The Golden Sufi Center’s Annual Christmas Collection
For over forty years, each Christmas, we have asked members of our community to contribute to a collection for charities in India. The donated funds are divided between The Kiran Society, The Leprosy Rehabilitation Center (KKM), and The Heart of Asia. This annual collection originated from Mrs. Tweedie’s wish to give back to the country that offered so much to this path through Radha Mohan Lal (Bhai Sahib) and the many great Indian Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya Shaykh’s who form the golden chain at the heart of our tradition. If you have any questions about how to offer a donation to the annual Christmas Collection, please contact: In the UK: ukoffice@goldensufi.org, in Europe: euoffice@goldensufi.org, and in North America: contact@goldensufi.org.
KIRAN Society
The word KIRAN literally means “ray of light.” KIRAN Society is a non-profit, non-political organization working in an inclusive way for the holistic development of children and persons with and without disabilities, and from marginalized sections of the society so that they are able to take care of their social, physical, and spiritual needs and thereby become fully integrated into society.
Founded in 1990 by a small group of people from various social, cultural, and religious backgrounds, KIRAN Society has continued to work based on the idea of togetherness, enriching everyone’s talents and abilities. In 1994, KIRAN Society was registered under the Societies Registration Act. As the small rooms of the ashram in Nagwa were becoming too cramped and insufficient, planning began for the KIRAN Village. In 1998, the KIRAN Village was established in the village of Madhopur, where KIRAN Society found its new home.
KIRAN Foundation Switzerland, was founded in 2003. Through the Foundation, KIRAN has been able to find donors and supporters to provide many of the necessities to run the KIRAN Village and the KIRAN Society successfully in all of its endeavors. For additional information, please read the 2024-25 Annual Report.
KKM Handweaving
Dehradun, India
KKM Handweaving was established in the early 1960’s by Agnes, Mrs. Tweedie’s friend, to create self-sufficient settlements and community for lepers in India. They continue in their commitment to providing medical care, education, work, and self-reliance for the various KKM Handweaving Member communities. In recent years our contributions have assisted with much needed maintenance of older buildings, including adding solar power, hand-pumps for clean water, and telephone lines. Even simple computers have been installed, which are solar powered, and aid in tracking their production and shipping. One community wrote to say that this year their old cow died, and the KKM was able to provide money for a new cow, which has already started giving milk. Overall the member-workers are getting on in age and their capacity is limited, but they still wish to contribute to the handweaving work as is possible. Continuing their work aids in their self dignity, as it enables them to be self-earning. Our donations helped support their aging member-worker’s medical needs, and allows them to continue to work and support themselves as they are able. To see early photos of the founding of KKM with Agnes, please visit this blog.
Heart of Asia
Heart of Asia is a small, dynamic British charity, run entirely by volunteers, dedicated to providing much needed support for vulnerable communities in remote areas of Asia. Heart of Asia’s goal is to support vulnerable communities through working with, and empowering, local people. Among other things, we support two small orphanages, and we have funded simple accredited health care training in both Tibetan herbal and allopathic medicine, provided small medical emergency funds and distributed basic health care books and simple birth-packs. They work primarily in the environmentally challenging conditions of Derge County, Kandze Prefecture, Yushu and Nangchen in eastern Tibet. They also respond to needs in other Himalayan regions. Read more about Heart of Asia with this year’s newsletter and their photo gallery on Flikr.