"May I be the doctor and the medicine and may I be the nurse for all sick beings in the world until everyone is healed." Shantideva

The work of Heart of Asia

Heart of Asia is supporting the development of a local health care network that respects the traditions of the Tibetan people and suits the environmentally challenging conditions in the remote Himalayan areas where they live.

Heart of Asia is funding training courses in simple healthcare at Dzongsar Clinic for people from the communities they aim to help so that they, in turn, can train others. The aim is to provide a basic level of knowledge to allow the local people to take control of their healthcare themselves. Heart of Asia is setting up a small emergency fund which will pay for life-saving intervention that might be needed during childbirth. These funds will allow the transportation of mothers in distress or complicated labour to the hospital in Derge and will provide the means to pay for their care.

Heart of Asia is working very closely with the communities themselves to develop appropriate responses to the changing conditions they find themselves in. It is also building on the knowledge and networks they already have. Tibetan speaking volunteer midwives and health workers from the UK share their knowledge with people selected from the communities they aim to help.

How you can help:

Heart of Asia is in its early stages of development and particularly welcomes offers of voluntary work from Tibetan health professionals or Tibetan speaking health professionals.

Donate to The Heart of Asia.

For more information please contact:

Heart of Asia
Registered Charity: 1114708
The Old Swan
Alfrick, nr. Worcester
WR6 5HY
England

Telephone: 01886 832245
www.heartofasia.org

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ITBCI
The Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Cultural Institute

About The Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Cultural Institute

The Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Cultural Institute (ITBCI) School was established in 1954 by the Tibetan Lama, Dhardo Rimpoche, to provide a basic education for the children of some of the poorest Tibetan families.

‘People feel that life is short. Because of this, instead of working for others, they try to acquire wealth for themselves. If we live in this way we become isolated. Our lives become like bubbles on the surface of water. But people can be inspired by action. If they see something is happening they can start to give. If you work hard in the right way the effects will spread like light.’  Dhardo Rinpoche

The Aims of The Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Cultural Institute

ITBCI’s aim is to help preserve traditional Tibetan culture. As well as English and mathematics, the children learn the Tibetan language and traditional Tibetan drawing, music, and dance.

The Work of The Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Cultural Institute

Today more than two hundred children attend the school, including seventy boarders. Most are drawn from the local Tibetan refugee population but the school also provides places for children of other nationalities from particularly poor backgrounds.

As part of the schools programme to keep alive the traditional culture of Tibet, ITBCI is very much focused on the learning and performance of Tibetan music and dance. In 1961 the school introduced the Shes-Seng Zlos-Gar (Snow-Lion Cultural Performing Arts) programme.

The school’s first dance was the Snow Lion dance. The snow lion is the mythological animal that represents Tibet, the "Snowy Country." The school's cultural programmes have expanded to include performances incorporating the six-stringed lute, the hammer dasulmer, the drum and various traditional dances. Some of the graduates of the ITBCI school have gone on to tour in Europe with professional Tibetan dance groups.

Without the efforts of the Tibetans in India and institutions like the ITBCI School in Kalimpong, it is likely that the Tibetan language would have died out altogether.

Since 1982, the Karuna Trust has funded the ITBCI. The Karuna Trust strives to help oppressed people to develop the skills, dignity and confidence to transform their lives and take their rightful place in society.

Donate to the ITBCI through the Karuna Trust.

Donate to the Karuna Trust.

For more information please contact:

ITBCI School
Jampal Khalden
Bagdhara Road
P.O. Kalimpong - 734301
Darjeeling District
West Bengal
INDIA

Telephone: (03552) 55463
e-mail slg_itbci@sancharnet.in
www.itbci.org

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Nyma
Society for the support of Tibetans in Tibet

About Nyma

Nyma was founded in May 1997 and is committed to the country of Tibet and its people. Nyma activities are based on the principle of self-help.

In rural areas of Tibet there is almost no infrastructure, no bus connections to cities and almost no shops. Most people do not have any money to buy food. Barter transactions prevail. The villagers swap barley for yak meat from the Nomads. Life is extremely difficult. People in rural areas of Tibet survive by growing barley and potatoes, Some keep sheep, goats or yaks. Their diet consists of Tsampa (ground , roasted barley), butter tea and cooked potatoes which are often eaten cold for days on end because of the lack of fuel.

"Nyma" means "sun" and represents the beauty of the Tibetan Highlands and the innate energy of Tibetans.

The Aims of Nyma

• To provide education and vocational training for young people in the countryside
• To improve the health of the Tibetan people
• To establish income-generation projects for families in rural areas  through:
   - building greenhouses?
   - cultivating Tibetan medical herbs and vegetables?
   - weaving and sewing projects?
   - solar panels for country houses

The Work of Nyma

So far Nyma has been able to arrange sponsorships for 57 girls and 35 boys to attend school as a starting point for finding a job and a more self-determined life.

Another important aspect of their work is the re-establishment of Tibetan Traditional Medicine, which not only offers widespread health benefits but also contributes to improved living standards among people in rural areas.

Since 2001 Nyma’s work has been involved in supporting business start-up projects. Since spring 2002 village-cooperatives have been growing medical herbs used in Tibetan Traditional Medicine for self-medication and sale to pharmaceutical companies. Seven Greenhouses have been built in order to grow vegetables to improve the poor nutritional situation. Currently, 7-8 crops per year are possible.
All profits made are ploughed back into the communities. They improve living standards and can be re-invested, i. e. to buy oil presses or to build new greenhouses.

How you can help

Your contribution and support will have a real and positive effect on the quality of life and education of Tibetans and thus help to create the basis for a more self-determined life and a brighter future.

Donate to Nyma or sponsor a child.

For more information please contact:
Nyma e.V. c/o Sigrid Wagner
Lichtenrader Str. 59 Place: 12049 Berlin/Germany
Telephone:+49 30 - 621 21 79
info@nyma.de
www.nyma.de

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The Tibetan Children’s Village

About The Tibetan Children’s Village

The Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) is a registered, non-profit, charitable institution for the care and education of orphaned and destitute Tibetan children in exile.

As a result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet 100,000 refugees left Tibet in 1959 and followed His Holiness the Dalai Lama into exile. Among them were thousands of orphans and destitute children ravaged by war, hunger and the psychological devastation of losing their families, homes and country.

"The children are the seeds of the future Tibet."  His Holiness the Dalai Lama

With this in mind and out of concern for the suffering of so many children the Tibetan Children’s Village was formed.

The Mission of Tibetan Children's Villages (TCV) is to ensure that all Tibetan children under its care receive a sound education, a firm cultural identity and become self-reliant and contributing members of the Tibetan community and the world at large.

The Aims of Tibetan Children’s Village

• To provide parental care and love
• To develop a sound understanding of Tibetan identity and culture
• To develop character and moral values
• To provide effective modern and Tibetan education
• To provide child-centered learning atmosphere in the schools
• To provide environment for physical and intellectual growth
• To provide suitable and effective life and career guidance for social and citizenship skills

The Work of Tibetan Children’s Village

By mid 1970 TCV had expanded its work to different parts of India to include four Children’s Villages, five residential schools, eight day schools, ten day-care centres, a technical school and two youth hostels.

Today TCV takes care of 16,091 children in five children's villages, eight residential schools and five day schools dotted in different parts of India. Besides the above schools, they take care of nine day-care centres, run five vocational training centers and an out-reach program that caters to over 2500 children in different Tibetan settlements. In 2007 899 children were accepted into the TVC.

The Tibetan Children's Village recognises the enormous responsibility it bears for the destiny of Tibetan children and the Tibetan culture and for the goodwill of the thousands of its donors and friends around the world who have sustained it through all these years.

How you can help

Donate to the Tibetan's Children's Village

• Sponsor a child at £20 per month.
• Send donations towards the following projects :
      a) School Improvement
      b) Outreach Programmes
      c) Education Publication
      d) Specific Projects
      e) General fund - to be used where the need is greatest
       f) Medical Fund
      g) Scholarship Fund for Higher studies
      h) Emergency Fund
• Send used warm clothing for both children and adults.
• Tell a friend about the Tibetan Children's Villages.

For more information please contact:

Head Office - Tibetan Children’s Village
Dharamsala
Cantt. - 176216
Distt. Kangra
H.P. India

Tel: (91) 01892-221348,
Fax No: (91) 01892-221670
headoffice@tcv.org.in
www.tcv.org.in

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Tibet Foundation

About The Tibet Foundation

The Tibet Foundation is a London based charity that was established in 1985 which works towards supporting Tibetans in both Tibet and in different parts of the world.

The Aims of The Tibet Foundation

• To make widely available the works and thoughts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and to spread His message of peace and harmony
• To further the understanding of Tibetan Buddhism and culture and to work towards their continuity and preservation
• To help in the provision of a decent standard of education and healthcare for Tibetans
• To relieve poverty amongst Tibetans in exile and in Tibet

The Work of The Tibet Foundation

The Aid to Tibet programme empowers Tibetans in their homeland. With ethnic Tibetan staff, and no middle-men, the Tibet Foundation is able to directly reach some of the remotest and most needy people in Tibet. Aid to Tibet runs three types of project, covering education, healthcare, and development. These basic areas represent the greatest needs of the Tibetan People.

The Buddhism in Mongolia programme is currently managing a host of educational and publishing projects that attempt to address some of these issues. Projects are implemented to reflect conditions across the spectrum of the Buddhist and lay community in Mongolia. Tibet Foundation’s operating principal is to respond to requests from Mongolian Buddhists both monastic and lay rather than impose projects on them. Tibet Fouondation work with the main monastic and academic institutions in Mongolia to develop and then to implement projects. The programme reflects the Foundation’s aim to further the understanding of Tibetan Buddhism and culture and to work towards their continuity and preservation.

The Tibetans in Exile programme focuses on building a future for Tibetan refugees. It is run in co-operation with the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamasala. This allows The Tibet Foundation to ensure that the projects supported meet the greatest needs of the recipient communities. To provide long-term care they primarily operate "sponsorship" schemes building a bond between donors and the people they are helping.

The Art and Culture programme aims at bringing Tibet’s ancient wisdom to the west. It is working towards creating a greater awareness of Buddhism and Tibetan culture, and conveying the Dalai Lama’s message for peace and harmony. Tibet Foundation organises a comprehensive and varied programme of Tibetan Cultural events in the UK. They also have a series of collections of Tibetan art and artifacts to increase the awareness of Tibetan Culture in the West.

The Tibetan Medicine programme focuses on maintaining the traditions of Tibetan medicine. Traditional Tibetan Medicine is a unique and holistic medical system. Treatment includes the prescription of herbal pills prepared according to traditional medical texts and modifications to the patient's diet and behaviour. The effectiveness of Tibetan Medicine has been demonstrated in its simple treatment of complex long-term conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, jaundice and certain forms of cancer. Tibetan Medicine is actively practiced in the Tibetan communities in Tibet and overseas.

Donate to The Tibet Foundation.

For more information please contact:

Tibet Foundation
Registered charity (no. 292400)
2 St. James's Market
London
SW1Y 4SB
England
+44 (0)207 930 6001
Fax +44 207 930 6002

office@tibet-foundation.org
www.tibet-foundation.org

For further information contact tibet2008initiative@ntlworld.com

or telephone Mokshini: 01273 203638

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