical camps in El Tizate, Zapopan throughout the year. These camps provided general medical care for 357 patients, psychological support for 12, haircuts, eyeglasses for 162 people, pet food, meals, and food baskets. Human values and embroidery classes were also offered, and 35 trees were planted, positively impacting the community's health and well-being.
In 2024, 32 public talks were given nationwide to spread the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, promoting universal human values and selfless service. The events attracted 884 people who learned about truth, righteousness, peace, love, and nonviolence. Notable public events in Mexico included a talk on January 21 in Tijuana, focusing on purity in thought, word, and action. On February 10, a Practical Spirituality Workshop at the Museum of the Cultures of the Huasteca Potosina in San Luis Potosí attracted 28 people, mostly area residents. On February 22, an SSSIO officer gave a televised talk in San Luis Potosí, leading to multiple invitations for further broadcasts. On April 20, a talk was given on "Inner Peace: A Path for Life" in San Luis Potosí to an audience of 46, with the help of nine volunteers.
The Sri Sathya Sai Centers of Monterrey and Madero have been organizing a food distribution program in Monterrey, Nuevo León, and Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, serving 200 families weekly. Volunteers served 150 breakfasts in Monterrey and 50 in Ciudad Madero, totaling 7,800 breakfasts over the past year. The beneficiaries are migrants, indigenous communities, and families of hospital patients. This initiative reflects the love and compassion taught by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, offering hope and support to the needy. In 2024, the Sri Sathya Sai Centers of Querétaro, Guadalajara, Morelia, and Madre Divina provided 946 food baskets to vulnerable families. They also distributed clothing, blankets, vests, and scarves during the cold season. Additionally, 748 meals were served to patients' families at the Central Hospital in Querétaro, and 2,175 meals were distributed to elderly individuals and the homeless.
For over 25 years, the Sri Sathya Sai Center “Las Rosas” in Tijuana has served the Colinas de Cortés community. Recently, 528 food hampers were distributed to 11 vulnerable families. This service not only provides material aid but also embodies love, compassion, and selfless service, strengthening community bonds. The Sri Sathya Sai Center "Las Rosas" has reinforced its commitment to selfless service by collaborating with the Centro de Capacitación para Invidentes Tijuana A.C. Volunteers prepare cookies weekly, which are sold to raise funds for the visually impaired. This initiative provides financial support, while promoting compassion, collaboration, and self-sufficiency in the community, making a positive impact.
In 2024, 1,018 trees were planted in various locations, including Chinampa de Xochimilco, Bosque de Nativitas, and communities in Toluca, Zapopan, and San Luis Potosí. The species included ahuehuete, willow, black ash, and fruit trees. This reforestation effort supported ecological balance and the environment. As part of the Sai 100 project and Spiritual Teacher’s Day, the Metropolitan Zone of SSSIO in Mexico led reforestation projects in Xochimilco, Mexico City, planting 430 trees. This initiative was recognized by the Xochimilco Mayor’s Office for its contribution to environmental conservation and air quality improvement. The event involved 65 volunteers and highlighted the importance of nature as a divine manifestation, promoting love and respect for the environment.
The Garden of Values in Don Bosco, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, launched a new phase of environmental education and spiritual practice by planting 50 fruit trees on August 15, 2024. Dedicated to the 100th Year of Advent of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the project promotes human values and sustainability in line with SSSIO Mexico's principles. The initiative involved land evaluation, tree selection, compost workshops, soil preparation, and installing a drip irrigation system. Don Bosco’s youth actively participated, learning sustainable agricultural techniques.
In 2024, the SSSIO of Mexico celebrated Sri Sathya Sai Baba's 99th Birthday with devotional singing, medical camps, the distribution of baby care packages, and community service. Notable events included a sizable gathering in the Metropolitana Zone with 150 attendees, a "1 Million Steps Walk" in the Northeast, and celebrations in the Pacific and Southeast Zones.
Education
In 2024, 64 children in the Central Zone received human values classes, led by seven volunteer teachers from Guadalajara and Querétaro. This included 28 classes at Escuela Primaria Urbana 171 in Guadalajara and four in Querétaro. Additionally, a workshop for 17 teachers from Tecate, Baja California was conducted by the Sri Sathya Sai Center "Las Rosas," in collaboration with the Institute of Sathya Sai Education in Human Values.
In Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, a Sai Spiritual Education Facilitators Workshop was held on November 16-17, training 13 participants. On October 16, human values classes began at Francisco Gómez Bocanegra School for 26 fourth-grade students, with five volunteer teachers from the "La Misión" Center. The center also organized community walks in Tuxtla Gutiérrez on October 12, 19, and 26 to promote human values, featuring value songs and candy distribution.
Young Adults
On June 8, 2024, the first Leadership Workshop for Young Adults, based on Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings, was held at the House of Culture in Tampico, Tamaulipas. The workshop drew 18 participants from several cities in Mexico. As its inaugural activity, a community service event was organized where food and coffee were distributed to 70 indigenous people and others.
Nicaragua
Several impactful outreach and spiritual activities were organized throughout the year. On April 6 and 7, 2024, a workshop on practical spirituality was held in Managua, with the participation of Mr. Oscar Morado, Chairman of Zone 2A. Another workshop followed on July 7 in the National Fair Park, Managua.
On September 7, the conference "Inner Peace, a Path for Life" was hosted at the Sri Sathya Sai Center in Managua. That same day marked the official inauguration of the Sathya Sai Center of Nicaragua.
In addition to these events, outreach activities included participation in media programs such as Vida con Propósito on Extraplus Channel 37 and En Bienestar on Radio Sandino, helping to spread the message of spiritual values and well-being to a broader audience.
Panama
In 2024, various service and outreach activities were conducted around Panama. In February, 200 children received school supplies, and 250 food bags were distributed. In April, volunteers commemorated Aradhana Day by delivering 100 food bags to those in need. During July, a medical camp served 250 people, and volunteers distributed clothing, shoes, and food. For the Holy Ganesha Chaturthi Celebration in September, the youth prepared and served meals at a shelter.
In October, Mr. Leonardo Gutter gave three public talks at a university, a school for marginalized children, and a hotel where 180 people were in attendance.
In November, Swami’s Birthday celebration drew 200 people, graced by the Indian Ambassador, Mr. Sumit Seth. Donations were also made to mothers at a children’s hospital, and cataract surgeries were performed on 10 individuals. During December, volunteers distributed 300 toys and served breakfast to about 400 people.
Puerto Rico
To celebrate Earth Day, a workshop focused on caring for the planet was held with young adults and devotees in Caguas, followed by a tree-planting event. Throughout the year, food was distributed to homeless people in San Juan.
In October, the spiritual retreat “We Are All One” was organized, with enthusiastic participation from Puerto Rican SSSIO members, including Mr. Oscar Morado, Chairman, Zone 2A, Mr. Jaime Marizán, Central Coordinator of Region 24, and a delegation from the Dominican Republic.