The Woza Moya Project was initiated in 2000, at the Buddhist Retreat Centre.
An HIV/AIDS community care and support Programme, situated in rural Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, providing services in the areas of Home Based Care, Orphan Intervention and Food Security.

The Dharmagiri Trust (namely Kittisaro and Thanissara, the guiding teachers at the Buddhist Retreat Centre) undertook to establish, guide and support the project. Louis and Chrisi van Loon ( the owners of the Buddhist Retreat Centre ) offered board and lodging at the center to project manager Sue Hedden. The launching of the project was made possible to a large extent by the The San Francisco Sangha and the Libra Foundation, from the UK.

Maxine Linnell, a therapist from the Karuna Institute in the UK, offered a counseling course for the volunteers at the beginning of 2002. This was a very special and enriching experience for all participants, many of whom continue to reflect on this process, still today.

We also received our certificate of registration from the Department of Social development from Pretoria and are now officially a non-profit organization. This should make it easier for potential donors to support our special projects.

In April 2002 Thanissara launched her poetry book, "Garden of the Midnight Rosary", in Durban, at Louis and Chrisi van Loon's home. Thanissara offered the evening as a benefit for the Woza Moya Crisis Support Fund. The evening was a great success with the proceeds going towards helping two children in the Chibini community, Mhlonishwa and Nonjabulo.

An annual event on the Woza Moya calendar is the yearly Christmas party for the children of Chibini hosted at the Buddhist Retreat Centre. To this hundreds of children turn up, along with the local dignitaries, the volunteers and many others. A BRC employee plays a warm and jovial Father Christmas giving gifts to all the delighted children.

Woza Moya Project
PO Box 847
Ixopo
3276
Kwazulu - Natal
South Africa
Tel: 039 - 834 0023
Fax: 039 - 834 0023
Cell: 072 1933 945
Email: wozamoyabrc@futurenet.co.za
Website: www.wozamoya.org.za

The sound of the rural zulu people praying and singing in the Ufafa region of Kwazulu-Natal has over the years touched many hearts. In November 2003 the Woza Moya Team came together to produce this CD in order to raise funds for their work in a community severely affected by the AIDS pandemic in South Africa.

All proceeds from this CD will go back into the project. Contact Sue Hedden for more information.