zôh-ˆû-fïzå- ü The Tibet Fund

Transcription

1 zôh-ˆû-fïzå- ü The Tibet Fund Annual Report 2005

2 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT As we approach our 25 th Anniversary of service, The Tibet Fund continues to work hard to help improve the health, economic status and living conditions of thousands of Tibetans in exile and in Tibet. We have provided funds for health and education programs, helped develop communities, build homes, clinics and schools, helped provide safe drinking water in Tibetan settlements and supported projects to promote and preserve Tibet s unique cultural and religious traditions. None of our work would have been possible without the many generous donations from foundations and individual supporters, the unselfish dedication of our friends, and major funding from the US State Department s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. On behalf of all of us at The Tibet Fund, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you. I would also like to express our deep gratitude to the United States Congress and Administration, whose continued support and belief in our mission has provided critical support to our efforts to help the Tibetan people in Tibet and in our refugee communities. We are pleased to provide you with this 2005 Annual Report and we look forward to updating you on the many exciting and crucial projects we are working on in the year Sincerely, Rinchen Dharlo President TIBET FUND

3 INTRODUCTION The Tibet Fund is a non-profit organization based in New York City, USA, dedicated to helping Tibetans and supporting and strengthening Tibetan communities in exile through programs in health, education, economic and community development. Since its founding in 1981, with the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibet Fund has grown into the principle fund- raising organization for the Tibetan people, both in exile and inside Tibet. MISSION The Tibet Fund s primary mission is the preservation of the distinct cultural, religious and national identity of the Tibetan people. It advances this mission by advocating international assistance on behalf of the Tibetan people and administers grants for projects that: Support and strengthen Tibetan refugee communities in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Offer scholarships and cultural exchange programs to Tibetan students. Support health, education and small economic development projects inside Tibet. Promote the growth of sister organizations designed to address the identified needs of the Tibetan people. ACTIVITIES IN 2005 The Tibet Fund s activities remained focused on the priority areas of: Assistance for new refugees Health projects in Tibetan communities Education for Tibetan students Community and Economic Development Religious and Cultural Affairs Research Publishing Projects inside Tibet through the Khawachen Assistance Program 1. ASSISTANCE FOR NEW REFUGEES Each year an average of 3,200 new refugees arrive from Tibet. They are met first at a refugee reception center in Kathmandu, Nepal where they are provided with food, lodging, medical care and a chance to rest and recuperate until arrangements are made for them to travel to India for settlement. From Kathmandu, the majority of refugees travel to Dharamsala, India by way of New Delhi. After resting at the Delhi reception center, they travel to Dharamsala where they receive temporary housing and continue to receive medical care and rehabilitation services as needed. No. of new refugees who arrive from Tibet each year Year HEALTH In the fiscal year , The Tibet Fund provided $673,500 from the U.S. State Department s Humanitarian Assistance (HA) grant to support the three refugee reception centers in Kathmandu, New Delhi and Dharamsala. In fiscal year , The Tibet Fund provided $635,800 from the U.S. State Department s Humanitarian Assistance (HA) grant to support health services for Tibetans in exile through the Department of Health in Dharamsala, India. Services included: 1. TB control/leprosy/disabled Services 2. Maternal and Child Health/ Immunization 3. Water/Sanitation, including safe drinking water projects and the construction of toilets and septic tanks in numerous settlements 4. Hospitalization 5. Prosthetics 6. Health Training 7. Reproductive Health 8. Essential Drugs; and 9. Provision of vehicles, including ambulances for the delivery of health services. 3. EDUCATION No The Tibet Fund works closely with the Central Tibetan Administration s (CTA) Department of Education (DOE) in Dharamsala, the Tibetan Children s Village (TCV) and the Tibetan Homes Foundation to help educate and care for over 54,000 Tibetan children in exile. In fiscal year 2005, The Tibet Fund provided assistance to the following educational projects: A. Support for Education of New Refugees The amount of $654,700 from the U.S. State Department s Humanitarian Assistance (HA) grant went to support education for new refugees. The majority of new refugees from Tibet arrive with limited education and no formal training in Tibetan language and culture. Few if any of these new arrivals have adequate skills to earn a living in their new

4 environment. The Tibet Fund helped establish and continues to provide funding for two special schools, the Tibetan Children s Village (TCV) School in Bir and the Transit School at Sogar in Dharamsala to help educate and train new refugees. Last year the above funding supported 800 new refugee students at the TCV School at Bir, 770 new refugee students at the Transit School at Sogar and at the Tibetan Homes Foundation in Mussoorie and in-service teacher training programs through the Department of Education in Dharamsala. Aside from providing education towards durable livelihood skills, the two schools in Bir and Dharamsala serve as an extension of the reception centers for new refugees. Together, they have produced over 3,000 graduates in the past five years. B. Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP) The Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP) was started in 1988 when the US Congress approved Fulbright support for Tibetan refugee students and professionals. Since that time, with funding from the US State Department, the TSP has brought 282 Tibetan students to the US to receive higher education in some of America s most prestigious educational institution, including University of Massachusetts, UC Berkeley, Brandeis University, Cornell University, Columbia University, Emory University, Harvard University and Yale University. Upon completion of their studies, the great majority of these students have returned home to assume positions of leadership and responsibility within the Tibetan refugee communities and Offices of Tibet abroad. Each year the TSP supports 25 Tibetan students. In 2005, ten TSP students received two-year Master s degrees, five students received one-year certificates and 15 new students arrived in August. In the fiscal year , The Tibet Fund received a total grant of $600,000 from the U.S. State Department s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to support the Tibetan Scholarship Program. C. Tibetan Sponsorship Program: The Tibetan Sponsorship Program seeks sponsorships from individuals for students, monks and nuns in exile communities. In 2005, the Program raised a total of $278, including $189, for students at the Tibetan Children s Village, the Tibetan Homes Foundation and DOEadministered schools and $89,204 for monks and nuns at religious institutions throughout India and Nepal. All donations are sent directly to India with no deductions taken by the Tibet Fund for administrative costs. 4. COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Most of the Tibet Fund s community development assistance was in coordination with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). In that light, key community development funding was directed to requests for funding from Hon. Kalon Samdhong Rinpoche for implementation of the Third Integrated Development Plan (IDP-111) developed by the CTA. (see for full IDP-111 text) In response to the IDP-111, in 2005 we raised a total of $257, to fund the following prioritized projects selected by Kalon Samdong Rinpoche: A. For building infrastructure and construction of housing and other buildings Construction of new housing for 52 Tibetan Refugee families in Dalhousie, India $77, Building renovation of the Institute for Small Trade Learning, Neela Mangala, South India $10, Towards construction of housing for Tibetan retirees in Dikyi Ling Settlement, Dehradun, India $11, Construction of a bridge-way at Khasoda camp in Orrisa, India $5, Construction of bridge-way at Tibetan Refugee Settlement at Miao, Arunachal Pradesh $5, Construction of E Block Retaining Wall at Tibetan Self Help Center, Simla, India $4, Renovation and refurnishing New Model School building at Gamroo Village, Dharamsala $10,000.00

5 Community Store Building at Jampa Ling Tibetan Settlement, Helitar, Nepal $8, C. Transportation Purchase of a bus to transport vocational trainees of the Institute for Small Trade Learning, Nilaman Mangala, India $20, D. Income Generation projects Support Organic Crop Demonstration and Training of Farmers in 13 Settlements in India $20, Renovation of Ngoenga School for Tibetan Handicapped Children, Dehra Dun, India $15, Renovation of Handicraft Building at Kamrao Tibetan Refugee Settlement, India $1, Construction of Clinic at Miao Tibetan Settlement, India $17, Construction of Doctor s quarters, Miao Tibetan Settlement, India $6, Construction of two ponds at Tibetan Refugee Settlement, Paro, Bhutan $3, Two flour mills each for Karshe, Bodshe & Jigshe and bridge construction at Lhongtso in Bhutan $5, Construction of green houses for vegetable farming at Sonada Tibetan Settlement, Darjeeling $8, For supporting organic farming projects in Doegu Yougayling Tibetan Settlement, Herbertpu $8, Total: $257, E. Other Assistance Additional Support for Tsering Elders Home, Kathmandu, Nepal $7, Funding for Ladakh Changthang Nomads relief assistance $4, Towards operating expenses of New York Tibetan Alliance $5, Total: $16, F. Religious and Cultural Affairs B. Training Beautician training project at the Institute for Small Trade Learning, Neela Mangala, India $6, Establishing a multimedia unit and computer training project at the Institute for Small Trade, Neela Mangala, South India $11, To produce 200 DVDs of the Lama Mani Film $1, Donation to the Tibetan Cultural Center, Bloomington, Indiana $40, To archive Tibetan and Buddhist-related films to make them publicly accessible $10, Total: $51,366.91

6 G. Publishing For publication of 500 books on Women of Tibet $1, PROJECTS INSIDE TIBET The Khawachen Assistance Program (KAP) provides assistance inside Tibet for projects in education, health, economic development, English language and computer skills training, and support of orphans. In 2005, KAP spent a total of $247, for various projects in Tibet and China. This includes $157, for the Scholarship Program in the USA. Details are as follows: a. Scholarship Program in the USA: In 2005 through a grant from the Office of Citizens Exchanges, KAP brought 9 students from Tibet to study in the United States. b. Beijing English Language Program: KAP provided funding for 23 new students to study English at the Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing English Language Center. c. Dhartsedo English Language, Computer Skills and Tourism Program: In September 2005, KAP funded 30 students to study English language, computer skills and tourism management in this program. A grant application has been submitted to Winrock International to support this program for a period of one year. d. Chushul Orphanage: In 2005, there were 25 orphans. In addition to support for its maintenance, KAP provided $24,165 (not including $18,000 in year 2004) for renovations to the home and environmental improvement. The renovation work is completed. GENERATING FUNDING: THE BLUE BOOK PROJECT The Tibetan Solidarity Alliance project (also known as the Blue Book Project) was started to raise much-needed funds to support the work of the Central Tibetan Administration and to further the visions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In addition to promoting this project on our website ( we send periodic solicitation letters to some of Tibet Fund s long- standing, dedicated donors. We have raised a total of $269, since we started this project in The Blue Book Project raised a total of $12, in The entire amount has been transferred to His Holiness the Dalai Lama s Charitable Trust in India. The majority of the donations came from new members who learned about the project through the Tibet Fund s website which was revamped in EARMARKED FUNDING: The Tibet Fund received a total of $1,228, in 2005 for disbursement for the following projects: To support Axis Mundi Foundation s Saving the Reindeer People s Sacred Forest in Mongolia; To the Center for Tibetan and Himalayan Studies of Dehradun for an International Conference; For Kunphen, an NGO in Dharamsala, for their HIV/ AIDS project; To assist Professor Glenn Mullen s Cultural Rejuvenation and Preservation Project in Mongolia build a temple and residence for women students and help the Zanabazaar National Fine Arts Museum bring an art exhibit to the US; Support the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) to host the International Network of Engaged Buddhists in Bangkok; For CTA s Kashag (or cabinet) to convene two task force meetings in India; For the Kashag to prepare documents by International Legal Experts; For DIIR s seminar on China s Law on National Regional Autonomy: Theory & Practice in Tibet; For 4th World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet in Edinburgh; For the support of various projects including monasteries and schools in India;

7 For sponsoring monks and nuns at Thubten Choeling Monastery in Nepal; To support the Gutso Hospital Foundation in Nepal for their health-related work in Tibet; For general support of Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, Tibetan Children s Village, Delek Hospital, Nuns Project, Ngoenga School, Chuwar Dopheling, Tsering Elders Home, Department of Religion and Department of Home. OTHER: Houston Symposium To help commemorate The Tibet Fund s 25th. Anniversary, board member Gail Gross and her husband Jenard Gross chaired a symposium, a fund-raising dinner and a reception in Houston, Texas on September 21, This event raised a total of $429,408 for the Tibet Fund. After deducting expenses of $104, there was a balance of $324, Our thanks go to the hard work of Gail, Jenard and her friends in Houston as well as other board members who have made generous contributions to this event. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Tibet Fund would like to thank the American people and the U.S. State Department s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs and Office of Citizen Exchanges for the Humanitarian Assistance grants and scholarships, which enable us to help Tibetan refugees improve their lives. We also thank the foundations and individual supporters who have generously supported our work in the Tibetan exile communities and in Tibet. TIBET FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Mickey Lemle, Chairman Ms. Jessica Brackman, Director Mrs. Pema Chagzoetsang, Director Mr. Shep Gordon, Director Dr. Gail Gross, Director Ms. Tenzin Chodon Gyatso, Director Ms. Barbara Hines, Director Ms. Susan M. Holgate, Director Mr. Geoffrey Menin, Director Ms. Champa Weinreb, Director Mr. Rinchen Dharlo, President (ex officio) OFFICE STAFF: Mr. Rinchen Dharlo, President Mr. Tenzing Chhodak, Treasurer Mr. Tenzing Choephel, TSP Program Coordinator Ms. Yangzom, Administrative Assistant Ms. Tsering Yangdon, Part-Time The Tibet Fund s projects are wide ranging, with the ultimate goal of helping Tibetans in exile and inside Tibet to preserve their culture and national identify and become self-sufficient. Please help us to continue with this important work by making a donation to: THE TIBET FUND 241 East 32nd Street New York, NY Phone: (212) Fax: (212) tibetfund@tibetfund.org Website: The Tibet Fund is a non profit 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. Accordingly, all contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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