Service

When we recognize the truth of our deep connectedness, we come to see that our own happiness and peace is ultimately tied to the happiness and peace of others. Based on this understanding, we naturally reach out to others facing hardship.

Through our relationship to San Francisco Insight (SFI), for the past decade we have helped support Woza Moya, a groundbreaking community-based AIDS outreach program in rural Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa, sponsored by the Buddhist retreat center, Dharmagiri and Dharmagiri Outreach.

In February, 2009, SFI helped Dharmagiri launch a new project, called Khuphuka (which means Rise Up!) in a nearby Zulu community, uMquasheni, which has been devastated by the AIDS epidemic. The community faces huge problems including high HIV infection rates, high levels of unemployment, many orphans and 'at risk' children and associated poverty. There are large numbers of families close to starvation.

The Khuphuka Project (KP) has developed a positive relationship with the tribal leaders at uMqatsheni who support the development of the project. They have granted tribal land within the community to construct a Community Health Center.

The mission of KP is to support and empower those living with, and affected by, HIV and AIDS using dynamic, innovative and compassionate responses. KP aims to deliver high quality home based care, child protection, youth work and paralegal services, as well as awareness and education programs to those communities facing poverty, exclusion and lack of resources.

In 2011, 2% of all net proceeds from Appropriate Response will be donated to the Khuphuka Project.

Click here for a 15 minute video on The Khuphuka Project.