Education
Project
Education in Rural Tibet: Education has long been an area of major concern for all of us at TVP. Rural areas of Tibet have very low literacy rates and a large portion of the people in rural communities where TVP serves have never had the opportunity to achieve a formal education. Most rural Tibetans make their livelihood through farming which is still done, for the most part, using the same methods that have existed in the region for thousands of years. Children are needed to work the farm with their parents to ensure their families survival and, unfortunately, this means that education is left to take the back seat. The condition of schools and their staffing is also another big problem. Supplies are always running low and there are often not even enough desks and children are forced to stand in the back of the classroom. Rural Tibetan schools have difficulty finding enough funding to pay their teachers salary. As a result, schools are understaffed, and teachers are often transitory or temporary and not very well educated themselves.
According to Chinese policy, all children are required to have at least nine years of compulsory education. This covers children for their primary and middle school education. Any further education such as high school and college must be paid for by the student or their families or students must work to attain scholarships.
Past Efforts: Initially, TVP focused on creating more rural schools. It built a new school in 2003 which educated about 95 children.Since then, TVP has shifted its focus towards supporting schools that are already built but are having difficulty staying in operation due to a lack of resources, including funds. Thus, approximately 1,200 students, including orphans, in 10 different schools have benefited from 2001 to 2008 with the donation of school supplies, warm blankets and clothes, textbooks, and supplemental food.
Our Current Focus
- 1. Greenhouses: In an effort to combat malnutrition problems, TVP has built seven greenhouses that provide food, promotes healthier diet and generates income with surplus vegetables from high yield season. Click here to learn more
2. Teachers' Stipend: TVP currently support about teachers from several schools in Kham and Central Tibet by providing stipends to school teachers on a yearly basis to ensure that the students will benefit from knowledgeable and more permanent teachers.
3. School Supplies: TVP continue to provide much needed school supplies, warm coats and blankets to 4-6 schools. Most of the school supply distribution and its fundraising activities are undertaken by volunteers who travel to Tibet on Conscious Journeys. Click here to learn more
- 4. Scholarships: Kham Aid Foundation has closed its operation as of 2011 and the scholarship program with about 29 students from colleges, high schools and vocational schools now being transterred to Tibetan Village Project. In addition, TVP began to provide scholarship to 24 college students who lost their parents and support system due to devastating Yushu earthquake of April 2010. If you are a Kham Aid Foundation's sponsor, you welcome to visit their website to learn more about their program. Click here
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