Shanti Project

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The original Shanti Project is a non-profit human services agency in San Francisco in 1974 formed by Dr. Charles Garfield. Its goals are to provide peer support and guidance to people affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. Since then, several organizations adhering to the Shanti model have been created in the United States, including projects in Los Angeles, California, Seattle, Washington and Laguna Beach, California.

[edit] The Shanti Model

Shanti is a Sanskrit word meaning "inner peace" or "tranquility". It is an appropriate name since, ultimately, all of Shanti's direct service and educational programs are aimed at easing the burdens and improving the well-being of people in difficult life situations.

The Shanti model of peer support is built upon several principles:

Mutual Respect
Positive Regard
Empowerment of the Client (the assumption that the client has the solutions to his or her own problems and does not need your advice or direction)
genuineness (being oneself, authenticity)
acceptance of differences (does not mean agreement, but acceptance based on respect)
empathy (allowing oneself to feel with another person)
intention to be of service

[edit] Shanti Project Collection

In 1999 Badman Recording Co. released a compact disc featuring various artists, titled Shanti Project Collection. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD were dontated to the Shanti Project. It has since been followed up with two more collections.