The World Maitreya Karuna Foundation (WMKF) was inaugurated by Geshe Tenzin Demchok in 2002 and has received the blessing of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The main branches of this foundation are located in India, the USA, Japan and now Australia with the opening of the World Maitreya Karuna Foundation Australia (WMKFA) in 2009, at Byron Bay, NSW. Geshe Tenzin Demchok is the president of this foundation in Australia and worldwide. The WMKF's main objective is in helping people who are suffering through poverty, sickness, distress and general misfortune. To assist these people the foundation focuses on three main goals. Firstly, the WMKF aims to bring people of different religions and beliefs together as one and promotes world peace. Secondly, the foundation attempts to preserve various cultural heritages and endangered cultures throughout the world. Thirdly, the WMKF directly assists the poor who are often sick, suffering and in a helpless state. The World Maitreya Karuna Foundation Australia (WMKFA) has been created as the official foundation and representative office in Australia for the WMKF. In line with the objectives of the foundation worldwide, the WMKFA chooses to help people to find relief from poverty, sickness, suffering and general helplessness.
This includes many Tibetans in Australia who are refugees after arriving from Tibet. The foundation is also focused on supporting poor Tibetan monks from the Dakpa Khangtsen Drepung Loseling Monastery near Mundgod in the state of Karnataka, South India. Geshe Tenzin Demchok is the head lama of this monastery and is responsible for these monks.
The WMKFA has plans to establish a base for the foundation in the Byron Bay region of NSW, Australia through the building of a Tibetan monastery and spiritual centre, where people will be able to visit or in the case of poor Tibetan monks a place where they can live. This monastery and centre will enable the foundation to further support people that are refugees in Australia.
The World Maitreya Karuna Foundation and Geshe Tenzin Demchok have demonstrated great progress in achieving these goals and have received worldwide recognition for the assistance that the foundation has given to all people suffering from poverty and oppression. People of all societies and cultures are wholeheartedly invited to join the foundation in bringing about positive changes amongst themselves and others.