Amitofo Care Centre

Compassion for Africa builds a brighter future

 

Introduction
The first Buddhist orphanage in Africa

Amitofo Care Centre, ACC for short, is an international humanitarian NGO set up by a Buddhist group. The main principles and unique characteristic of ACC are based on local African culture, Chinese culture and Buddhist philosophy to foster thousands of vulnerable orphans in need.

The founder of ACC is Venerable Master Hui Li, also tagged as the ‘African monk’. In 1992, he established the first Buddhist temple, Nan Hua Buddhist Temple, in South Africa. Afterward, he extended his arms to Malawi to set up the first orphanage, Amitofo Care Centre. Since then, ACC has spread its wings to Lesotho
Swaziland and Namibia to adopt orphans, establish schools, nurture CBOs, open vocational training centers and revive local African culture.

Origin
Compassion between all human beings
One of Malawian women used her frail hands to wash poisoned seed to eat. On seeing that, Master
Hui Li shouted down the woman and said, ‘ those are poisoned’. The woman sigh out, ‘I know those
seed are poisoned. But what if I don’t have them, I’d be hungry to death.’ Master Hui Li was shocked by
her words and walked with this woman to village full of skin and bones aged people and orphans. This encounter brings Master Hui Li vows to establish orphanages all over the Africa to take care of thousands upon thousands children suffering from hunger, poverty and disease.

Venerable Master Hui Li from Taiwan has practiced Buddhism in Africa for 20 years. He witnessed the spread of AIDS leading to abandoned orphans on the streets and the rich black land enveloped in disease,
poverty, unrest and death. Stricken by this scenario, Master Hui Li vows to reincarnate as an African monk for five lifetimes over 300 years to practice charity and propagate Buddhism in 54 African countries.

In the true spirit of Buddhism, ‘Compassion between all human beings’, Master Hui Li takes great steps to bring love and care to the orphans by providing them with warm homes and education. This benevolent deed has gained a lot of support and praise by a number of African leaders and First Ladies.
Furthermore, he has been awarded the‘Loving of Life’ medal by the Chou Ta-Kuan Foundation of Taiwan. Some of whom refer to him as the Buddhist Albert Schweitzer in praise of his significance and contributions
thus far.

Objective
Spreading Dharma in Africa and Extending the wisdom of Buddhist teachings
Practicing Buddhism carries out compassion and
salvation in Africa Educating orphans builds up hope construction

ACC expects itself to be a platform of practicing virtue invites all of you to give consideration and essential aid to Africa. The greatest love without boundary opens out our value of life. Achieve humanistic pure land, just you and me.

Feature
Orphanage together with school
roots education deeply

I want to send a dad and a mom to every
orphan’s heart. Let them feel they are precious.
– Master Hui Li said.

ACC takes a concept of human being as aroot to form children villages which focus on family values. We live the different age children in a house, a family which there are 20 children live with 2 local nannies and 1 child-care teacher who are responsible for managing the house, taking care of them and always staying
with them.

ACC kids always say, ‘ I have a dad, Master is my new father. Nanny is my new mom. I thank ACC very much.’ Obviously, the foster system of ACC has made kids regain confidence and warmth of family. Furthermore, children could learn how to take responsibility and obligation through group livelihood.

ACC not only provides children with abundant food and comfortable environment to keep them in good physical situation, but also stresses on their education. Consequently, ACC sets up Yuan Tong school in accordance with local African education system combines with Chinese and Buddhist teachings. We believe children will be able to carry on African culture, at the same time, absorb Chinese culture and wisdom of
Buddhism. That will make children sound in body and mind.

ACC does look forward to growing these children up healthily and strong and be independent. Thus they would be the seedlings to make kindness cycles to come off suffering of poverty, disease in Africa. It’s only a long-range program of education can change mind, change the world. Surely, escape suffering and attain
happiness, benefit ourselves and others.

Present and Future
Where African orphans are,
ACC will be there.
At present the Head Quarters of ACC, the Amitofo Charity Association, ACA in short, is located in South Africa. It overall plans operation and management for all ACCs in every African country.

Malawi ACC started adopting orphans in 2004. Lesotho ACC began taking care of children in 2010. Swaziland ACC opened in 2011 and lately in November 2015 ACC Namibia. There’re over 8000 orphans including our children and CBO ones, benefit by our ACC’s software and hardware. Every ACC comprises administration centers, houses, dormitories, Yung Tong secondary schools and primary schools, preschools, libraries, activity centers, religious centers, medical centers and vocational training centers, etc.

In addition to have a foothold on those 4 countries, ACC is looking forward to opening new centres in other countries of Africa. Mozambique ACC broke ground in 2012 ; meanwhile the second ACC in Malawi has begun the project in November 2014; along with South Africa ACC to be expected in 2016. At the same time, we also set up offices in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Germany, Australia ,and the United States of America etc. to facilitate our support and donations program.

We use wisdom of Buddhism and mundane phenomena to develop ACC which integrates western culture with eastern culture. We will take this kind of mode and experience to copy ACC to 54 countries in Africa. Look forward to every child from ACC will inherit essential African culture and wisdom to become the new
generation with gratitude and understanding cause and effect. Desert could change to oasis, hardship and suffering could gradually turn into pure land.

 

Here you will find the Original Flyer of ACC Germany in English