Christmas Fundraiser Benefits Africa and Tibet

Milano, Italy, December 31, 2015 (Newswire.com) - The Church of Scientology of Milan hosted the Association for Human Rights and Tolerance annual Human Rights Christmas Benefit Concert.

Included in the event was a presentation of the Association’s activities for 2015 and those planned for the near future, specifically those of two of its humanitarian projects—United for Africa, which builds schools in African villages, and United for Tibet, providing human rights projects for Tibetan refugee children in the Tibetan Children’s Villages in Dharmasala, India.

Concert proceeds will help fund construction of the next schools in Africa and provide renewed support for the Tibetan cause.

The concert featured a performance by the Oversea Orchestra, a 20-piece ensemble that has long captured the attention of the public with their unique repertoire.

The event was held in the Chapel of the new Church of Scientology of Milan, which held its grand opening October 31. The world’s largest Ideal Scientology Organization, the sleek and modern Milan Ideal Church, spans 104,000 square feet on 1.5 acres of land surrounding a more than 22,000-square-foot courtyard. Prominent in the extreme, the new Church stands on the city’s Fulvio Testi Avenue and looks out over Milan’s beloved North Park. The entire facility covers a full city block in the fast-emerging district of Bicocca.

The Milan Ideal Org stands as an alpha symbol that perfectly reflects the grandeur of the legendary city—a breathtaking example of style and purpose for Scientology Organizations in Italy and around the world. Elegant and timeless marble, dark millwork and polished stainless steel are accented throughout with red, reminiscent of the area’s famed Ducatis and Ferraris.

The facility features a full-service restaurant and café. The Milan Chapel is the largest of any Ideal Org to accommodate Sunday services and weddings, as well as a host of community-wide events open to members of all denominations.

Its expansive Public Information Center features displays containing more than 500 films presenting the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion and the life and legacy of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Information Center also offers a detailed overview of the many Church-sponsored humanitarian programs. These include a worldwide human rights education initiative; a far-reaching drug education, prevention and rehabilitation program; a global network of literacy and learning centers; and the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program, now representing the world’s largest independent relief force.

The Ideal Org of Milan further includes multiple seminar rooms and classrooms, in addition to an entire floor dedicated to Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling).

Scientologists on six continents partner with government agencies and nongovernmental organizations to bring about broad-scale awareness and implementation of the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the world's premier human rights document.