“How Can I Help?”
The Power of Recurring Giving
by Binah Thillairajah
“How can I help?”
Is one of the most beautiful questions we hear.
-Binah Thillairajah
The question comes from people who’ve visited Auroville and carry its spirit in their hearts. From those who feel connected to our project partners. From those who simply sense that a better, more conscious world is possible — and want to be part of it.
At Auroville International USA, we hold this question close. It guides our work with more than 60 partner projects — each rooted in Auroville’s founding ideals of peace, lifelong learning, human unity, inner growth, and care for the Earth.
When people ask how they can support, our answer is simple — and yet powerful: Consider becoming a recurring donor.
A monthly donation, no matter the size, offers something truly precious to our partners: consistency. It allows project holders to breathe a little easier, plan a little farther ahead, and show up more fully for the people and communities they serve. It creates a kind of steady love — one that says, “I’m here. I care. I’ll keep walking with you.”
Recently, I had a call with Stephen Altman, a longtime friend of Auroville who lived there in the 1970s. He’s stayed closely connected ever since — donating during our December matching campaign to Life Education Centre (LEC), a project dedicated to supporting young women from surrounding villages through holistic education and empowerment.
After catching up, Stephen asked, “How can I help?”I shared how helpful recurring gifts are — how they provide a dependable foundation for projects like LEC. He paused, then said gently,
“I’ve always donated when I felt moved. But I see how that kind of steady support could really help.”
-Stephen Altman, AVI USA supporter
And right then, he signed up to give monthly.
That one gesture said so much — not just generosity, but trust. Relationship. Care.This is the quiet power of recurring giving.
So if you’ve ever wondered how you can help — this is one way. A simple, steady act of support that ripples out further than you might imagine.
And to those of you who are already giving in this way: thank you. Truly. Your continued support is a blessing — not only to the projects, but to the people behind them who feel held, remembered, and encouraged by your ongoing presence.
Together, we are nurturing something alive, growing, and deeply needed in this world.
To become a recurring donor, click here to visit our project partner donation page. Select the project that speaks to your heart, and instead of “Give Once,” simply choose “Give Monthly.”