Report of the Society’s AVI Liaison Group for the year 2003 to 2004

We at Singapore have watched from far, marveling at the activities in Auroville and at the same time looking for every opportunity to liaise with the Auroville activities. Several selected articles on and from Auroville have been posted from time to time on our website and our newsletter to inform our readers of the idea of Auroville. Besides the article "Open to receive Sri Aurobindo's force", the following articles were also published over the previous year.

1. February 2004: The Auroville Land Fund Newsletter, November – December 2003.
2. November 2003: From a Modern Town to a perfect world (excerpt from Paulette's article in Auroville Today).
3. June and July 2003: A Journey to Auroville, A two-part article by Raj Garg on his visit to Auroville as part of his school project.
4. August 2003: A voyage of wonders, article based on a story by the New Creation child development center.

Besides the articles, all of which can be viewed on our website at http://www.sassingapore.cjb.net, the following activities linking Singapore and Auroville were also conducted over the past year:

In April 2004, a group of students from the United World College visited Auroville for a period of four days as part of their school project. The students have also formed an Auroville help group in their school. The group is currently working on fundraising for the Auroville schools.

In March 2004, Tapas Bhatt from Auroville visited Singapore and gave a talk to the members of the Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. Her talk was an overview of Auroville as well as a sharing session and question and answer session on the practicalities of working in and for Auroville.

In February 2004, some of the members of Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore attended the Seminar on Mother and the Yoga of evolution, which was held in Auroville.

This year, in January 2004 for the first time the Singapore American School went on a trip to South India. Below is their description of what they expected to learn from their visit to Auroville: "During our four-day stay in Auroville, we will visit the beautiful Matrimandir, the physical and spiritual center of the Community and will study the Community's philosophy and history. We will also visit projects for methane gas production, solar power, open education, eco-architecture, reforestation, and soil conservation, and each student will choose an area to study in detail."

In addition to the above, they also went cycling in Auroville and to Pondicherry.

In December 2003, Anuvrat Rao of the Sunshine Youth group visited Auroville for a short while and worked with Tapas Bhatt during the period of his visit.

In June 2003, Kiruthika of the Sunshine Youth Group visited Auroville for three weeks. She divided her time there between the New Creation School, Udavi School and Kala Khoj.

Besides the above visits, the following activities in relation to Auroville are being planned in Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore: In June or July 2004, Aditya Ranganath from the Sunshine Youth Group plans to work in Auroville for a period of time. Our Society is also beginning an integral education program in the following year, which hopes to liase with the Auroville schools and students. And of course, the donation box permanently in our meeting room continues to receive contributions from members for ongoing work in Auroville.

We hope that the Sri Aurobindo Society will continue to build on its relationship with Auroville and introduce more opportunities for a productive partnership next year and the years to come.

- Kiruthika