our projects

In 2009 we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Albagnano Centre. Several projects are ongoing to complete the work we started ten years ago and meet our objectives to create a point of reference, to illustrate the development of non formal education, a peace culture for psycho-physical wellbeing and show ways to integrate a spiritual life with the material one in an eco-sustainable environment :

Borobudur
Peace Culture Museum and Wisdom Planetarium

An imposing circular structure, situated about 100 meters from the main building, will become a Peace Culture Museum, representing the vital exchange between western and oriental spiritual cultures in upholding and spreading such values as respect, tollerance and inner peace as foundations for world peace. Inside the building, we have placed some large statues sculpted in lava stone by a Javanese artist in the Indonesian style of the Borobudur mandala, a Buddhist temple built in the eighth century. There will also be a conference room to host inter-religious meetings and other congresses.

The structure will also contain a Wisdom Planetarium reflecting positive scientific and humanitarian contributions to the spiritual world. Just as a planetarium usually shows the planets and constellations, all the religious and spiritual symbols will be represented on the dome. Each star will represent an organisation or an individual who has carried out a project for the benefit of humanity and the environment.

"Colonia"

AHMC has an ex-holiday home in Albagnano village. The project is to refurbish the building and transform three floors into a Wellness Centre with all comforts: massage rooms, sauna, Turkish bath, hydromassage, solarium, bar etc

Extension to the (ex-woodshed) holiday house

The house will be divided into a warehouse and handicrafts workshop on the ground floor and some guest bedrooms on the first floor.

Mini chalets

The project provides for eight mini chalets, about 25 sq.mt. each, following ecological building principles, without underground foundations, for guests of the Centre and for periods of retreat.

Agricultural produce laboratory (ex pigsty)

This is now an open roofed area which should be transformed into a laboratory for locally cultivated agricultural produce (chestnuts, wild fruits, vegetables)

"Golden Place" multifunctional building

This open structure of 200 sq.mt. with a volume of 1000 cubic meters needs to be rebuilt, in order to house activities for the disabled on the ground floor and some accommodation upstairs.

Handicrafts workshop

This is another open roofed area that can be transformed into an arts and handicrafts workshop. It has an area of 30 sq.mt and volume of 90 cubic meters.

Road from Albagnano to the Centre's carpark

A new road would assure links between Albagnano and the main road (in the past, a landslide blocked the only road).

Path through the woods

The project foresees preparing a pedestrian path through a suggestive pine and chestnut forest between Albagnano and the Centre.

Lama Gangchen Foundation Library

Specialist library of Tibetan Dharma texts, books and audio-visual material in several languages on the themes of peace and cultural spiritual evolution. The main aim of the library is to spread a culture of peace.

Chestnut cream - LÜ-SO SEM TSE project

Albagnano chestnuts, picked and transformed into a delicious cream - all the ingredients have organic produce certification. Through this project, the Centre's lands are tended and the local economy is revitalised.

School visits to AHMC

The Centre regularly hosts school children from the area, for an enriching experience of oriental spirituality. The children can take part in:

• artwork in the garden, painting peace flags and making terracotta vases;

• team games to learn how to overcome conflicts;

• watching slide shows and videos on oriental art and culture.

Visits include excursions on paths around Bée to find the ancient "coppelle" which are engravings dating from 2000 to 5000 years ago, testifying to lost cultures in the Alpine region.

The Peace and Healing Bell

The Bell was inaugurated on 22 April 2006 and Lama Gangchen composed a poem to celebrate the occasion:

Drilbu shi dei dra chen di No tse tham the shi je shog Ji si khor wa ma tong bar De si jam tsei drae khyab shog

Shi dei dra chen dril bu di Dung wai dra dang den thu yi Lu sem dug gnal shi je shog Khor yug noe tse shi je shog

Ji si khor wai khor lo di Ma tong de si sem chen kun Dza thun tang ngyom de ga dang Jam tsei dra yi kun khyab shog

May the sound of the bell of peace and happiness pacify all violence.
May the sound of love and compassion permeate samsara until it no longer holds any sentient beings.
By the sound of the bell of peace and love and by the power of the truth, may all sufferings of body and mind be pacified.
May all damage to the environment be pacified.
May all sentient beings reciprocate goodwill, harmony, equanimity, happiness and joy until samsara no longer holds them.
May the sound of love and compassion spread everywhere.