Project GreenHands Felicitated With The Beyond Sports Awards 2010

Oct. 2, 2010 - PRLog -- Project GreenHands (PGH) the environmental initiative of Isha Foundation was felicitated at the Beyond Sport Awards function under the “Sports for Environment” category at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, USA on September 30th. PGH will receive 15,000 US Dollars of funding and a substantial business package of technical support which will help it grow and further the scope of its activities. This year’s environment category had 18 contenders from across the globe. Isha’s Project GreenHands was the only entry from Asia to be shortlisted for the award under this category. The Beyond Sports panel of judges and speakers includes Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of UK, Bill Bradley, U.S Senator, Wilfred Lemke, Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace to the UN Secretary General and many other eminent personalities.

PGH is a grassroots ecological initiative which has grown out of a deep concern for the global effects of deforestation and land degradation, and in particular, for the rapidly degrading ecology of Tamil Nadu. PGH aims to take corrective measures to increase the green cover, restore soil health and manage natural resources appropriately. To date, over 8.2 million trees have been planted by over a million people and by the end of 2010, PGH will cross the mark of 10 million saplings.

Project GreenHands was honoured with the Beyond Sports Award for its innovative use of sports, community games, and yoga activities to encourage rural communities to come forth and take charge of raising and planting saplings thus supporting PGH’s environmental restoration efforts. The organization and coaching of volleyball and throwball teams, the implementation of yoga programs and the hosting of tournaments such as the “Rural Olympics” have served as a means to unite community members, whilst providing an opportunity to raise awareness about the issue of environmental degradation. Community participation is the key to Project GreenHands’ success. For example, the 2006 Rural Olympics led to successful state-level mobilization of the population, resulting in the plantation of over 850,000 saplings in a single day which is a Guinness World Record.

Beyond Sport Limited is a social entrepreneurship registered in UK specializing in the development of sport and entertainment. Beyond sports is a major global sports initiative that seeks to identify the world’s most inspirational sports projects, celebrate their achievements, identify why they succeed and use them to inspire others. This year witnessed 381 entries for 12 categories covering the entire spectrum of sport for health, environment, social inclusion, education and conflict.

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About Isha Foundation
Isha Foundation is a non-religious, public service organization founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev – a realized master and yogi, which addresses all aspects of human wellbeing. It is an entirely volunteer-run, nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating human potential. Following Sadhguru’s vision, the Foundation is engaged in offering the science of inner well-being to people, helping them realize their ultimate potential within.
Isha Foundation has also set up Isha Outreach, the social development branch of the Isha Foundation. Its central vision is to empower the deprived sections of India towards improved health, education and environmental well being. The three vehicles of Isha Outreach are Project Green Hands (PGH), Action for Rural Rejuvenation (ARR) and Isha Vidhya, which provide an interconnected and comprehensive approach to transform the lives of the rural poor.