Who are we?

Who are we?

We are a Swiss-based NGO for development cooperation and humanitarian assistance for Tibetans in the Himalayan countries. Our non-profit association was founded by a group of involved Swiss women in 1988. Since almost 30 years we work on a volunteer base for the Tibetan people in Exile. Presently – end of 2016 – we have 567 members and 1047 sponsorships

What are our goals?

We support self-help activities organized by the Tibetans in exile through sustained development cooperation with associated Tibetan organizations.
We assist the Tibetans in cases of severe need or disaster
We work towards keeping people in Switzerland aware and informed of the Tibetan cause both in Tibet as well as in exile.

What are our activities?

TIBETFREUNDE arranges individual sponsorships that enable Tibetan children and youngsters of poor families to receive primary school education and vocational training.
We assist in the foundation, maintenance and/or extension of Tibetan schools and vocational training centers.
We arrange sponsorships for single old men and women, often ill and without means of existence otherwise.
We contribute on a regular base to health care.

Which institutions are we cooperating with?

For Tibetan children refugees in India and Nepal:

„Tibetan Children’s Villages“(TCV), Dharamsala, India
Sambhota Tib. Schools Society STSS, Dept. of Education, Dharamsala, India
as well as several Tibetan schools in India and Nepal

For health care in India:

The Tibetan Delek Hospital, Dharamsala, India.
For distressed elderly people in India and Nepal:
“Central Tibetan Relief Committee” (CTRC), Dharamsala, India
Tibetan Women’s Welfare Group, Nepal
Lodrik Welfare Fund, Pokhara, Nepal

For nuns and monks of Tibetan convent schools in India and Nepal:

Jamyang Choling Institute, Dharamsala, India
Sherab Choling Institute, Village Morang, Spiti, India
Tibetan Nuns Project – several nunneries
Manjushri De-chen Learning Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
Taksham Monastery, India

For students of institutes in India for philosophy or Tibetan medicine:

College of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, Dharamsala, India
Men-Tsee-Khang, Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute, Dharamsala, India

What have we achieved so far?

Since the foundation of the association to today (end 2016), we have raised CHF 3’445’229 towards various relief projects in India and Nepal.
Over CHF 10’415’532 till today has been raised from foster parents – who either transfer their payment for sponsored children, students, elderly people as well as for nuns and monks directly to India or Nepal or via our association.
Current annual contributions (2016) for sponsorship as well as for projects in the area of education and health in India and Nepal amount to about CHF 584’735

How can you get involved?

Becoming a member of TIBETFREUNDE for CHF 60
Sponsoring a Tibetan child or a distressed elder (CHF 350 to 600 annually).
Sponsoring Buddhist nuns and monks (CHF 420.- to 500 annually) or
Students of Tibetan medicine (ca. CHF 1000 annually)
Making a one-time donation, for a project of your choice
With a testamentary disposition.

►Sponsorships/donations are tax exempted under Swiss law ◄

Our own administration and management costs are kept to a bare minimum – presently (2016) under 3% of turnover – as board and administration work is done exclusively on a voluntary base.

Sponsorship contributions and donations are going to India and Nepal 1:1

ZEWO

The Swiss foundation, ZEWO states that “personal individual sponsorships for children in foreign countries are fundamentally problematic” Organizations that deal in the mediation of sponsorships are often rejected. The reason for this rejection is based on preconceived notions. Our Project Partners in Tibetan Institutions in India and Nepal as well as our organization hold a completely opposite opinion with regards to personal individual sponsorship programs.
It is for this reason that we have decided not to apply for the ZEWO seal.