Projects in Tibet

According to the United Nations, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is poorer than Bangladesh, Angola and Rwanda. It is poverty, together with repression at the hands of the Chinese government, which has driven thousands of Tibetans to flee their homeland. But what of those who do not, or cannot, leave? Living conditions for many within the TAR are dismal; women and children particularly suffer from the absence of basic healthcare, poor sanitation and a largely non-existent education system.

A major aspect of Tibet Relief Fund’s work is to bring practical solutions to the peoples of the TAR, making day-to-day living bearable, safe and, ultimately, more productive.

CLEAN DRINKING WATER

When the rivers and streams where rural communities draw their water dry up, it is the young women and girls who must walk increasing distances to find other sources. Moreover, the water they collect is often contaminated with animal waste and villagers, especially the children, suffer frequent severe bouts of diarrhoea. In conjunction with the Swiss Red Cross, which has been working in Tibet since 1988, Tibet Relief Fund has helped to finance the installation of one hand pump in each household of the poorest villages. Delivering clean water directly into people’s homes reduces the incidence of disease, eases the burden on women and children and encourages communities to focus on their own health needs and improve levels of hygiene and cleanliness. Why not make a donation to Tibet Relief Fund and make some space in a Tibetan mother’s day.

EDUCATION

Many families in the TAR live a nomadic existence, many hours ride from the nearest school. Most are too poor to pay for textbooks and other school essentials. Torn between sending their children away to school and keeping them at home to help on the land, parents have traditionally preferred to save their money. Literacy rates in some regions are as low as 5%, but Tibetans are coming to recognise the benefits an education will bring their children in later life.

The challenge is to make school places much more widely available and accessible. Tibet Relief Fund sponsors a number of school projects in remoter parts of the TAR, including the Beehive School Project. With the help of TRF donations, the Beehive School has had a major rebuild. Money has been spent re-equipping the classrooms and recruiting staff. Now the school is making a real difference in children’s lives in one of the remotest areas of the world.

We have more projects inside Tibet, all of which need your ongoing support to keep up the good work.

17.05.2008. 08:55