Khashirong Sanitation Project
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Tamdin and Don with Kashirong trainees |
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, 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.
Khashirong villagers are farmers and semi-nomadic. The villagers explore income generating options to supplement their farm income by harvesting medicinal herbs, doing construction work, and selling handcrafts. In 2007, the Chinese Tourism Bureau declared the local lake, (Lake Lotus – the most beautiful and sacred lake in the area) as a tourist destination, and has built a guesthouse. In addition, a new forestry bureau office is being built. This already has brought more litter and raises concerns of potential impact on the villager’s traditional way of life.
This project cost approximately $5,000 and was generously funded by those that have contributed during our challenge grant in early 2009. TVP would like to thank everyone who helped to make this happen. Anyone who would like to visit this community and other areas in Kham with Tibetan Village Project, can visit our website: www.ConsciousJourneys.org to learn more.
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