Education Projects
Higher Education in Tibet: The Tibet Fund has supported more than 50 economically vulnerable Tibetan girls who could not afford the cost of higher education, both at technical schools in Tibet and at universities in Sichuan, Gansu, and Beijing. We also extended scholarships for two students undertaking a four-year course to become Tibetan medicine physicians in Xining.
Higher Education in the U.S.: With funding from the U.S. Department of State, we facilitated the journey of Tibetan students from Tibet to pursue higher education in the United States. Through the Ngawang Choephel Fellowship Program, a total of 96 students from Tibet received funding to study in various colleges and universities across the U.S. A notable collaboration between Qinghai Tibetan Medical College and three American universities—Johns Hopkins University, Brandeis University, and the University of Wisconsin—resulted in a context-based English language training program for 20 students in Qinghai. Subsequently, four top-performing students came to the U.S. for further studies. The Tibet Fund also administered two semesters of English language training at Qinghai Tibetan Medical College for 20 students, enabling seven students to embark on one-year certificate programs in English at various colleges and institutes in the U.S.
Language and Computer Training: The Tibet Fund played a pivotal role in founding an English Language Program in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in collaboration with the Lhasa-based Tibet Development Fund, and supported establishment of an English Language and Computer Training Skills Center at the Teacher Training Institute in Dhartsedo, Kham. We also supported 145 students to complete an English language program in Beijing. These efforts aimed to empower Tibetan students with employable skills for success in the evolving job market.
Healthcare Projects
Tibetan Medicine Factory: One of our early initiatives involved the establishment of a Tibetan medicine factory in Toelung Dechen. This facility produced a diverse range of Tibetan medicines, some of which gained access to international markets.
Jinpa Project: We provided support to the Jinpa Project, a local NGO which implemented projects in nomadic areas of Nangchen County, Yushul Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, including establishment of health clinics, health camps, and elder care initiatives.
Eye Care Program: The Tibet Fund made a grant of $180,000 to build the Lhasa Eye Center and acquire necessary equipment. Collaborating with Nepal’s Tilganga Eye Center and the Seva Foundation, we sponsored multiple surgical eye camps in Tibet. These camps conducted cataract removal operations for hundreds of Tibetans residing in remote areas. Furthermore, several Tibetan doctors underwent surgical training at the Tilganga Eye Center in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Seva Foundation played a crucial role in organizing seminars on “Blindness in Tibet,” both in Tibet and Kathmandu, facilitating knowledge exchange among medical professionals. Our grant also contributed to addressing cataract blindness in the Amdo region of Tibet, including procurement of new equipment for a 36-bed Cataract Treatment Center in Xining.
Orphanages
Numerous children endure personal tragedies or face harsh economic conditions, compelling parents to entrust their sons and daughters to the care of orphanages. Over the years, The Tibet Fund supported five orphanages homes and schools in Tibet. In 1999, we financed the construction of Chushul Orphanage Home near Lhasa, and supported its children to attend local primary, middle, and high schools. We supported Waka Orphanage in the eastern part of Tibet’s Karze region, which provided care and education for 30 children, and Sengcham Drukmo Girls Home in Tibet’s Golok region, which cared for 62 underprivileged girls. In 2016, The Tibet Fund supported construction of an orphanage in Derge County that cared for 30 children. The Tibet Fund also provided financial support to the Tibetan Home of Hope, an orphanage school in Amdo.
Yak Livestock Development
Yaks play a crucial role in Tibetan life, serving as a vital source of livelihood, sustenance, and wool for clothing. The Tibet Fund made grants totaling $168,000 to a yak wool processing facility in Machu County, Amdo, to increase nomad families’ income from wool, and to establish a revolving loan fund to purchase yak wool from nomads at fair prices. We also made a grant to the Damshung Yak Semen Station near Lhasa to advance yak semen research with state-of-the-art freezing technology including automatic water turbines and liquid nitrogen devices.
Snow Storm Relief
During the winter of 1995-1996, Tibet faced devastating snowstorms that resulted in substantial livestock losses and severely impacted the lives of thousands of Tibetans. Responding to the crisis, The Tibet Fund launched an emergency relief campaign, dispatching $402,000 to aid nomads in Yushul, Ngari, Nagchu, and Nyalam in rebuilding their herds.
Yushul Earthquake Relief
In April, 2010, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Jyekundo in Yushul Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, claiming the lives of 2,698 people and injuring an estimated 12,178. The Tibet Fund made a total of $122,875 in grants for both short-term emergency relief and long-term recovery efforts, including reconstruction of a flour mill and school and support for a microfinance program.
