An Abundance of Love

I discovered the Youth Center on a pizza night. I was a young adult on my second trip to Auroville. As an Italian, I thought it was only natural that I end up there. However, it wasn't the pizza that made me go ‘crazy’ but rather the love that made this the best pizza in town. Seeing young peers cooking with love for the community and bringing people together through food, music, games and a joyful environment made me incredibly happy. It was the first time I had ever experienced an environment with all these qualities, and I fell in love with it at that moment.

I started volunteering at the Youth Center and then began my newcomer process a few years later. Over time, I fell more in love with the place, with Auroville, and all the possibilities for growth. By the time an opportunity arose with YouthLink, I already knew that I was following my true calling. I wanted to provide the next generation with a safe, organised environment, where they could experience all the amazing opportunities I had been given and more. My goal is to help them connect and understand the power of Unity.

Youth’s challenges

I often hear that the youth lack discipline, that we prioritise money over service, and that we therefore lose interest if we don't receive a maintenance. From my perspective, Auroville's youth, newcomers and volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, and we have all experienced Auroville in different ways. Some grew up here and believe in its aspirations and ideals, while others have joined later, inspired by its vision. Nevertheless, we all seek opportunities for growth and new experiences. We want to contribute with love, tapping into our inner creativity and generating energy. When we do so, we feel grateful and have a sense of purpose. We also share a common experience of challenging circumstances that make it difficult, though not impossible, to fully manifest our aspirations. We are often preoccupied with securing basic necessities like housing, food and transportation. Our minds are often consumed with finding solutions to immediate problems. This can impede creative thinking and innovation, and leaves little room for processing and transforming ideas into actions.

In truth, the world is undergoing a lot of healing and restoration, but we, as humans, must meet our basic needs to achieve the generative culture of service and giving we aspire to. We must eliminate fear and eliminate the notion of sacrifice, allowing everyone to wake up with a sense of purpose and the ability to contribute to the universe happily. Rather than feeling victimised by the challenges we face, we need to work together to find solutions and create new opportunities. We must listen to each other and understand one another's insecurities. Instead of judging others or their ways of doing things, we should share our strengths and support one another. We must move away from fear and foster unity, creating an environment brimming with possibilities for growth, creativity, and an incredible sense of community.

Nurtured

I still remember the feeling of love and freedom that seemed to immediately fulfil my entire being when I arrived in Auroville as a child on my first visit. It was an incredibly powerful sensation that made me feel both vast and safe. I remember sharing with my mother that Auroville felt like home, and that I didn't want to leave. When I realised I had to depart, I was overwhelmed with sorrow and began to cry. From the moment I left, all I could think about was returning to Auroville. I was in touch with my heart, and I knew where I wanted to be.

When I returned to Auroville a bit older, I felt immense joy. It was as if I was blooming, and I sensed great opportunity therein. The diversity of exposure offered me the chance to explore completely new and different thoughts, and I cherished this process. I learned through my experiences and connected more deeply with my body, mind and self.

Auroville helped me to gain a greater understanding of the many layers of life and people. I experienced an abundance of cultures, stories, learning's and perspectives, and still I could hardly get enough of them. I have been strongly influenced by Auroville and its many colours and continue to feel more inspired by the good things than the bad.

The opportunity to learn every day is ever-present in Auroville. However, it is essential to tap into this with love and dedication, having a direction in mind, in order not to get overwhelmed. While Auroville offers tremendous growth, there is still room for improvement, especially regarding the organisation and accessibility of all its offerings. Nonetheless, Auroville remains an incredible place full of abundance, a place that has changed my life forever.