Latest news with #AOG
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Terrence Sinnadurai, founder of Desa Amal Jireh, dies at 75
Reverend Terrence Sinnadurai had a passion for people, particularly the underprivileged and destitute, as well as senior citizens. PETALING JAYA : Reverend Terrence Sinnadurai, the founder of Desa Amal Jireh (DAJ) – a 40-year-old sanctuary for underprivileged children and senior citizens – has died at 75. He died at 5.58pm at Sunway Medical Centre on Wednesday after battling diabetes for years. He had been warded ini the hospital for about a month for sepsis. Terrence leaves behind a decades-long legacy of service, having founded the home in 1985 with his wife Kamala. Beginning as a humble operation in a single-storey terrace house in Kajang, DAJ transformed into a village in Semenyih with a canteen, separate dormitories for boys, girls and senior citizens, a library and staff offices. Terrence also served as the senior pastor of Kajang Assembly of God (AOG), one of the largest churches in Kajang, from 1978 to 2001, and later as the senior pastor of Agape Community Centre in Semenyih. He leaves behind his wife, three children – John, Shanti and Reuben – and five grandchildren. Around 500 people packed the main hall of Desa Amal Jireh in Semenyih for the wake service last night. The wake service last night at DAJ saw around 500 attendees pack the main hall of the home, including former home residents, church members and Terrence's fellow pastors and peers in AOG Malaysia. DAJ vice-chairman Emerson Chelliah lauded Terrence for his passion for people, particularly the underprivileged and destitute, as well as senior citizens. 'He was a real visionary. He was always looking for ways to do more (for the home) and had a gift for thinking outside the box in terms of fundraising. 'He was never tired of wanting to do more and more. It was a joy to see him work. He has impacted a lot of people, from over 20 years in Kajang AOG and 40 years in DAJ,' he told FMT. Speaking at the wake, Shanti, who is also the deputy director of DAJ, praised her father for always having time for his family, even while serving as a pastor and the chairman of DAJ. 'He made an effort for his family. Every day there would be one meal together as a family. 'They say pastors' children struggle because pastors have no time for their family, but my father was there for almost every sports meet I went to until I was in Form Five,' she said. Another wake service will be held at DAJ at 8.30pm tonight, and the funeral service will be held tomorrow morning at 10am at the same venue.
Hans India
18-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Art of giving: A global movement of peace and happiness
Bhubaneswar: Art of Giving (AOG) ( is a life philosophy that inspires millions around the globe to practice kindness, compassion and community engagement. It was conceptualised and led by Prof Achyuta Samanta, educationist and social reformer. It has become a civic movement dedicated to fostering peace and happiness through selfless giving. The movement is based on a simple yet powerful truth: that human beings, in their essence, are wired to give. Happiness and peace, which are the most natural human aspirations, often get buried under material pursuits. Art of Giving calls people back to that natural instinct of sharing, helping and loving without expectation or reward. The seeds of AOG were sown long before it had a name. Prof Achyuta Samanta, having grown up in abject poverty and adversity, began practising the art of giving as early as the age of five—when he himself had little to give. This lifelong commitment to selfless giving transformed into a mission, and on May 17, 2013, he formally launched the philosophy of Art of Giving as a global movement. Since then, May 17 has been celebrated every year as the International Day of Art of Giving, with each year focusing on a specific theme. Every year, Art of Giving selects a new theme that aligns with contemporary needs and emotional resonances. It started in 2014 with themes around Society, Spirituality and Humanity. In 2015, the theme was Kompassion: The Garment Bank, which urged people to donate old clothes to those in need. During the challenging pandemic period of 2020, the theme was AOG Fights Corona, focusing on supporting frontline workers and affected families. In 2021, 'My Mother My Hero' became a deeply emotional campaign where participants wrote letters of gratitude to their mothers. In 2024, the theme Let's AOG broadened the idea of universal participation. And now in 2025, as AOG, in its 12th edition compassion, the theme is 'Neighbour Good – Bringing Good to the Neighbourhood.' This year's theme focuses on taking kindness to the most immediate circle, our neighbours and local community. From May 2 to 16, people around the world are observing the Fortnight of Happiness, by engaging in small, meaningful gestures—sharing snacks or tea, visiting elderly neighbours, organising apartment meetups, or participating in neighbourhood events. On May 17, grand celebrations will take place globally. Art of Giving has grown exponentially in the last decade. Today, the AOG family includes over 2.5 million active members. Additionally, the philosophy now finds representation in over 220 national federations of the FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball), extending its values through sports and youth movements worldwide. A milestone moment for this year is the release of the book on Art of Giving, authored by Prof Achyuta Samanta and published by Rupa Publications. The book is available on Amazon. It offers a deep dive into the journey, values and real-life stories of those who have been touched by this movement. Though AOG was formally launched in 2013, its values are timeless. Charity, or 'daan', has always been central to Indian culture. Every major religion—Islam's zakat, Christianity's charity, Buddhism's acts of compassion, Jainism's saving lives and spreading knowledge, Judaism's tzedakah, and Zoroastrianism's call to fight poverty as a moral duty upholds giving as sacred. What Prof Samanta has done through AOG is to modernise this wisdom, remove religious and geographical filters and build a global, inclusive and joyful movement rooted in humanity. Prof Achyuta Samanta is no stranger to service. As the founder of KIIT and KISS, he has empowered over two million people through education and social reform. But it is through AOG that he offers the most personal part of his journey—the belief that giving is not for the rich, but for the kind-hearted. He began his journey with nothing but the will to give. Today, he inspires millions to give, not what they have in excess, but what they can spare with love.
Korea Herald
17-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Art of Giving: A Global Initiative for Peace and Happiness
BHUBANESWAR, India, May 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Art of Giving (AOG) is a life philosophy that inspires millions around the globe to practice kindness, compassion, and community engagement. It was conceptualised and led by Prof. Achyuta Samanta, educationist and social reformer. It has become a civic movement dedicated to fostering peace and happiness through selfless giving. The movement is based on a simple yet powerful truth: that human beings, in their essence, are wired to give. Happiness and peace, which are the most natural human aspirations, often get buried under material pursuits. Art of Giving calls people back to that natural instinct of sharing, helping, and loving without expectation or reward. The seeds of AOG were sown long before it had a name. Prof. Achyuta Samanta, having grown up in abject poverty and adversity, began practicing the art of giving as early as the age of five—when he himself had little to give. This lifelong commitment to selfless giving transformed into a mission, and on 17th May 2013, he formally launched the philosophy of Art of Giving as a global movement. Since then, 17th May has been celebrated every year as the International Day of Art of Giving, with each year focusing on a specific theme. Every year, Art of Giving selects a new theme that aligns with contemporary needs and emotional resonances. It started in 2014 with themes around Society, Spirituality, and Humanity. In 2015, the theme was Kompassion: The Garment Bank, which urged people to donate old clothes to those in need. During the challenging pandemic period of 2020, the theme was AOG Fights Corona, focusing on supporting frontline workers and affected families. In 2021, My Mother My Hero became a deeply emotional campaign where participants wrote letters of gratitude to their mothers. In 2024, the theme Let ' s AOG broadened the idea of universal participation. And now in 2025, as AOG in its 12th edition compassion, the theme is Neighbour Good – Bringing Good to the Neighbourhood. This year's theme focuses on taking kindness to the most immediate circle, our neighbours and local community. From 2nd to 16th May, people around the world observed the Fortnight of Happiness, by engaging in small, meaningful gestures—sharing snacks or tea, visiting elderly neighbours, organising apartment meetups, or participating in neighbourhood events. On 17th May, grand celebrations will take place globally. Art of Giving has grown exponentially in the last decade. Today, the AOG family includes over 2.5 million active members. Additionally, the philosophy now finds representation in over 220 national federations of the FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball), extending its values through sports and youth movements worldwide. Though AOG was formally launched in 2013, its values are timeless. Charity, or 'daan,' has always been central to Indian culture. Every major religion—Islam's zakat, Christianity's charity, Buddhism's acts of compassion, Jainism's saving lives and spreading knowledge, Judaism's tzedakah, and Zoroastrianism's call to fight poverty as a moral duty upholds giving as sacred. What Prof. Samanta has done through AOG is to modernise this wisdom, remove religious and geographical filters, and build a global, inclusive, and joyful movement rooted in humanity.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Art of Giving: A Global Movement of Peace and Happiness
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India -Art of Giving (AOG) ( is a life philosophy that inspires millions around the globe to practice kindness, compassion, and community engagement. It was conceptualized and led by Prof. AchyutaSamanta, educationist and social reformer. It has become a civic movement dedicated to fostering peace and happiness through selfless giving. The movement is based on a simple yet powerful truth: that human beings, in their essence, are wired to give. Happiness and peace, which are the most natural human aspirations, often get buried under material pursuits. Art of Giving calls people back to that natural instinct of sharing, helping, and loving without expectation or reward. The seeds of AOG were sown long before it had a name. Prof. AchyutaSamanta, having grown up in abject poverty and adversity, began practicing the art of giving as early as the age of five—when he himself had little to give. This lifelong commitment to selfless giving transformed into a mission, and on 17th May 2013, he formally launched the philosophy of Art of Giving as a global movement. Since then, 17th May has been celebrated every year as the International Day of Art of Giving, with each year focusing on a specific theme. Every year, Art of Giving selects a new theme that aligns with contemporary needs and emotional resonances. It started in 2014 with themes around Society, Spirituality, and Humanity. In 2015, the theme was Compassion: The Garment Bank, which urged people to donate old clothes to those in need.
Cision Canada
17-05-2025
- General
- Cision Canada
Art of Giving: A Global Initiative for Peace and Happiness
BHUBANESWAR, India, May 17, 2025 /CNW/ -- Art of Giving (AOG) is a life philosophy that inspires millions around the globe to practice kindness, compassion, and community engagement. It was conceptualised and led by Prof. Achyuta Samanta, educationist and social reformer. It has become a civic movement dedicated to fostering peace and happiness through selfless giving. The movement is based on a simple yet powerful truth: that human beings, in their essence, are wired to give. Happiness and peace, which are the most natural human aspirations, often get buried under material pursuits. Art of Giving calls people back to that natural instinct of sharing, helping, and loving without expectation or reward. The seeds of AOG were sown long before it had a name. Prof. Achyuta Samanta, having grown up in abject poverty and adversity, began practicing the art of giving as early as the age of five—when he himself had little to give. This lifelong commitment to selfless giving transformed into a mission, and on 17th May 2013, he formally launched the philosophy of Art of Giving as a global movement. Since then, 17th May has been celebrated every year as the International Day of Art of Giving, with each year focusing on a specific theme. Every year, Art of Giving selects a new theme that aligns with contemporary needs and emotional resonances. It started in 2014 with themes around Society, Spirituality, and Humanity. In 2015, the theme was Kompassion: The Garment Bank, which urged people to donate old clothes to those in need. During the challenging pandemic period of 2020, the theme was AOG Fights Corona, focusing on supporting frontline workers and affected families. In 2021, My Mother My Hero became a deeply emotional campaign where participants wrote letters of gratitude to their mothers. In 2024, the theme Let ' s AOG broadened the idea of universal participation. And now in 2025, as AOG in its 12th edition compassion, the theme is Neighbour Good – Bringing Good to the Neighbourhood. This year's theme focuses on taking kindness to the most immediate circle, our neighbours and local community. From 2nd to 16th May, people around the world observed the Fortnight of Happiness, by engaging in small, meaningful gestures—sharing snacks or tea, visiting elderly neighbours, organising apartment meetups, or participating in neighbourhood events. On 17th May, grand celebrations will take place globally. Art of Giving has grown exponentially in the last decade. Today, the AOG family includes over 2.5 million active members. Additionally, the philosophy now finds representation in over 220 national federations of the FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball), extending its values through sports and youth movements worldwide. Though AOG was formally launched in 2013, its values are timeless. Charity, or 'daan,' has always been central to Indian culture. Every major religion—Islam's zakat, Christianity's charity, Buddhism's acts of compassion, Jainism's saving lives and spreading knowledge, Judaism's tzedakah, and Zoroastrianism's call to fight poverty as a moral duty upholds giving as sacred. What Prof. Samanta has done through AOG is to modernise this wisdom, remove religious and geographical filters, and build a global, inclusive, and joyful movement rooted in humanity.
