Dear Tibetfreunde

This past year 2015 was marked for us with the devastating earthquakes in Nepal at the end of April, and with the death of our valued committee member Hans Deibel. He had during 16 years brought immense enthusiasm and effort to Tibetfreunde

Certain of our partnered schools where we mediate sponsorships for pupils were damaged, but no person in the schools was hurt. The Manjushri di-Chen monastery reported extensive damage to buildings. Refugee agencies in Nepal with whom we work told us of isolated villages destroyed and thousands of lives lost

Many children at our partnered schools lost some or all of their family in the stricken regions

Tibetan Children’s Villages in India responded quickly by agreeing to take newly orphaned children into their settlements. This has taken place. We are very glad that these children are properly accommodated and receiving a sound Tibetan education. The many gifts of money from donors which we have forwarded to Nepal have heartened us. We have also been able to support the expansion of dwelling settlements and repairs to damaged school buildings in Nepal. The girls’ school project in Spiti, which jointly with Tibethilfe Lower Austria we supported, was completed in the summer of 2015

During 2015 the gifts of members and of the public enabled us to support several projects in India (see list). For example the finance of the Montessori preschool in Phuntsokling, Odisha was stabilised and we were able to finance a study year for a number of trainee teachers

It is always a pleasure to have reports from members or sponsors who travel to India or Nepal and visit schools and other Tibetan establishments which we have supported among our projects. We are very pleased to publish reports of this kind on the website. Last autumn Migmar Raith visited the Montessori preschool (see Tibetfocus Number 130) and the Lha Foundation soup kitchen in Dharamsala

Late in the year we ran a candles action program on the website in memory and support of the victims of earthquakes in Nepal. Many people participated. Frequent new cases of individual hardship and urgent projects are of late being added on the website to invite the necessary support. Any support at all is very welcome. A big Thank You to all our members, sponsors and donors who have steadfastly supported us

Annina Pfäffli, President of Tibetfreunde