For centuries the monasteries and nunneries have been the institutions of higher learning in Tibet. They teach principles of philosophy, social theory and critical thinking, with thousands of men and women entering the religious society every year. During forty years of ongoing occupation in Tibet, the Chinese government has reduced to rubble all but a handful of 6,000 monasteries and nunneries along with their sacred texts and libraries, as well as religious artifacts, basically destroying the educational fabric of the culture. While the majority of Tibetans left behind in Tibet continue to suffer from deprivation of basic human rights under the tyrannous Chinese regime, there are now close to 200,000 Tibetan refugees based in 33 countries, including India and Nepal. Over 25% of these refugees are monks and nuns who have fled persecution, torture and imprisonment for daring to practice their religious beliefs in their native land. Their goal, like the goal of the Tibetan Government in Exile, is to sustain a community in exile while building the foundation for an eventual return to a Free Tibet. It is a centuries long tradition of the Tibetan community as well as the Tibetan Government to look after the welfare of monks and nuns, ensuring their basic care as they form the backbone of religious belief and culture in the society at large. At present there are 8,300 recently arrived monks and nuns at the monasteries and nunneries located in different parts of India and this number increases every year by an average of 1,350. During May 1997 to June 1998 alone, 1,400 monks and nuns arrived from Tibet to join monasteries and nunneries in exile. A needs assessment survey conducted in 1998 showed that these most recent arrivals form the poorest of the poor among the Tibetans in Exile. They have nothing except the clothes they were wearing when they first arrived to freedom in India. As a result the resources of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Tibetan community, and the monasteries and nunneries have been severely strained in their efforts to care for the monastic refugees.

Without reliable and inexpensive transportation it is very difficult for our students to visit local hospitals for checkups and emergencies. These hospitals are located far from our monastery. To use local vehicles is very expensive and also unreliable. We also use transportation for official work in town, obtaining school supplies and furniture, and also to bring older monks to the hospital.

Therefore we hope you will kindly assist us in obtaining a car or truck or by making a donation to the project. If you are able to help with expenses (gas, insurance, etc.) we will be very thankful for this kind gift, which is of great benefit to our monks.

Again, we welcome your contributions and assistance.