AZAHAR Foundation is an international nonprofit organisation transforming yoga into a tool for trauma recovery, peacebuilding, and economic empowerment. Working in Cambodia and Rwanda, they support individuals—especially women, youth, and survivors of violence and displacement—to rebuild their lives through accessible healing practices and dignified vocational pathways.

 

In Cambodia

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AZAHAR’s Centre for Peace, Yoga & Arts in Phnom Penh is the heart of their Cambodia programmes—a dedicated space for trauma-informed healing, vocational training, and grassroots leadership. Rooted in accessibility, inclusion, and reconciliation, the centre serves individuals impacted by intergenerational trauma, poverty, and social marginalisation.

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They deliver:

• Trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness classes designed to support emotional regulation, resilience, and reconciliation for individuals and communities still carrying the legacies of conflict and instability
   

• Vocational training for yoga teachers, equipping them with advanced tools in trauma sensitivity, ethical facilitation, and leadership—creating a path from healing to livelihood
   

• Free and donation-based wellness programs in Khmer, ensuring low-income and under-served populations can access consistent care regardless of financial status
   

• Specialised yoga sessions for elderly Khmer Rouge survivors, addressing chronic pain, grief, and isolation while restoring mobility and dignity
   

• Community outreach programmes and public-access classes offered in Khmer during cultural and national events—such as Water Festival and International Women’s Day—bringing healing practices directly into communal spaces and empowering individuals with tools for emotional and mental well-being
   

This work ensures that yoga is not a luxury—it is a lifeline. Their graduates, many of whom began as beneficiaries, now lead classes, support their families, and extend healing in their own communities—transforming personal growth into social impact.

 

 

In Rwanda

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AZAHAR's Rwanda programmes focus on community resilience, trauma healing, and economic empowerment—particularly for youth, women, and genocide survivors. Through strategic partnerships with local organisations, they deliver consistent, culturally responsive wellness programmes across multiple sites:

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• The AZAHAR Community Hub in Kigali offers free trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness classes, reaching over 300 people annually with practices that support emotional recovery and social cohesion
   

• In partnership with Indego Africa, AZAHAR provide healing-centred yoga for over 140 women artisans, empowering them to manage stress, improve physical health, and increase productivity
   

• At Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV), they offer weekly sessions for vulnerable youth and caregivers, building emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and leadership skills
   

• Through their collaboration with GAERG at the AHEZA Healing and Career Center, AZAHAR support over 200 elderly genocide survivors with adapted yoga classes that foster connection, mobility, and a sense of peace in later life
   

They also continue to invest in teachers' growth—offering advanced certifications such as the 300-hour Jivamukti™ Yoga Teacher Training and ongoing mentorship in trauma-informed instruction.

 

 

Global Reach

 

In 2024, AZAHAR co-organised a trauma-sensitive yoga retreat in Greece for 16 Ukrainian yoga teachers, in partnership with Fundación Rādika and Bright Seeds Education. The retreat created a safe, cross-cultural space for recovery, skill-building, and solidarity—extending the impact of AZAHAR’s methods to communities affected by active conflict and forced displacement.

 

 

Why AZAHAR?

 

AZAHAR Foundation doesn’t just offer training—they build long-term pathways to healing, leadership, and livelihood. Their programs bridge personal transformation with professional opportunity, empowering individuals to become agents of change in their communities.

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• Over 40 yoga teachers trained
   

• Programmes embedded in local language and culture
   

• Thousands reached through consistent, community-led outreach
   

• Women and youth leading their own initiatives in post-conflict regions
   

This is what sustainable peacebuilding looks like—from the inside out.

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Support a Teacher. Transform a Community.

 

Your donation creates real, lasting change—training trauma-informed yoga teachers, sustaining community wellness programmes, and turning personal healing into professional livelihood. At AZAHAR Foundation, every contribution helps individuals from conflict-affected backgrounds become powerful agents of peace and resilience.

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Sponsor a Community Class – £40

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£40 could support the delivery of a trauma-informed yoga class for up to 15 participants from vulnerable groups—such as elderly genocide survivors, women’s cooperatives, or youth facing poverty and displacement. A donation of this size could provide transport, materials, teacher facilitation, and outreach. These classes offer more than movement—they offer tools for emotional regulation, trauma reconciliation, and connection.

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Equip a Yoga Teacher Trainee – £120

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£120 could help provide a new trainee with everything they need to begin their journey with dignity and confidence. A donation of this size could provide essential items such as a yoga mat, training manual, uniform, and basic supplies.

 

 

Train a Peace Programme Teacher – £1,400

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£1,400 could sponsor one person through AZAHAR’s multi-stage Peace Program, which transforms beneficiaries into certified yoga teachers and community leaders. The training combines trauma-informed methodology, peace facilitation, and practical teaching skills—offering not just healing, but a path to meaningful employment. 

 

 

Jivamukti™ Teacher Training Scholarship – £1,900

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£1,900 could provide a transformative professional development opportunity for a senior yoga teacher from Cambodia or Rwanda.
The scholarship would provide travel, and living expenses for the intensive 300-hour Jivamukti™ Teacher Training in India—a globally respected certification that elevates both individual expertise and community impact.

Your support helps deepen leadership and expand access to advanced yoga education.

 

 

Join Us in Transforming Lives

 

Prospero World is supportingAZAHAR by receiving tax-efficient donations on their behalf from UK tax payers. Please contact us if you have any questions.

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