PLEASE HELP (Y)OUR YOUTH
- Bhaktimarga Swami
- May 1
- 4 min read
Wednesday, April 30th, 2025
Toronto, Ontario
Those of you who’ve been following my blogs for some time know that our bhakti (Krishna) community worldwide celebrates what we call Ratha Yatra, the Chariot Fest. In North America alone, millions have had the privilege of enjoying these events every year. The main attraction for many of these festivals are the youth travelling on the Youth Summer Bus Tour, who bring their immense talents – from wonderful theatre and dance performances to fantastic kirtans. I’ve travelled, myself, with the youth tour for many years now, and can attest to how it helps our local communities become more spiritually elevated, what to speak of the youth themselves who could instead easily engage in unhealthy summer activities, but do not thanks to Manorama, the tour manager, and his team. The bus they drive allows them to serve the public and devotional communities they travel to throughout North America, and they need your help now in reciprocation for their years of intensive service. With your help, there will be many more years to come. Without it…
Please take a look at Manorama’s important and heartfelt letter below. Time is of the essence. Please donate. We need you. Thank you.
The Walking Monk
Bhaktimarga Swami
FROM MANORAMA and the SUMER BUS YOUTH TEAM:
Today, on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, could you please help us spread the word about our fundraiser towards a newer bus to continue the youth bus tours, inspiring the next generation in the missionary spirit, spreading Krishna consciousness across North America?
A new bus would cost $550K, more than we could ever hope to fundraise. We are aiming for a 3-5 year old bus with reasonable miles, for around $300K. Our grass-roots efforts from alumni and friends on social media have raised $7,900 so far. This morning, we received a pledge from HH Niranjana Swami for $5K, and earlier this week, another pledge from an anonymous donor for $15K. That brings us closer to 10% of our goal, at $28K.
The next tour is just two months away. It's time to take this to the next level, which is why I'm reaching out to you. The proverbial little sparrow needs Garuda's help. Could you please spread the word among some of the people you know who may be willing to contribute a donation?
Here is a link to our GoFundMe page:
We also accept checks, wire transfers, Zelle, PayPal...
Some background history:
Since 1995, for the past 30 years, ISKCON Youth Ministry bus tours have been inspiring hundreds of next generation youth and young adults in spreading Krishna consciousness throughout North America, and other parts of the world. We offer transformational, immersive "mission trip" experiences in spiritual life, taking youth on extended road trips during their summer and winter school breaks, to help put on Ratha-yatra festivals across the USA and Canada, visit temples, and present Krishna culture festivals across Mexico. At last count, we've done some 57 tours in the past 30 years. Alumni include Gauravani, Jahnavi, Amala Harinama and many others who serve ISKCON in important ways.
Our current bus is now 18 years old, becoming less reliable for long distance travel on a tight schedule -- we had three breakdowns last summer. Installing a new engine would cost between $80-100K, so we made the decision to start raising funds towards a newer bus. So here we are, at another junction in the road, requiring your help. Please give a donation towards our newer bus, and help us spread the word among your friends and anyone who could help.
Thank you for your support in inspiring the next generation youth of ISKCON.
“Please also take care of the children. They are our future hopes, and the adolescent age is the most dangerous age. It is the turning point of one’s life. In this age, if you take care of the children, surely they will come out first class Krishna conscious devotees.” –Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Hayagriva, London, 7 November 1969
“It is the most important preaching work, to train our children in Krishna consciousness education of life. ... I was also at Dallas school last summer and I was very much impressed with these children, how nicely they are becoming preachers and kirtana men and girls. If we can develop properly, one day they will turn the world by their preaching. ... This is the most important post in pushing on this movement, practically, because you shall create our preachers of the future, many, many of them.” - Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Mohanananda, Ahmedabad, 11 December 1972
We remain your servants,
Manorama dasa & Jaya Sri Radhe devi dasi
volunteers at ISKCON Youth Ministry
(alongside the many dedicated volunteers who help to put on these tours)
MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU!
? STEPS
Comments