COMMUNITY MATCHING GRANTS

The  Settlement Matching Grants Program strengthens the sustainability and well-being of Tibetan settlements in India and Nepal by encouraging Tibetans living overseas to invest in the development of their home communities.  Funds raised by Tibetans living overseas are matched by The Tibet Fund and the Central Tibetan Administration to support community-identified projects.
Workers stretch a line along a dirt residential street during road construction.
Matching grants help settlements improve infrastructure and quality of life through initiatives such as renovating community halls and daycare centers, upgrading elder homes, community centers, installing streetlights, repairing roads and footpaths and settlement boundary walls.
Person in a light kimono standing in a doorway, with a blurred room behind them.
“The Tibetan Settlement Matching Grant Program is one of the most meaningful initiatives for our community because it brings former and current residents together to address the most pressing needs. Before the road renovations, residents struggled to walk safely on uneven, rubble-filled roads with potholes, especially during the rainy season.
Today, with proper roads and pathways in place, we regularly see elderly residents freely walking around the camp during their morning and evening circumambulations, improving not only their physical health but also their mental and spiritual wellbeing. The project has also transformed daily life for children. Earlier, many children remained indoors, often spending most of their time on phones because the roads and pavements outside were unsafe for play. Now, children can safely run, ride bicycles, and move freely around the camp. Beyond improving infrastructure, the project has strengthened the community’s sense of connection, collective responsibility, and care for one another — perhaps the most meaningful outcome of all.”
— Ngawang Tenzin, Settlement Officer, Dekyi Larsoe Settlement, Bylakuppe