FWBO Berlin purchases property for new Centre

Amogharatna, Chairman of the FWBO’s centre in Berlin, writes –

"This afternoon Satyasthira and I signed a contract on behalf of FWBO Berlin to purchase part of a building! This will become our new centre when we leave our current rented premises around the end of 2010.

"The premises are part of a larger development, involving the conversion of a former hospital into a mixed residential, commercial and social development. Our plans for the building include a large shrine room of 100m² with a high glass roof. There will be a second shrine room and a study room of 40m² each. Additionally there will be an office, a library, a bookshop and a kitchen. The premises are on the ground floor and accessible for the disabled. We will also have a very large basement for storage and toilets. It is well serviced by public transport, and is centrally located, close to the canal, where one can walk and enjoy a break from the bustle of the city.

"The hospital will continue to use the buildings until the end of the year, when it will start to leave in stages. Our building will be handed over in the middle of 2010. Currently it houses the X-Ray archive but formally it was the hospital kitchen. The renovation work will be completed by the end of 2010, if everything goes according to plan.

"It has taken us a long time to get this far with the project. In addition to the team of those involved directly, looking at and investigating countless buildings over several years, we would never have got this far had it not been for a generous donation of money many years ago, raised by the workers at Windhorse Trading (as it was then). So a very special "Thank you" to them! More recently Karunada has played a major role in engaging thoroughly with numerous legal complexities which the project has created. Without him, it is unlikely that we would have signed the contract today. SADHU KARUNADA!

"There will be much to do in the coming months, a lot of planning and organisational work as well as the inevitable fundraising to help pay back our considerable loans. I have no doubt that the efforts involved in pursuing our vision will be rewarded, when we finally have premises that do justice to our work of helping to make the Dharma more accessible to ever more people.

"With Metta from Berlin,

"Amogharatna

P.S. Attached are photos of
1. the building
2. Amogharatna and Satyasthira signing the contract
3. Some of those present at the signing of the contract: left to right: Michael Linsner, Satyasthira, Mokshasiddha, Herr Paterock (Solicitor for FWBO Berlin), Amogharatna, Frau Dr. Herwig (Solicitor for the Development Project), Frau Graetz (leader of the Development Project), and Karunada".