In Sahaja Yoga, education is more than just schooling. What the children learn outside a classroom in a sahaj school is often more important than what they learn inside it. When Shri Mataji started ISPS in India and CISS in Cabella, the sahaj children lived in an ashram-style accommodation and attended the local state school. The idea is to start in a similar way – with a “happy medium” – until we can establish a sahaj secondary school in Cabella with sahaj teachers and staff.
Another very important aspect is that it allows children of sahaj families to have a staged entry into the outside world. Rather than going from a completely sahaj world to growing up on their own as an adolescent in a non-sahaj environment, they can grow up with their brothers and sisters with sahaj values in a protected environment. So, until we have a completely sahaj middle school, this is the best alternative in Europe for Yuva Shakti.

Although this project will be independent from Cabella International Sahaja School (CISS), it will be under the care of Casa Madre which is the operational part of the Sahaja Yoga World Foundation (SMNDSYWF). So all the policies present in CISS will be adhered to. There will be a team of sahaja yogis in charge of the project who will be responsible for creating a safe sahaj environment in a sahaj family atmosphere, enabling the children to grow up in a spiritual environment bathed in vibrations while creating life-long friendships with their sahaj brothers and sisters. All the structure and facilities will be compliant with the Health & Safety rules and regulations of the local authorities.

The annual fees per child are € 5.800 (which includes a non-refundable deposit of € 400).
The project will only start if we reach a minimum number of 16 students.
€150 per term should be deposited as pocket money.

Included in the tuition fees are:

• Board and lodging, including meals and snacks at school and any school canteens
• Assistance of the staff in the dormitory, cooking, with homework, cleaning and laundry
• All stationery
• Collective workshops and clubs.

Not included in the tuition fees:

• Transportation from the boarding house to school and back (to be paid by the families)
• School books (to be paid for by the families. Parents will purchase them before the start of school)
• Backpack, diary and pencil case (to be paid for by the families. Parents will purchase them before the start of school
• Sheets, towels, clothing (the children must already arrive with everything they need for the whole term. A list will be sent to the families)
• Any external sports, music or art courses organized individually for the child
• Any extra individual lessons
• Specialist medical visits.

As some of the students studying there and some of the staff working there are yogis, the scuola media of Rocchetta will be used primarily for the children attending scuola media.

Generally, the high schools in the area around Novi Ligure have a very good reputation and offer a wide variety of options.

For more information, use this: scuola secondaria di II grado novi ligure.

For a wider search of schools in the area: scuolaitaly.it.

A minimum initial knowledge of Italian is required for all students registering at CYSA. In order to be able to follow the lessons, a basic knowledge of reading and writing in Italian needs to be established prior to joining the project. The level required depends on the class the child will join: higher classes require a more advanced initial level of Italian. For this reason, parents are strongly advised to provide Italian lessons for their child during the summer period.

In any case, there will be support on hand with classwork and homework while they attend school to help bring them up to the level necessary to perform on a par with their classmates.

What we have seen over the years, is that Yuva Shakti can adapt remarkably quickly, and their overall academic performance is not affected.

Parents will be able to contact their children once a week and the children can call their parents whenever is needed. Once everyone is settled in, on a regular basis, parents would be invited to arrange activities at the weekends, games, trips, visits to museums and places of interest, walks in the nature, and fun things to do once homework is done.

There will be 1 full-time experienced Supervisor who will be responsible for the children. Furthermore, there will be 2 or more Dorm staff (ideally aunties for the girls/ uncles for the boys).

The children will be protected by all the policies present in CISS; such as:

• A sahaj balance of TLC (tender loving care) and essential discipline
• Strict sahaj supervision regarding protecting the innocence and respecting maryadas
• A balanced diet will be provided.

This will very much depend on the interests of the students and the talents of those available The aim would be to:

• enhance their creativity with a range of extra-curricular activities
• develop their physique with a range of sports and games
• encourage them to enjoy the benefits of living in a rural environment immersed in nature.

Daily Routine
After a short meditation, they will have breakfast and then board the public bus going to their school.
The children will have lunch when they return. After a short rest, any homework or activities they need to perform will be done. In the afternoon, they will have some free time to pursue personal interests.
After foot-soaking, they will have dinner. In the evenings, they can spend time reading, playing games, watching films together as a family, etc. Then collective meditation, aarti and bed.
The staff will monitor the children doing their homework, providing support where necessary.
Electronic devices will be limited to certain times and where needed for study.
Real face to face relationships will be encouraged as opposed to life through a screen.

Extra fees for extra support
Depending on availability, extra support or lessons could be provided for particular needs and interests, e.g. Languages, Music, Sports.

CYSA will follow the local school’s timetable. Further details and information will be provided on request.