Fo Guang Shan Invitied to “Gandhi Nivas’s Home”’s Annual Celebration

On 1st April, Venerable Abbess Manshin, NZ Minister of Corrections Judith Collins, Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy, NZ Police Superintendent John Tims and other police officers, althogether 60 people were invited to join “Gandhi Nivas’s Family”’s annual celebration.

“Gandhi Nivas’s Family” is a organisation that provides counselling and temporary shelter for men with a history of domestic violence offences. To this the event host Ms Ranja Patel explained that: “This is a facility of counselling and rehabilitation in South Auckland and not a hotel.” This organisation currently provide free services from 13 volunteers covering 13 different languages that can help people until they are rehabilitated from their bad habits and broken through the cycle of violence. Ms Patel also thanked the support from NZ Police.

Minister Collins praised Gandhi Nivas’s achievement and Ms Ranja Patel for her perseverance. She hope there will be more achievement in the future where organisation do not just care for victims but also remember to help rehabilitate offenders, therefore leading to social harmony.

Superintendent John Tims also awarded a medal of merit to Ms Patel for her and her organisation’s contributions.