English Language Scholarships for Tibetan Monks
Tax deductible
Namaste and Tashi Delek! (Hello in Tibetan)
My name is Nirav Shah, a I Love paying it forward.
I'm raising funds to support a language education scholarship program that I founded during my recent trip to Dharamsala India. After meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I was inspired to help in this way. This program will provide scholarship funds for Tibetan monks to learn English. Many of them only speak Tibetan and need more language skills to move forward with their lives outside of Tibet. Only $200 provides enough funds for 3 months of English classes!
I will be working in conjunction with the Louisiana Himalayan Association (LHA). It is a social work organization founded in 1997 based in Louisiana, with a counterpart (LHA Charitable Trust) in Dharamsala, India. Together they host a variety of programs to support the Tibetan refugee diaspora. LHA is 100% volunteer-based with no expense or travel accounts, meaning all of the money that you donate goes directly to the project. LHA Charitable Trust is fully staffed and managed by the Tibetan community, they will oversee and manage the scholarship fund.
During my time volunteering with LHA and LHA Charitable Trust in Dharamsala, I was fortunate to meet and become friends with many Tibetan refugees, learning about their culture and hearing their stories. Kindness and compassion seem innate, and the Tibetans radiate joy and optimism despite exile from their home. Many of our Tibetan friends have not seen their families or home since childhood. I truly feel that what I learned from them is so much more than what I was able to contribute.
They were forced to leave their families and home in hopes of a safe future. In groups they daringly hiked over the Himalayas, some passing over 19.000 feet, to freedom in India. This journey to freedom, still happening today, takes up to a month with much of the walking done at night in freezing temperatures to avoid Chinese troops. While some make it over, unfortunately, many have died while others have been caught by troops and put into labor camps where they are often severely tortured even today.
Some background - Tibet was invaded by China in 1950. By 1959, over a million innocent Tibetans had been killed by Chinese troops while thousands were forced into labor/torture camps. The fifteen-year-old Dalai Lama, followed by thousands of Tibetans, were forced to flee to save their lives. Those left behind have been faced with harsh punitive measures and bans on Tibetan culture and language in an act of cultural genocide.
This exodus from Tibet has been ongoing since that time. Oppression and extreme human rights violations in Tibet have continued up until today. There was a sharp deterioration due to the global attention that China received for hosting the 2008 Olympics and the subsequent uprising in Tibet. Now whole families are prosecuted if a member tries to flee. Also, border security has tightened, resulting in a steep decline in successful escapes. The resulting situation is so hopeless that certain Tibetan activists have turned to self-immolation in a desperate attempt to draw Western attention and aid to their cause.
We are very passionate about helping this wonderful group of humans who have suffered deep injustices throughout their lives. Many Tibetan refugees have never been able to get their eyes checked, and therefore don’t know they need glasses. When people receive the proper prescription for the first time they are amazed at the details in each leaf, and they are relieved of never-ending vision headaches. We ask that you contribute whatever you are able to, as well as share this go-fund with me. Please also share what is going on in Tibet with those who are unaware.
BIG THANKS for taking the time to read this! Please feel free to reach out with any questions to Fabiana or Spencer, and we will do our best to answer!
Below are some resources at your disposal if you wish to further educate yourself on the reality of Tibet today.
LHA’s website - Volunteer Info and more ...
More in-depth information on the occupation of Tibet
A documentary made by climbers of Chinese authorities killing Tibetan refugees while they were crossing the Himalayas
More on the ramifications of the 2008 Olympics
BIG THANKS for taking the time to read this! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions and I'll do my best to answer!
Lots of Love,
Nirav Shah
Give $500 to help get this fundraiser to its goal
Organizer
Nirav Shah
Organizer
Westmont, IL
Louisiana Himalayan association
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
