A photo slideshow from the COVID-19 Emergency Response project, from May to September 2020. Voice of Children, which runs education projects in remote mountain villages in Uttarakhand state in northern India, purchased and delivered dry foods and sanitation supplies to 200 poor families, thanks to generous donations from TRAS members.
The Canada Tibet Committee is hosting a dinner and public talk by Michael Buckley, author of Meltdown in Tibet.
World Environment Day: WHY TIBET MATTERS
Environment, climate change, and geopolitical context in Tibet
Sunday June 2 – 6pm to 9pm
Dinner, music, and discussion at Bombay Kitchen and Bar (1018 Commercial Drive, Vancouver)
Public Talk by Michael Buckley, Author of “Meltdown in Tibet” (https://www.meltdownintibet.com/)
6pm: Dinner: Set menu includes appetizers, main course dishes, and dessert
7pm: Music and Public Talk
– Musical Performance by Tenzin Jampa, Dranyan artist (Tibetan Lute)
– Presentation and Q&A by Michael Buckley on the environment in Tibet (aka the Third Pole) and why it matters to Asia–and the rest of the world. Issues include melting glaciers, damming of rivers, mining, and pollution on the Tibetan Plateau.
TICKETS MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE
Contact: whytibetmatters@gmail.com
Ticket price (includes meal/tax/tip): $35 vegetarian/$40 non-vegetarian (book in advance, pay at the door, cash only)
Drinks extra: $5 each, purchase at the restaurant (cash, credit, or debt)
Facebook Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2239074659517864/
(By Russil) On Saturday April 6 I attended the Rhythms of India gala fundraiser, in support of the Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration. Two Worlds, led by Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, works with doctors and nurses in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to provide palliative care and pain management for patients with cancer, including children. In low-resource countries, not only are the odds of survival much lower than in Canada, but painkillers are not readily available.
One of the speakers at the event was Raheesa Jina, a student at UBC, who described her experience volunteering for two months at Chitwan Medical College in Bharatpur, Nepal. She’d like to raise awareness of how to help children in Nepal, and is interested in getting involved with TRAS.
Palliative care for children with cancer is not a feel-good cause, but definitely a worthwhile one. If you’re interested in attending the next Two Worlds fundraiser, they’re held every two years.
For an article discussing the need, see Palliative care in India: Visiting as a volunteer, from the Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal (Summer 2016).
Libraries have been opened in 20 villages bringing books, periodicals and newspapers to villagers for the first time. Children and youth are making good use of these, many adults are showing a keen interest in learning to read, and the libraries are becoming a hub for village meetings and discussions. Children’s ‘book clubs’ have started, and school attendance has improved. Government school teachers are using the library books for teaching their classes.
The good news is that registered card holder numbers have increased, and now 1,252 children and adults are using the libraries. Some of the increase is attributed to word of mouth advertising and also to the relocation of two libraries within their villages, making them accessible to nearby villages as well. TRAS promised to support the libraries for three years, to pay for new books, newspaper subscriptions and the librarian honorarium. This support ends December 31, 2016, and is fully funded for 2016. Already some libraries are run by the villages, it is hoped more will soon be independent, and a scheme to collect gently used books from nearby towns is in hand.
(2018/11/22) Our winter newsletter is now available! Click here to read the President’s Appeal, Sponsorship Report, Projects Update, and more.
