Karuna-Shechen Summer 2011 Newsletter
Revised Karuna-Shechen Website
Karuna-Shechen’s award-winning website has been revised to include easier navigation tools, new projects, factsheets, and photos. Our illustrated 2010 Annual Report as well as previous reports can also be found on the site (under Reports). Please refer to www.karuna-shechen.org throughout the year for news and updates.
We have good news about our work in Tibet. For almost a decade, Karuna-Shechen has been supporting over eighty elderly people in diverse locations throughout eastern Tibet. The government has recently built nice cozy new quarters for them in one settlement we assist. We will continue to supply them with extra food, clothing, and medical care as needed.
The support we were able to provide for the victims of the Yushu earthquake last winter was extremely helpful and life saving. Over 400 unsupported families and individuals were given necessities to survive the long winter. Many people are living in tents and living conditions are difficult especially for the elderly and children. We are encouraging outreach programs on sanitation, basic health, and a clean environment. This valuable work will be continued throughout the winter. Contact us for news about education and health in Tibet.
Bringing Education to the Humla Region of Nepal
Karuna-Shechen is partnering with the Himalayan Children’s Society (HCS) to bring education to children in the mountainous region of Humla in northwestern Nepal. There is only one government school that offers primary and secondary education to children from twelve villages scattered throughout the remote region.
Young children from this area are often sent to cities to go to school creating risky situations and a void in the region. Far from home they are subject to violence, abuse and the risk of child trafficking. Therefore there is an urgent need to expand educational facilities in this area.
Humla is at an elevation of 3,500m and it is a three-day walk to reach the nearest town. Out of Nepal’s 75 districts, Humla ranks 73rd on the poverty index and for the empowerment of women. There are no other foreign NGOs working in this area.The number of children wanting an education (especially girls) has increased. To accommodate this need the boarding facilities and classrooms need to be extended. Through K-S’s participation, one hundred more children will be able to receive an education.
The Rotary de Resnais in Belgium has generously offered to pay the tuition fees for the additional 100 students and for some of the construction and furnishings for the hostel. Funds are still needed to complete this vital project:
Hostel extension ($52,000) Six new classrooms ($27,800) Kitchen and dining room ($24,400)
Letter from a University Student in Tibet
(Written to a key member of the Karuna-Shechen Tibet team.)
Dear kind friend,
As you know I’m from Qinghai province. Now I’m a sophomore in a university for nationalities. I grew up with two brothers in a simple family. We all grew up under the care and love of our grandmother and mother because our father was lost in a strong storm and lighting when I was just eight years old. From that day on, my mother and my older brother provided all of our life’s goods. My brother gave up his dreams for an education.
For a normal family like ours to send two children to college is really difficult and we can say that is a miracle. A farmer family can barely maintain their own life, let along provide for two college students.
Now, because of the help we received through you, my brother and I are college students. Our mother would have been unable to send us to college because it would have been an intolerable financial burden for her.
Meeting you must be a result of my last life’s accumulated merit. Because of your help my mothers’ burden is lifted, my life path has been changed, and I have a chance to get an education. Without your help I would not be able to go to school. Because of your help, I now firmly believe my future will be better. Because of your help, although it was material, my mind and heart are helped and happy. I will grasp this opportunity and will do my best and won’t let you and my family down.
I would like to take this opportunity to send you my most sincere wishes that you and the good people of Karuna-Shechen have a healthy and wonderful life.
Faithfully yours! Pema Gyamtso
Pema is one of many students who Karuna-Shechen helps to attend higher education facilities within Tibet. Please consider joining our efforts to support these young students.
Update on Grandmother Solar Engineers in India
Our five Indian grandmothers (see the spring 2011 newsletter) have returned to the villages and have brought electricity to 150 homes in three villages. They have set up small workshop to make and repair solar panels in the village.
The villagers are delighted….the children can study when their day chores are done, cooking and life is easier, and many of the women want to start learning a basic education as they can now study at night.
Four new grandmothers have been selected to begin their training in the Barefoot College in the fall. We are hoping to expand this program to include some villages in Nepal and later this year. We are very pleased with the success of our first pioneers and very grateful to Bunker Roy and the College for all their support and inspiration.
A Gift from Nepal
Misty Kammarada is an acupuncturist from the New York area who worked for five months in 2011 as a volunteer at Shechen Clinic, Nepal. Acupuncture is a popular form of treatment at the clinic and a number of acupuncturists from all over the world have come to Nepal and volunteered their services. This is Misty’s account of her experience:
Shechen Clinic is an integrative clinic that offers medical services to locals for very little cost and often free of charge. Patients receive a variety of medical services, such as OBGYN, dental, physiotherapy, and general medicine all in one place. One of the things that impressed me the most about the clinic was the emphasis put on adjunct healing modalities; the clinic also offers services like Tibetan Medicine, homeopathy, and acupuncture. Shechen Clinic also sets itself apart from other clinical settings in Nepal because in addition to providing general services to the public, it has a hospice.
I believe Shechen Clinic is the future in healthcare in many ways; it gives sick people holistic options to get well; it provides healthy people preventative care in order to stay well; and it allows a place for poor people to die with dignity and surrounded by an amazing, loving staff. I have never been so inspired by healthcare as I was when I was at the clinic in Nepal. Everyone was treated with such love, it was a beautiful thing to see and feel firsthand.