Australia
From January 25-27, 2024, over 80 children from across Australia attended a Sai Spiritual Retreat in Dungay, New South Wales (NSW). They engaged in games, sports, creative arts, music workshops, and outdoor adventures while deepening their spiritual growth through meditation and prayer. Parents contributed as volunteers, participating in parenting workshops and assisting with the Sai School Working Bee program. Evenings were highlighted by joyous bonfires, devotional songs, and community bonding. The retreat blended joy and reflection, inspiring children as they embraced their role as bearers of Sai’s divine light. A participant praised the event as well-organized and said they eagerly anticipated the next one.
The SSSIO of Australia & PNG has long supported the Clean Up Australia initiative, promoting environmental care. On March 3, 2024, SSSIO members participated nationwide, with volunteers cleaning parks and streets in Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. Efforts included collecting waste and engaging children in educational activities to foster environmental awareness. The event not only improved local areas but also inspired young participants to take an active role in protecting the planet.
On Aradhana Mahotsavam Day, volunteers in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Region organized a service activity in support of the Birthing Kit Foundation of Australia. Held at the Senior Citizens’ Centre in Turner, ACT, 35 participants assembled 400 birthing kits to aid women in need globally. The event began with a dedication ceremony and demonstration, followed by teamwork in small groups. It concluded with devotional singing and lunch. This initiative, regularly undertaken by SSSIO groups, embodies Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings on love and selfless service.
In May 2024, the SSSIO hosted two in-person Reflective Clinical Practice workshops for healthcare workers, themed Reconnecting with the Heart of Healthcare. Led by Dr. Rajat Gyaneshwar and Dr. Swaran Naidu, the sessions in Sydney and Canberra engaged 30 participants in discussions on patient care, self-care, ethical practice, and clinical risk management. Participants praised the workshops for their spiritual depth and practical insights, with a senior occupational therapist calling them "powerful and spiritual." The initiative encouraged healthcare professionals to reflect on their practice and reconnect with core values.
On May 12, 2024, 56 SSSIO members from across Australia participated in the Mother’s Day Classic Walk, joining thousands to raise awareness and funds for breast and ovarian cancer research. The uplifting event, which has been a national SSSIO Australia Ladies’ Program since 2018, left participants looking forward to returning next year. In Queensland, the Walking with Sai for Wellness initiative, launched in April 2024, combines walking with chanting the Gayatri Mantra, fostering a spiritual connection through nature.
The Sri Sathya Sai Center in Melbourne, one of Australia's oldest Sai centers, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023. A key program is its weekly meal service at Queen Victoria Market, providing food for 25-30 needy people. Volunteers serve pizza, veggie burgers, rice and curry, pasta, bread rolls, tea, and coffee, making the service a good example of love in action. They also distribute festive meals, drinks, and gifts during major celebrations like Christmas. The initiative fosters a sense of interconnectedness and gratitude among both volunteers and recipients.
On August 4, 2024, the SSSIO Australia NSW Region provided meals and essential care items to Sydney’s homeless community. The ladies' team prepared 30 meals, while families with SSE children packed hygiene kits, protein bars, water bottles, blankets, and pillows. In collaboration with the Sri Sathya Sai Centre of Hurstville, the Service and Community Engagement teams procured supplies and sanitized them. Young Adults distributed the packages, bringing comfort to those in need. This monthly initiative will continue, with each center contributing resources to support the homeless.
National Tree Day, promoted by Planet Ark, encourages planting trees and shrubs to improve the environment. In 2024, SSSIO Australia joined local councils, Planet Ark, and private initiatives to plant over 3,700 trees in July, with the main event on July 28. This effort is part of the Sai 100 One Million tree-planting initiative, celebrating Sri Sathya Sai Baba's 100th Birthday. Over 100 SSSIO members of all ages participated, dedicating each plant with love to Sai. Despite varied weather, the events fostered a sense of community and a deeper connection to nature.
On September 19, 2024, the ‘Canterbury Bankstown Multifaith Peace Offering’ united people from various religious backgrounds with a shared mission for peace. Representatives from different faiths read inspiring messages of compassion, unity, and love, highlighting common goals despite differing paths. The SSSIO of Australia and PNG led Sai’s Light Meditation, creating a peaceful space for reflection and connecting with inner love and kindness. The event embodied the spirit of Sai’s words, celebrating the diversity of faith and fostering a sense of unity and hope for a compassionate world.
Fiji
From August 25-30, 2024, the SSSIO conducted a health mission in Fiji, that included 120 healthcare professionals and volunteers from Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. The mission aimed to serve disadvantaged patients in remote areas of Fiji, with camps held on both Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. A total of 2,535 patients received medical care, including consultations, screenings, and treatments in specialties like pediatrics, cardiology, dentistry, optometry, and more. Medical facilities provided blood tests, eye exams, dental care, and screenings for diabetes, cancer, and women's health. Educational sessions were arranged for over 80 medical students and interns. The healthcare team’s dedication, along with the gratitude of the patients, highlighted the medical camps, with many patients expressing appreciation for the free, loving professional care they received.
The Sai Viti Conference was held from October 19–20, 2024, and brought together devotees to share two days filled with inspiration and spiritual growth. In his opening address, Mr. Krishnan Nair, Zone 3 Chair, shared his insights. Other highlights of the conference included a panel discussion of personal reflections, and an evening program of Sai Tunes and bhajans, which reverberated with powerful energy.
The model Drasa Sathya Sai Primary School celebrated its Silver Jubilee in October 2024, attended by past and present students, parents, dignitaries, members of the Sai community, and the Zone Chairperson. The event’s special guest was the Indian High Commissioner. In 2000, the school started with 25 students in kindergarten and now has 1,120 students from kindergarten to grade 8, with 70% of the students being of non-Indian ethnicity and from various faiths. The Fiji Times newspaper featured a special article extolling the positive effects of values-based education on school students.
The Viseisei Sai Health Centre was opened in 2011 to provide a community health service working with communities, government, and NGOs to provide free, quality health services, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention. The center has established a new clinic providing endoscopy and GIT services. A significant annex is being built in collaboration with the Zone 3 Sai Medical Unit to provide specialist healthcare services, including day surgery facilities such as regular gastroscopy and colonoscopy procedures. The building construction started in mid-2024 and is expected to be completed in 2025, with some medical procedures already being provided.
Another significant milestone in 2024 was the successful acquisition of property for the Narere Sai Centre. The acquisition follows years of operational challenges due to venue instability and space constraints. The two-story building will be dedicated to Sai Center activities such as community services, Education in Human Values (EHV) classes, and outreach events.
New Zealand
In January 2024, SSSIO New Zealand held its annual National Retreat in Taupo, with the theme "Living with Sai." The retreat drew 65 adults, 37 young adults, eight teens, and seven children. The young adults played a key role in lovingly preparing and serving meals. The retreat blended traditional spiritual practices with modern insights, incorporating Sai teachings. Activities included moments of silence, chanting, and reflection on topics like time management, emotional well-being, and sustainable living. Participants explored the connection between physical and spiritual well-being through meditation, creative arts, and discussions. The event left participants with cherished memories and a renewed commitment to living with Sai.
In February 2024, SSSIO New Zealand collaborated with the Kaipatiki Community Trust to host a Fun Day at Marlborough Park, Glenfield, for children with special needs. The event featured interactive games, arts and crafts, face painting, a talent show, and musical performances, including one by musician Hina. It aimed to foster inclusion, creativity, and confidence in a supportive environment. Around 350 people participated, including 58 children with special needs, caregivers, and community members. The event was supported by 35 SSSIO members and 20 volunteers from local Sikh and Muslim communities.
Since 2013, members of the Sri Sathya Sai Center in Hamilton, New Zealand, have engaged in environmental activities, initially focusing on cleaning the Lake Rotorua area. In 2016, their efforts shifted to Minogue Park and its surrounding forest reserve. In 2018, they began planting native trees as part of a larger conservation initiative. The Hamilton City Council's 50-year plan aims to revitalize the park into a thriving habitat for native wildlife. In March 2024, nine Sai volunteers participated in regular weed management, helping restore the park's Forest Lake as a habitat for various bird species, thus continuing more than a decade-long engagement in environmental services.
On March 29, 2024, SSSIO members attended an Easter service at the Society of Friends Hall in Auckland. The service began with a cross being carried in and set in place. Volunteers enacted biblical scenes and read Bible verses, followed by a moving video of Christ’s crucifixion and the Easter Hallelujah chorus. The audience lit candles at the foot of the cross to symbolize laying down their burdens. A video of Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) children singing a hymn and a performance of Dona Nobis Pacem for peace followed. The service concluded with traditional Easter hymns and the distribution of hot buns and refreshments.
From May 30–June 1, 2024, SSSIO members in New Zealand participated in the "Nature in the City" Arbor Day tree-planting event in Hamilton. The initiative aimed to increase the city's native vegetation cover, extending from 2% to 10% by 2050, through planting 20,000 native plants to mark 20 years of restoration at the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park. Schools and corporate sectors joined on May 30 and 31, while community groups, families, and individuals contributed to the project on June 1. Four volunteers from the Hamilton Sai Center participated, and the event was officiated by the Mayor of Hamilton, with renowned entomologist Ruud Kleinpaste gracing as a special guest.
In October 2024, SSSIO New Zealand hosted the Rongomai Fun Day in Otara to serve the local community and promote the Sathya Sai Preschool. The event featured activities like arts and crafts, face painting, musical performances, a blind taste-testing competition, and a children's talent show. Attendees were also given clothes and toys, and food and information booths were set up. Around 200-225 people participated, including SSSIO members, preschool staff, and volunteers. The event's success was due to the collaboration with local organizations. SSSIO New Zealand plans to continue hosting similar events to support the community and raise awareness about the preschool.
In September 2024, the ladies of SSSIO New Zealand’s Northern Region came together to support the children and their parents at Auckland's Starship Hospital by crafting handmade blankets. Recognizing the emotional and physical challenges families face, the group wanted to provide warmth and comfort. Seventeen ladies and two children made 18 blankets, with one lady donating an additional 9. A total of 27 blankets were gratefully received by the hospital. This act of kindness demonstrated the SSSIO volunteers' dedication to helping their community with love, care, and compassion.
The Young Adult-inspired Blood Donation Drive gained further momentum during the year with a strong focus on plasma donations, which increased by 25% to 100 donations, with whole blood donations at 20. The number of donors increased by 7.