Fr. Bento Neves Rodrigues:Providing a secure present and a promising future for the underprivileged children in Uttar Pradesh, IndiaEven with the number of laws for the protection of children in India, poverty, family conflicts and other challenges make difficult conditions for children in India. Children are victims and vulnerable to child poverty, child marriage, domestic violence, begging, forced labour, sexual violence, human trafficking and online exploitation.Deprived of their basic rights to development, protection, participation, and leisure, most of the ill-fated and abandoned children are forced to lead miserable lives.  It is against this backdrop that we encounter Fr. Agnel Balbhawan, a home for underprivileged children, in Uttar Pradesh, India.  Founded Read more about Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities Initiative- Gathering Stories (3)[…]

Ven. Bhikku Sanghasena:  Planting seeds of hope in the desert land of LadakhPart – 2 The Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), established by Ven. Bhikku Sanghasena in Ladakh has not lost sight of the primary goal of introducing Ladakhis to both the theory and practice of the Buddha’s teachings. In fact, the Dhamma or teachings is the foundation of the entire organization. Apart from all the humanitarian work undertaken by MIMC, Ven. Sanghasena also works in Nunneries where nuns and monks are given basic monastic spiritual training along with modern secular education.Ven. Sanghasena recognized the need to improve the status and impoverished living conditions of nuns in order to restore their Read more about Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities Initiative- Gathering Stories (2)[…]

Ven. Bhikku Sanghasena:  Planting seeds of hope in the desert land of LadakhPart – IVenerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, is a renowned religious leader of the Theravada Buddhist tradition and an esteemed member of Religions for Peace, India. He has been working relentlessly in the Himalayan mountainous region of Ladakh for the moral and spiritual development of the people residing in that area.In 1986, Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena founded the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) which is 12 km from Leh city, nestled at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,482.94 feet) above sea level, deep within the mighty Himalayan Mountains in Ladakh.  This region is a cold desert and its arid terrain experiences Read more about Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities Initiative- Gathering Stories (1)[…]