Representatives of the Global Village Initiative Committee (GVIC) from three continents (Asia, Europe and North America) met at the ISKCON Tirupati temple along with members of various global committees from October 14th to 18th to share insights and prepare strategies to further the purpose of the initiative committee. The Strategic Planning Team (SPT), in conjunction with the GBC body, has been organizing these exchanges since the last 8 years. 

GVIC members present included RP Bhakti Raghava Swami from Canada, Radha Krishna das from Hungary, Samba das from England (serving in Sri Mayapur), Kisora Krsna das from Indonesia and from India, Hari Kirtan das,  Arjuna Krsna das, Mahananda das as well as Vrindavana Lila d.d. 

Of special interest was the discussion on the Mandate of the committee and the proposal to adjust the title from “Global Village Initiative Committee” to “Sustainable Vaisnava Communities”. 

In addition, the committee members discussed the need to set up a global database to be presented through a comprehensive website dedicated for the work of the committee. For the next four months, this work will be taken up by a devotee expert in computer software, Purandara das, assisted by the a website administrator Samba das in Sri Mayapur. GVIC plans to officially launch the website by Gaura Purnima, March 5, 2015.

GVIC members also held extensive discussions on the paper “Strategic Document” that outlines the various ways the committee can increase both the awareness and participation of individuals around the world to help build sustainable Vaisnava communities.

There were also discussions to increase the number of members from each continent to six for a total of 36 members. Each continent will then set up its own Continental Village Initiative Committee to be named as CVIC-Asia, CVIC-Europe, etc.

GVIC is presently collecting data from ISKCON Rural Projects on each continent with plans to come out with a Global Resource and Guide Manual before Gaura Purnima, 2015. For that purpose, Kalakantha das from Brazil has set up continental links to help fill in the Global Questionnaire. In addition, GVIC also is also preparing another Survey on Best Practices for both the rural and urban sectors, to be released on the website once the data is collected.

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For the purpose of creating the needed website, the members decided to start a fund drive to collect $ 5,000. Anyone interested to assist may visit the following link: http://www.gofundme.com/g26z9g

For more information on may contact GVIC member representing CVIC-Asia, Arjuna Krsna das at Arjuna.Krsna.BRS@pamho.net