Dharmagiri Outreach
"The special challenge facing Buddhism in our age is to stand up
as an advocate for justice in the world, a voice of conscience for those victims of social, economic and political injustice who cannot stand up for themselves. This is a deeply ethical challenge marking a watershed in the modern expression of Buddhism"
as an advocate for justice in the world, a voice of conscience for those victims of social, economic and political injustice who cannot stand up for themselves. This is a deeply ethical challenge marking a watershed in the modern expression of Buddhism"
- Bhikkhu Bodhi
Dharmagiri Outreach was initiated by Kittisaro and Thanissara in 1995 in the rural areas local to Dharmagiri and the Buddhist Retreat Centre (where they were guiding teachers for seven years. ) These are areas where social cohesion, economic empowerment and overall well being have been severely disrupted due to the brutal consequences of legislated Apartheid and a devastating turf war between the IFP & ANC leading up to the first free elections in 1994. The consequent break down of community and default to violence also laid the ground for this area to become one of the main epicentres of the HIV/Aids pandemic in South Africa and in the world.
Much of the true impact of the pandemic is still hidden from public awareness; the ubiquitous funerals, the alarming increase of orphaned and vulnerable children, the lack of information, food security and access to basic facilities alongside the difficulty in accessing treatment and the ease with which the HIV virus spreads This is coupled with the numbing effect due to years of government denial, community stigma and deeply entrenched gender inequality. With the help of our many supporters, in particular San Francisco Insight, Dharmagiri Outreach has been able to make a difference.
Since 1995 Dharmagiri Outreach has initiated and supports:
- Khuphuka Project - http://www.khuphuka.org
- Woza Moya Project - http://www.wozamoyabrc.co.za
- HIV/Aids educational workshops
- Prison meditation groups in South African Prisons
- Skills trainings & Student sponsorship,
- School computers, water systems, school building upgrades
- Land acquisition and a staff building at the Buddhist Retreat Centre
- Small loans for funerals, buildings and general welfare
Currently the co-ordinators of Dharmagiri Outreach are Matt York and Jacqueline Healy.
Matt and Jacqueline are also directors of The Khuphuka Project and work closely alongside Abigail Ntleko who is Chair of Khuphuka Project.
Jacqueline Healy holds a law degree from the National University of Ireland, Galway and has a masters degree in Human Rights and Democratization from the University of Padua, Italy. Over the last 10 years she has worked in the area of Human Rights focusing primarily on the area of asylum and migration. She has been Deputy Director of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) before coming to South Africa to co-direct the Khuphuka Project.
Abigail Ntleko is a widely respected nursing sister who spent decades co-ordinating local responses to the AIDS pandemic. She founded and continues to manage the Clouds of Hope children's home which currently houses 80 orphaned children. Her commitment to service and strength of spirit is an inspiration to all who meet her. Sister Abigail is being honoured with an award from the Dalai Lama in San Fransisco this April in recognition of her selfless work and compassion.
Matt York is a registered nurse and also spent years working in the fields of homelesness and mental health in the UK. He is the founder and current trustee of the Mandala Trust, a UK based NGO working with vulnerable children in Asia and Africa and also coordinator of Dharmagiri Outreach. He has practiced and studied the Buddhist path in Europe, Asia and Africa and currently lives in Dharmagiri Buddhist Hermitage in KwaZulu Natal.
Khuphuka Project
The Khuphuka Project’s mission is to support and empower those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS using dynamic, innovative and compassionate responses. These responses include the delivery of high quality home based care, paralegal and youth services, child protection and HIV and AIDS awareness and education programmes. It operates in the KwaSani district KwaZulu Natal at mQuatsheni community on the border of Lesotho. To read more please go to www.khuphuka.org
Woza Moya Project
Woza Moya Project, directed and managed by Sue Hedden, Jane Nxsana and Benidicta Ndlovu, operates out of Chibini Valley in the Ufafa region of Ixopo, KwaZulu Natal and is situated next to the Buddhist Retreat Centre. It started in 2001 and has a highly trained team of 30 Community Care Workers alongside a Paralegal service and service for Orphaned Vulnerable Children.
To find out more go to www.wozamoya.org.oza
Prison Project
This is headed by Dharmagiri director JP Meyer who is developing a service that supports meditation groups within prisons. Currently he supports three groups in Baviaanspoort prison in Pretoria, Kutama prison in Louis Trichardt and Johannesburg Correctional Centre in Roodepoort by guiding through correspondence and providing Dharma materials and family packages. Currently JP is exploring the possibility of also providing meditation workshops.
The Nkululeko
Foundation
Over the years, DGO has supported a number of young people by helping them to access educational and skills training opportunities otherwise prohibited to them due to poverty. DGO is in the process of developing 'The Nkululeko Foundation' to empower young people in ways that enables them to fulfil their potential . The name of the foundation is in honour of a young man, Sydney Nkululeko Chagwe that Kittisaro and Thanissara supported and guided for 14 years until his untimely death due to being shot while on duty as a police cadet. Nkululeko means ‘Freedom.’