Gold is Purified by Fire
“Recently, in Belgrade, ACT Foundation celebrated 20 years of its existence, helping the underprivileged. ACT Foundation is active in 29 countries, supported by more than 450 volunteers who are providing food, relief work during global disasters and calamities, education, planting of fruit trees, etc, always providing aid directly into the hands of the aid recipients through its dedicated volunteers from Europe, South America, Asia…
The story of how the ACT Foundation (Ammucare Charitable Trust) came into existence has inspired and transformed numerous people across the globe, primarily thanks to its founder – P.K. Mohan. Mohan is originally from the south of India and with his dedication and incredible energy, with the idea that only by serving together can we change the world and make it a better place, he moved millions of people to join him in many volunteer-based actions in order to reach out to the hungry and vulnerable.
After a very tragic life event, P. K. Mohan experienced inner transformation that would turn his foundation into a global movement of kindness and selfless service to the world and turn him into a spiritual leader, known today as Mohanji.
The tragic event happened on August 23, 2000. On this fate-defining day, the four-year-old Ammu, Mohanji’s daughter, lost her life in a tragic road accident, setting off a chain reaction of grief and suffering. Shortly after this terrible loss, Mohanji found himself deprived of everything – his job, home, marriage, friends and material possessions.
It is often said that fire purifies gold. What emerged from this intense ordeal was a man stripped of all social notions, beliefs and identities. He turned inward and started to listen to the subtle, all-pervading, essential silence at the center of existence – his soul. There he discovered an endless source of unconditional love that became his main driving force.
Through the Ammucare Charitable Trust /ACT Foundation, Mohanji strived to provide access to basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, education and healthcare for those who need it the most, regardless of all man-made barriers such as nationality, religion, skin color, etc. His goal was to give every being the opportunity to lead a dignified life. And his mission crystalized into a movement to transform pain into a purpose, to support the suffering, hungry, all those who need help, so that everyone may follow the path of searching for and embracing divine grace.
On this newly found path, in 2007 in Dubai, Mohanji also met his wife, Biljana Radonić, originally from Slatina, Croatia, who first arrived to Serbia in the midst of the whirlwind of war, and later on found a job in Dubai. Since 2012, Biljana or Biba Mohan, known today as Devi Mohan, became involved in all aspects of ACT Foundation’s activities around the world, assuming the role of the Global President of ACT Foundation.
Aside from ACT, Mohanji has also established various other global platforms to enable people to express their compassion and kindness in unique ways – through dance, music, writing, yoga and even martial arts.
However, ACT Foundation holds a special place in his heart. This is because being kind, compassionate, and grateful doesn’t require any special talent—just an open heart full of love and gratitude.
“We firmly believe that every human being has the potential for greatness, regardless of their life circumstances.” Volunteering at ACT is an opportunity to offer the best of ourselves in selfless service and, through this service, to experience endless love that flows unconditionally. As volunteers, we feel grateful every day for the very privilege to serve. When you get the chance, do your best, give your best.” – Mohanji said recently in Belgrade, during the celebration two decades of ACT Foundation’s existence.
A Brief History of the ACT Foundation
ACT Foundation was established in Dubai, UAE in November 2003 under the leadership of Mohanji and the then ACT Chairman, Mr. Anand Nair.
Initial projects included disaster relief, such as the support of the victims of the earthquake in Bam, Iran, in 2003, the Asian tsunami in 2004, and the 2006 Lebanon war.
Since 2012, ACT has expanded its activities internationally, operating under the name ACT Foundation. While Ammucare Charitable Trust, ACT’s sister organization, remains active in India, ACT Foundation is expanding its activities all over the world. At the same time in 2012, the foundation was registered in South Africa, then in Great Britain, USA, thus slowly growing into a worldwide movement. Today ACT Foundation operates in 29 countries and is supported by over 450 volunteers, spreading positivity into lives of more than two million individuals.
“We serve with a Passion for Compassion” is ACT’s main motto. Through unwavering commitment and small steps, they have embraced the world. The five pillars of ACT – Food, Shelter, Education, Clothing and Environment – are the basis of foundation’s activity.
Another interesting fact about the ACT Foundation is that it is 100 percent volunteer-based, the food donated to people is exclusively vegan, and the help is always provided into the hands of the underprivileged, through dedicated volunteers.
Donations from 2020 to September 2023:
- Over 208,000 meals served
- 308,000 kg of food donated to people
- 54,000 kg of animal food
- 5,300 seedlings of various fruits planted
Latest ACT Projects at the Global Level:
In 2021, the “Disaster Relief” global team was formed – the goal of this team is a prompt and effective response in cases of global disasters and calamities, which implies direct assistance. The team carried out several significant actions: in Ukraine (ACT4Ukraine initiative) in 2022, support of the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco in 2023.
ACT4Ukraine initiative:
In cooperation with Mohanji International Foundation and ACT4Hunger platforms, ACT4Ukraine distributed more than 70 tons of humanitarian aid to internally displaced people in Ukraine. The main coordinator of the ACT4Ukraine project was the ACT UK team. In a short time, team members launched a humanitarian center in Dorohoi, Romania, near the border with Ukraine, to facilitate the distribution of aid. The focus was on basic necessities, but hygiene and dignity it provides was also not neglected. Shower cabins were installed, a washing machine was donated and a school kitchen was equipped in a local school housing internally displaced in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.
In addition to material aid, the Ukrainian people were also provided with emotional support through various workshops conducted by ACT volunteers: yoga, breathing techniques, Conscious Dancing and art workshops were conducted, and sports equipment was delivered.
English Helper language learning app:
In collaboration with the Nexos Communitarios, a non-profit organization in Peru, the ACT USA team launched an exceptional language learning app combined with basic classroom equipment to facilitate English education for 130 Peruvian students from underprivileged families. This program allows donors to sponsor English language lessons for one child for as little as $40 per entire year.
The ACT Foundation intends to implement this model of empowering education in other parts of the world as well.
ACT4Vision initiative:
Launched in Sri Lanka, this initiative provides basic medical consumables for cataract surgery to many underprivileged people. Just two months after it was launched in November 2022, 143 eye surgeries were performed, reaching a total of 640 surgeries by September 2023.
ACT4SriLanka: In response to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the ACT4SriLanka team established a Soup Kitchen for the local community in August 2022. This kitchen provides cooked vegan meals to those who cannot afford even one basic meal a day.
So far, the ACT4SriLanka team has served over 61,000 meals and intends to expand its activities.
Fruit Tree Plantation Movement:
In 2021, a global movement called “The Fruit Tree Plantation Drive” was born. Initiated by ACT’s founder, Mohanji, over 92,000 fruit and nut seedlings have been planted worldwide since the onset. As the team approaches the initial goal of 100,000 fruit trees, ACT Founder Mohanji has set a new goal – to plant one million fruit tree seedlings worldwide in the coming years.
The proper care of the seedlings planted by the volunteers is carefully ensured through partnerships with organizations that share ACT’s vision and commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
ACT initiatives in South America:
Three years ago, a project was launched in Peru to build greenhouses with reliable water sources for an indigenous Andean community. Located at the high altitude where traditional crops have difficulty in growing, these greenhouses are essential to the community’s survival. Aside from addressing nutritional deficiency, ACT provided a valuable dental care education to over 150 indigenous children near Lake Titicaca, emphasizing the importance of oral hygiene.
Brazil: In 2020, ACT volunteers supported the Yawanawa tribe, located in the Amazon rainforest, in order to help them during difficult times exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdown. Faced with reduced income and increased transportation costs, these indigenous guardians of the Amazon rainforest suddenly faced starvation.
ACT intervened by purchasing and delivering essential food and continues to support the Yawanawa tribe.”
And a small addition from my end – thank you dear Mohanji for gifting us this powerful platform for selfless service which has transformed so many lives of both, givers and receivers. It is an honor to serve under the banner of ACT Foundation.
With love,
Devi Mohan
Devi Mohan
Imamo toliko toga da podelimo sa vama
Pridruži se sledećem programu uživo ili online sa Devi ili zakaži isceljujuću sesiju.
Imamo toliko toga da podelimo sa vama
Pridruži se sledećem programu uživo ili online sa Devi ili zakaži isceljujuću sesiju.