Tibet 2008

The distribution of aid to the villages in the Shigatse region began with the shopping carried out in Lhasa: winter jackets, sweaters, leather shoes, trainers, socks, caps, trousers, soap, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste were bought for each of the 2000 children who receive help. These items, difficult to find in the villages where there are no shops, are extremely precious to the families who often have no income whatsoever. All the shopping was loaded into trucks, driven to Shigatse and later delivered to the villages for distribution.

In Shigatse more shopping was carried out: exercise books, pens, ink and pencils, as well as sacks of flour and tsampa (ground barley). These basic foodstuffs allow the families in the villages to amplify the meagre harvests of this dry region that are often sufficient for only part of the year.

Before and during the distribution all the shopping was stored in Gangchen Monastery, since always a centre of aid for the local population.

Sponsored children were identified and photographed by volunteers of the Association under the Tibetan tent provided especially for this occasion; letters and photos from sponsors were eagerly received and translated into Tibetan by local volunteers. Many families also sent thank you letters to their sponsors – generally very simple – relying upon the village school-teachers and volunteers for the actual writing as most adults in these villages are illiterate as they have never had the chance to go to school.

All the children in the villages not already sponsored were photographed, family-by-family, and are now waiting for a benefactor.

In this region trees are rare and precious due to the altitude and extremely arid climate. The land is becoming increasingly less fertile and at risk from landslides as the soil has no protection from the erosion caused by the strong winds and scorching sunlight. Reforestation projects are already underway and this year thousands of trees were planted to form new green zones around Gangchen and Dakshu Villages.

Particularly important are programmes to encourage the cultivation of fruit and vegetables, with the necessary hydraulic systems; the lack of fresh produce in the diet causes many sicknesses caused by the lack of vitamins especially during the long winter months.
Last year greenhouses were built in the villages to grow vegetables, with wonderful results throughout the year and with a noticeable improvement in the diet of school children.
To help improve the agricultural yield in 2008 – requested by the local population – a small tractor was given to each village which can also be used to transport water, tools, provisions and even sick people in need of medical care. After an inauguration ceremony each head of village drove the tractor to their village.

Over the years many small dispensaries have been built in villages that were often completely without any kind of medical assistance.
Last year the Association built a new wing to the dispensary in the village of Nye – the most important medical structure of this area – with beds to offer hospitality to people either too sick or unable to travel and their families. In 2008 the dispensary received furniture, medical materials and solar panels to provide electricity.
Gangchen Monastery Dispensary is open to the local population of the villages: here works a doctor-monk who uses traditional Tibetan medicines to cure his patients. This dispensary has been restocked with the necessary medicines for the following year.

Monasteries have always been at the heart of the Tibetan culture and are centres of help for the local population. The Association offers help to many small monasteries allowing them in this way to provide basic necessities (food, clothes, shoes, blankets, mattresses, medicine) as well as to carry out building and maintenance work that is indispensible in the extreme Tibetan climate. Donations are assigned to the upkeep of the entire monastery and of all the monks, who often have to alternate between study and work; this year the monasteries of Poti, Riwo Choling, Nimo, Gangchen and Sed Gyued all received help.
The sponsored monks received letters and photographs from their sponsors, were photographed and wrote thank you letters, their gratitude for the help they receive is also present in their daily prayers. Nimo Monastery has been able to build new rooms this year.