Art of Giving Celebrates its 6th Anniversary Worldwide

May 17, 2019: An initiative, started by Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), called Art of Giving (AOG) celebrated its 6th anniversary at their campuses. As their main philosophy is giving is an art and joyful, the aim and theme of the event was the same. The program was inaugurated by Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of AoG.

While addressing the gathering, Dr. Samanta said, KISS and KIIT are the best examples of Art of Giving as they are following this philosophy for the last 27 years. KIIT is giving where KISS is receiving and spreading happiness among thousands of poorest of the poor tribal children. Everybody wants to give something, but they cannot find a proper platform and a chance to do the same. Art of Giving is a platform that gives everyone a chance to give something to others.

AoG was celebrated all over India - 120 countries across the globe including South Africa, Bangladesh, Turkey, Taiwan, and many more at over 1 lakh centres. Around 10 million people worldwide and 4 million people in Odisha joined the movement by gifting bags containing learning and stationery materials.

The theme of this year was “BAG OF HAPPINESS” (Khusiyon ki Delivery). The concept was based on “People’s Contribution, People’s Participation” to achieve the motto of “Education for All". UNESCO and Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) are collaborating with Art of Giving for the first time.

About the Initiative:

It was founded on May 17, 2013 by Dr. Achyuta Samanta who is an educationist, social activist, social reformer and Founder of KIIT and KISS. He had struggled from an experience of poverty, hunger, humiliation in receiving and pleasure in giving since his childhood days.

He is a self-made person, overcoming all his struggles with a smile. Giving all the credit to "Art of Giving", he has dedicated his life to eliminate suffering from the lives of the poor by promoting universal brotherhood and fraternity through peace and happiness. With this, he has also been working relentlessly to achieve zero poverty, zero hunger and zero illiteracy since 1987.