The Ramakrishna Centre Of South Africa
This centre, which has its headquarters at Belur Math, West Bengal, India, offers a number of spiritual and welfare services and apart from spreading a universal message of peace and harmony, it makes a huge contribution to the upliftment of disadvantaged communities via outreach programmes such as medical services, poverty alleviation through nutrition, skills development, women empowerment, youth resource development, educational services, HIV/Aids shelters and the free distribution of value-based literature. So apart from taking care of the wellbeing of its congregation, the centre is a beacon of hope! Here are just some of the ways in which they are making a difference:
Poverty alleviation and nutrition
The centre assists families suffering due to economic constraints and unforeseen circumstances (with, for example, grocery hampers, education and uniforms for children, and medical and legal services).
Medical assistance
Their free community medical clinics all over the province has for instance seen that 3 595 were treated in 2016 (at an estimated value of R2 548 580).
Teaching Hinduism for children:
Weekly value-based classes are held at the centre and its branches. These classes – for pre-school and schoolgoing learners – are part of a structured course that entails studying prescribed text and chanting verses from the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures.
Education in life-building and human excellence:
Swami Vivekananda wanted to provide education that would enable people to stand on their own two feet and provide for themselves – referring to this as ‘life-building, man-making, character-making and nation-building’. With this aim in mind, the Swami Vivekananda Centre for Human Excellence was developed. Here, students are taught to raise up to higher levels of self-confidence and self-reliance to attain human excellence, peace and spiritual growth.
