Dec 10, 2017

Sing Tao Daily-African children perform Chinese martial arts to raise money for compatriots to break poverty

星島日報 – 非洲童表演中國武藝為同胞籌款冀破貧窮宿命

A charitable organization created by Master Huili-Amitofo Care Centre (ACC) held two fundraising performances for the first time in Australia on the 25th and 26th of this month for the "2017 Wish Africa Thanksgiving Tour" , 20 children from Africa performed singing and dancing and even traditional Chinese martial arts performances to thousands of spectators, to promote traditional Chinese culture and raise more than 60,000 yuan for ACC to benefit more African children.

ACC held two fundraising performances at Chatswood Zenith Theatre and Bankstown Sports Club on the 25th and 26th of this month. 20 people from Malawi and Lai, Africa The children of Lesotho performed singing, dancing and Shaolin Kungfu performances for thousands of spectators present.

Although this group of performers are young, at least seven years old, they are energetic and confident on stage, and they perform traditional Chinese martial arts with both physical and mental performance. Their first tour in Australia is even more ACC preparation. With a donation of 61,000 yuan, it can help more lonely and helpless children in Africa.

The founder, Master Hui Li, was shocked decades ago to learn that AIDS patients ravaged Africa. Many parents died of this terminal illness, causing countless children to lose their parents and become orphans since childhood. In addition, Africa lacks education and many children cannot escape poverty. Master Huili decided to open a hospital in Malawi in 2004, hoping to help children suffering from natural disasters, diseases, wars and poverty.

Venerable Hui Li then promoted the Buddhist spirit of Purdue sentient beings to Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia. So far, he has sponsored nearly 1,000 African children and has even managed the out-of-hospital relief station (CBO). In the care of orphans, ACC has taken care of more than 8,000 children in total.

ACC plans to open a fifth campus in Mozambique. It is currently awaiting approval from the local government and hopes to continue to establish preparatory offices in 54 African countries, including Kenya.

Allegedly, each ACC has facilities such as administrative center, orphan room, vocational volunteer dormitory, Yuantong middle and elementary school, kindergarten, library, activity center, religious center, medical center and vocational training center.

The academy founded by Master Huili is mainly vegetarian and uses Mandarin as a supplementary education to teach students about Shaolin Kungfu. He also instills Buddhist ideas in under-age students to promote Buddhist culture until the students mature at the age of 18. Free to choose your own path.

ACC has set up fund-raising units in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Australia, and the United States. It is hoped that the good people from all walks of life will give generously. (mountain)

由慧禮法師創辨的慈善組織──阿彌陀佛關懷中心(Amitofo Care Centre，簡稱ACC)本月25日和26日首度在澳洲舉辦兩場「2017年行願非洲感恩之旅」的籌款表演，20名來自非洲的兒童向在場過千名觀眾，進行唱歌跳舞甚至中國傳統武藝表演，藉此弘揚中國傳統文化，並為ACC籌得六萬多元，令更多非洲兒童受惠。

ACC本月25日和26日分別於車士活天頂劇場(Chatswood Zenith Theatre)和賓士鎮體育俱樂部(Bankstown Sports Club)舉行兩場籌款表演，20名來自非洲馬拉維(Malawi)及賴索托(Lesotho)的兒童，為在場過千名觀眾進行歌唱舞蹈和少林功夫表演。

雖然這班表演者年紀輕輕，最少的只有七歲，但他們在台上活力四射、充滿自信，將中國傳統武術演繹得形神兼備，他們首度在澳洲舉行的巡演，更為ACC籌得61,000元善款，能夠幫助非洲更多孤苦無依的兒童。

創辦人慧禮法師數十年前驚悉愛滋病患肆虐非洲，很多父母患上此絕症死亡，令無數兒童自幼喪失雙親淪為孤兒，加上非洲缺乏教育，很多兒童無法擺脫貧窮的宿命，因此慧禮法師決定於2004年在馬拉維開設院區，希望幫助受天災、疾病、戰亂和貧窮摧殘的兒童。

慧禮法師隨後將佛教普渡眾生精神推廣至賴索托(Lesotho)、斯威士蘭(Swaziland)和納米比亞(Namibia)，至今助養近1000名非洲兒童，連計院外部落救濟站(CBO)照顧的孤兒，ACC合共照顧了8000多名孩童。

ACC計劃於莫桑比克(Mozambique)開設第五間院區，目前正等候當地政府審批，並希望繼續在包括肯亞(Kenya)等54個非洲國家設立籌備處。

據稱，每座ACC均設有行政中心、孤兒房、職義工宿舍、圓通中、小學、幼稚園、圖書館、活動中心、宗教中心、醫療中心和職訓中心等設施。

慧禮法師創辦的院校以素食為主，以普通話作為輔助教育學童，並傳授他們少林功夫知識，亦向未成年學員灌輸佛教思想，藉以弘揚佛教文化，直至學員18歲心智成熟後，他們能夠自由選擇自己的路向。

ACC於中國內地、台灣、香港、南非、新加坡、馬來西亞、印尼、泰國、日本、澳洲和美國等設立募款單位，希望各界善長慷慨解囊。(山)