High Priority Projects for 2010
Tamdin and the TVP project coordinators spent several weeks during his September 2009 trip in Tibet to assess the need and feasibility of projects. After seeing the difference that we have made in the lives of Tibetans, we are motivated to help even more Tibetans in other villages. However, the most pressing and immediate needs that TVP has prioritized are as follows:
Yeshitso School is located in a remote village in Dagyab, Eastern Tibet and currently has approximately 35 students (age 7-14). About three years ago, the teacher of Yeshitso School had to leave to look for a different job; students stopped attending classes and the school building subsequently fell into ruin, as the villagers simply did not have money to keep this school in operation. However, local communities managed to gain support from the local government to rebuild the school, and community members agreed to support one teacher. TVP needs your financial support to fund an additional teacher and provide school supplies for one year. Cost: $4,050 annually or $340 monthly. Please learn more
Tokyishi School is in a small village located in the Minyag region of Kham, near Dartsedo. The teacher of this school also has had to leave to find another job (villagers were not able to pay the monthly stipend of $150). In September 2009, TVP had a benefit dinner, which raised $1,800 (among other projects) to support a teacher for one year. Now this village school is back in operation with 18 students and Yeshi Dolma, a 32-year Tibetan woman with 9-years teaching experience, is there as the new teacher. TVP would like to raise $2,250 (to supplement local funding) to continue to support Yeshi in 2010 and to provide additional support and resources, including adequate school supplies.
Tsechen Choeling Nunnery currently has 70 nuns and is located near Gaba village of Minyag, which is part of Kangding County in Ganzi, Tibet Autonomous Prefecture. As has been the tradition, nuns are primarily supported by their family members to study and practice Tibetan Buddhism. Sadly, many of the older teachers either have fled from Tibet or died. As a result, the young abbess of this nunnery is the only teacher and manager and she simply does not have time to teach on a daily basis. The nunnery would like to divide 70 nuns into two classes and needs a second teacher. In September 2009, Tsewang Dolker, a 50-year old Tibetan woman with 20 years teaching experience agreed to teach at the nunnery and TVP agreed to provide her monthly stipend and school supplies. Cost: $205 monthly or $2,450 annually.
Bata Village Clinic is operated by Dr. Pasang, a 32-year old Tibetan medical doctor in a small clinic. She lives in a tiny room next door to the clinic, never turns away any patients (she works around the clock), and earns the equivalent of $100 per month by selling medicine (someone similar to her in education and skills makes at least $300 per month). She treats about 5-10 patients per day most of whom are women and children.
TVP would like to raise $4020, to supplement local support, to fund the Bata Village medical program for one year. Dr. Pasang will continue to treat patients and organize a monthly health education workshop for Tibetan women with emphasis on women’s health, hygiene, and nutrition.
Self-Help Projects: While continuing to support ongoing medical and educational programs, TVP is taking the initiative to reduce donation dependency and promote self-sufficiency by supporting income-generating micro-enterprises. Our project wish list includes: (1) developing training manuals for village-based enterprises, (2) organizing business management training, (3) supporting handcraft apprenticeship and (4) providing small business loans. If you or someone else you know, (private or foundation) would be interested supporting one of these projects, TVP will be happy to provide detailed project information. Thank You.
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