The Latest at Tibetan Village Project
October 2009: Khashirong Sanitation Project: In October, TVP organized a village-wide clean-up, built a waste bin, conducted educational awareness training, and installed signboards in an effort to improve sanitation. The project’s aim is to protect the environment and improve the health of 700 villagers, including children, in the Khashirong Village area of Kham, Tibet.
Among other issues, rubbish such as bottles, cans, plastic and cardboard, etc. that is discarded by tourists and the local people is everywhere. This causes many problems: (1) contaminated drinking water, (2) injured children (cuts and wounds from broken glass), (3) poisoned animals from eating rubbish, and (4) a polluted environment. There was no designated waste or recycle bin. Until recently, Tibet did not have bottles and plastics, and people simply do not understand the full impact of litter as we do in the West. This project cost about $5,000 and was generously funded by those that have contributed during our challenge grant earlier in the year. Please click to see photos and read more.
September 2009: Greenhouses for Tibetan Children: With your financial contributions, TVP has built two greenhouses (appx. 15 x 20 ft.) that are designed to combat malnutrition and provide fresh vegetables for 48 school children at Pa Lhakang Monastic Orphanage in Tagong, Kham. The greenhouses are built in partnership with two local single moms. They will grow vegetables, maintain the greenhouses, supply children at the school with fresh produce and sell surplus to generate income for themselves. Please click here to learn more.
July 2009: Mill House Project Completed: Nyanang village in Tibet needed a mill to grind Tsampa (roasted barley flour is a traditional staple). They had an old mill house that was just about to collapse and inside it had a non-functioning grindstone. In addition, the cold winter (-20F) causes water to freeze. Many of the 80 households or 500 villagers who relied on this mill ran out of their Tsampa, a roasted barley staple. The villagers with travel means managed to grind their Tsampa at another village.
With a generous challenge grant and those who helped to secure it, TVP was able to raise $3,500. The local villagers have provided in-kind support (a valued equivalent of $5,000) in the form of land and labor. Unexpectedly, some local Tibetans decided to donate what they had for the project. This allowed Nyanang Village to buy additional building materials to build a duplex instead of a single room for the mill. The villagers would like to use the extra space to produce cooking oil. TVP agreed to provide a small business loan and some training.
An Opportunity to Support: TVP would like to raise $3,700 for the Nyanang Village oil press project. The village leader will choose a ready, willing, and able family to run it as a business. Many villagers grow rapeseed, which produces cooking oil to use and sell. This loan will be paid back fully in two years and money will be loaned again to start another self-help project. Since 2008, TVP has provided small loans to start six motorbike repair shops, one tractor repair shop, and two convenience stores. Everyone has been making payments on time and no one has defaulted on their loans.
May 2009: First TVP team of 2009 to Tibet has just completed their 21 days trip to Central Tibet and second team has started their trip to Kham. In spite of travel restriction due to heightened political crackdown in Tibet, our team in Central Tibet (1) visited rural clinics to deliver more medical supplies, treat patients and assess progress and future needs; (2) met with project beneficiaries of newly built grind mill; and (3) distributed school supplies.
Second team (Sprit of Kham), is currently in Tagong, a Tibetan town in Kham where TVP supports an orphanage. Team will go on horse trekking, help to build a greenhouse (please read below as we need your help to build second greenhouse) and distribute more medical and school supplies. You welcome to read our itinerary and see photos of the area.
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