Newsletter, Summer 2022

Tashi Delek and warmest greetings to all!

The Children of Tibet Trust Foundation (CTTF) has been in existence for over 23 years due to the love and financial support of organizations and friends of Tibet from around the world, especially here in America. Thank you for your love and support.

Due to your financial support, I am happy to report that CTTF can continue our programs of student scholarships, medical care, nomad sustainability, vocational training, and environmental protection through tree planting project on the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayan regions. CTTF’s work is growing despite the Covid 19 pandemic and other challenges. We have no paid staff and very little overhead expenses. We put 98% of grant money towards our projects.

Since our retirement in 2019, my wife Deborah and myself have had more quality time to dedicate to CTTF (CTTF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 1998, registered in the State of Virginia, USA. CTTF is apolitical and not affiliated to any religious group. We respect and obey all the laws of all the countries that we work in).

Moreover, our media outreach and accounting services are provided by professionals on a pro bono basis. I would like to thank Natalie Manzanares for contributing hundreds of hours to help with media outreach, website and much more. Our volunteers such as Natalie, Tom, and Aga Mendalka (website), Chris Mizer (vivariscapital.com), David Berry, Cherie Mulder, Dale Abrams, and my wife, we joyfully celebrate this opportunity to serve.

The survival of the Tibetan people as a distinct race and culture is being threatened with extinction due to the political and socio-economic conditions in Tibet, and around the world. Our main political and financial supporters are aging and dying. Keeping pace with the rapid modernization of China and India is a challenge for Tibetans living in Tibet and in exile. Therefore, CTTF’s work is most essential even though our contribution is just a drop in the pond, but we are making a difference at the grass root level.

We are proud that we completed our 8000-tree planting project in Chilam, Changthang Ladakh, India due to a generous grant and the hard work by the members of the Chilam Culture and Welfare Association (CCWA). I was able to travel to the tree planting locations this past May to inspect the sites in person and found that thousands of additional trees can be planted in the future with your financial support. The members of CCWA have worked hard to irrigate the barren land with the help of the local and Indian Governments. The community members are involved in protecting the growth of the trees with proper fencing and water distribution. With more funding we can plant more trees for you. Maybe you want to sponsor planting a few thousand trees in remembrance of a loved one past or present or simply for Mother Earth.

Our Yak husbandry project for Nomads in Zurmang, Nangchen, and Tailor Training Project in Lhasa were great successes. These projects have created supplemental income for Tibetan families living in rural communities on the Tibetan Plateau.

Our personal connections and guidance from monastic and local leaders in the Lhasa and Drikung regions of Tibet (TAR) and in Nangchen, Kham areas are strong and still intact. Our field coordinators in India, Tibet, and Nepal are vigilant and conform and adapt to the changing laws and restrictions.

Thank you for your love and financial support.

Please contact me at +1 (703) 297-2222 if you have any questions.

Achi Tsepal