The Authorities in West Tibet stop our support for the projects at Darchen, West Tibet.
We are starting a new project at a remote and one of the poorest Tibetan Settlements in India.

The Situation of the Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute, Mt. Kailash, Darchen, Tibet

As we have informed in March 2011, the highest authorities in West Tibet unexpectedly blocked our support for the Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute at Darchen.

Due to the generous moral and financial support by our sponsors and patrons during the last 16 years, we have been able to establish there an extraordinary centre for education, healthcare and environmental protection, in one of the most remote and poorest areas of Tibet.

Though it has since been our wish to visit the Institute to meet students, staff and concerned officials for a proper farewell, it was unfortunately not possible this year. We will however certainly continue to check the situation at Darchen for possibilities of further support.

As we have heard, the Institute fortunately so far continues to perform well. One of our Swiss friends writes after his recent visit : “Not much has changed. So your great work at least lasts for a while, to keep the character and cleanliness and quality.”

Apparently the Institute was able to start a 4^th batch with 33 students to study Tibetan medicine. The clinic and medicine production continue to operate. Additionally the new sponsor has made a paved road from Darchen village to the Institute. There is therefore good reason to hope that the Institute will remain a learning centre for Tibetan medicine and a healthcare centre for the local population and pilgrims still for many years to come.

Selection of a New Project: Kailash-Internat of Phuntsokling Tibetan Settlement, Orissa, India

At the Extraordinary General Meeting of its members on February 27, 2011 at Waedenswil, the Tibetan Ngari Korsum Association Switzerland has decided to continue with full enthusiasm to support projects for education and healthcare for needy Tibetans, based on its long experience in these fields. The support would concentrate on projects in the Tibetan communities in India and in Nepal.

A careful selection and appraisal was most important, and this was taking some time. But now we are in a position to present an excellent project, most deserving our support.

A project assessment team was sent to India in April, headed by Mr. Sampa Dhondup. The team has visited many potential projects. As a result the Association has received numerous proposals. Among these we have found the hostel project at the Phuntsokling Tibetan Settlement in Orissa, in the Eastern part of India, as most deserving our attention. It is located in one of the most remote and poorest Tibetan Settlements.

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association on October 30, 2011, the Hostel Project was therefore unanimously approved.

Details on our new project are given under Projects, Kailash Internat Phuntsokling.

We are happy to get this opportunity to support needy children in getting a better education.

We are aware of the huge responsibility to take care of the holistic personality development of these youngsters.

Our remarkable achievements in Darchen, Tibet, would not have been possible without the kind help by our sponsors for the last 16 years. Also for the new project we are kindly requesting your help in our venture to make a better future for these Tibetan children.

New Objective Targets for Kailashprojekte - Engagements for the Tibetan Communities in India and Nepal

Due to the generous moral and financial support by our sponsors and patrons during the last 16 years, we have been able to bring with the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute Mt. Kailash at Darchen, Westtibet an exceptional result in the fields of education, health and environmental protection to a poorest area in Tibet:

• The infrastructure of the Institute with school, clinic, medicinal production and guesthouse is completed and in a good condition.
• Around eighty of our ex-students are working as Tibetan doctors in all parts of West Tibet.
• Our clinic for the local population, nomads and pilgrims has greatly contributed to the local quality of life.
• The medicinal factory is successfully producing traditional Tibetan medicines for the Institute and 7 other hospitals.

Our staff at Darchen is united and motivated to render their best services for the Institute.

We had planned to continue, with your help, the support for the Institute for many more years. During our meetings with the authorities of West Tibet late last year it had been confirmed to us that they appreciate our work and that they will need our assistance still for a long time.

Unfortunately the highest authority in West Tibet now stops our support for the Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute Mt. Kailash, Darchen, Tibet, from the year 2011

The news is unexpected and difficult to understand. Promising is the fact, that the Institute as a fully functional institution will continue to work. Together with the trained doctors it will continue to be a vitally important support for the local population as well as for the Tibetan pilgrims.

With a heavy heart the Tibetan Ngari Korsum Association Switzerland is therefore forced to part from the projects in Tibet, after many years of hard work.

However, our vision remains. During an Extraordinary General Meeting on February 27, 2011 the Association has decided to continue with full enthusiasm on projects for education and healthcare for the needy Tibetans, based on our long experience in these fields. Our engagement will now concentrate on projects within the Tibetan communities in India and in Nepal.

On the further developments we will keep you fully informed. We hope that we can count on your continued trust and kind support. We can fully assure you, that also in future your donations will be used for the support of poorest Tibetans, also outside Tibet.

Education

• Workshop with 14 former students of our first course, 46 former students of our 2nd course, as well as 12 physicians from different districts, was successfully completed, with nationally recognised diplomas of the Traditional Tibetan Medical College, Lhasa
• For the current two-years advanced professional training course for Tibetan physicians without national certification, the 2nd semester was successfully completed, with 25 students.  
• A one-month-long workshop for our students by the Health Ministry of Senge Khabab, on the subject of health.  

Clinic

This year 3383 patients were treated in the clinic, mainly pilgrims and local population, but also tourists.  In some villages such as Barkha and Hor house visits were made, with about 300 patients.  Approximately 40 stationary patients were admitted for treatment at the clinic.

Medicinal Factory

25 different Tibetan medicines were produced at the factory, approximately 100 kg of pills for each sort. 1700 kg of medicinal herbs and 24 kg of minerals were used as starting materials.  1300 kg of the medicines were sold to 7 different hospitals.
In addition, the renowned congress for the production of the „jewel pill“ took place for the first time at our institute, with participation of renowned professors. 

Construction

The following buildings have been newly constructed this year:
Five new rooms for stationary patients, a house for the medicinal bath, two additional rooms for the medicinal factory, two premises for the shop, 2 garages, one storage room for fuels. 90 workers, masons, carpenters, painters and helpers, worked for 101 days for the Institute and constructed an area covering 900 square meters.

Environmental

As in the last years a three-days cleaning campaign "Keep the Kailash Kora Clean" was launched, with support of 25 Yaks for the garbage transport.

Guesthouse

The Guesthouse is obtaining an increasing popularity, "Home away from Home" for western tourists.  

Further detailed information you will find under Downloads, Newsletter No. 12 November 2010