Welfare Activities

"So long as millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense pays not the least heed to them."
~ Swami Vivekananda ~

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Nutritional Programme

The Ramakrishna Centre's Nutrition Programme, initiated by Swami Nischalananda in 1953, has played an important role in alleviating hunger and suffering, not only amongst children, but also adults in all communities. Working in the midst of impoverished communities and a wide range of organisations, the Programme has been able to reach the poor, destitute, unemployed, abused and disabled. The Centre and all the sub-centres and satsang groups are engaged in feeding programmes in their respective communties.

Feeding in and around disadvantaged communities is conducted by the Centre on a regular basis. On a weekly basis sandwiches, fresh fruits and vegetables are distributed in the greater Durban area. Further, cooked nutritious meals are served regularly in these areas. A monthly distribution of 1,25 tons of rice, 500 kg of dhall and 100 kg of salt is maintained by the Centre and supplemented with assorted vegetables and fruit, canned foods, basic grocery items, lentils etc. The following are beneficiaries of the Centre's Nutrition Programme:

• Abalindi Welfare Centre (incorporating the Abalindi Frail Care Centre, Orphanage and Crèche)
• Kwa Mashu Ekusizaneni Children's Home (a home that caters for orphans and children affected by the AIDS pandemic)
• Verulam Day & Pakco Frail Care Centre
• Dawncrest Primary School
• A M Moolla Spes Nova School
• Phoenix (a school for cerebral palsied children)
• Phoenix Alcoholic Rehabilitation Centre - Grocery hampers and a selection of vegetables are donated to the Home on a weekly basis
• Zimisele AIDS Centre - Kwa Mashu
• Ramakrishna eThembeni Home
• Thokomala Hospice Association - Effingham Heights
• Zion Congregational Church of S. A.
• Redcliff informal settlement - Verulam
• Welbedacht informal settlement - Chatsworth

Diwali Hampers

Food Hampers consisting of: rice, dhall, salt (both coarse and fine), cooking oil, canned foods, jam, dried beans, sugar and cake flour are distributed to over 1000 indigent families during Diwali. Several sub-centres and satsang groups of the Centre were provided with grocery to augment their own hampers for distribution in their respective areas. In addition to hampers, cooked meals are served to needy families.

Flood Relief

The Programme played a very important role in providing relief for victims of floods that occurred during November 1999 - January 2000. Over one ton of rice, toiletries, clothing and other necessities were distributed through several of our sub-centres and satsang groups, Community Police Fora, Red Cross, Child and Family Welfare societies and Non-Governmental Organisations.

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