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Cultural Preservation Project for Lurixi Tibetan Community
Project Manager: Gadouzhuoma (Lillian)
Repair village temple and water powered prayer wheels, establishing a well protected religious center and preserving Tibetancultural heritage.
Funds needed: $2,227 (17,315 rmb)
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Gadouzhuoma is from Hezuo City, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, China. She graduated in 2006 with an Associated degree in English from Qinghai Normal University Nationalities Department's English Training Program.
Project Location:
Lurixi Tibetan Community, Mari Township, Zhuoni County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, PR. China. This village is about 90km away from the Hezuo City, the major city of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province.
Population:
1. This project will benefit two villages, Lurixi and Changguo.
The population in Lurixi Village is 129 people. 47 men, 56 women and 26 children (under 17)
The population in Changguo Village is 180 people. 64 men, 78 women and 38 children (under 17)
The total population that would benefit from this project is 309 people . Among them, 30% of the people are over 50, 26% are under 17 and the remaining 34% are between 17 to 50 years old. 55% of the total population is women.
2. This project may also benefit 5 adjacent villages with more than 1,400 people and at least 300 pilgrims a year.
Education
Throughout the history of the village only one person has ever received an official job. 90% of the adults can't read or write. There are about 34 school-aged children in this village, but only 80% of them attend school from primary to high school. The remaining 20% of the children stay at home. Although the government announced a policy of free tuition, schools in rural areas still collect money from the children, which make it difficult for some families to send them to school. Also, some families need children to help with herding or to do some housework. Finally, the primary school is far away from the village, about 15km, while the middle school is in the county town, about 45km away.
Cash income
The average person in this village makes 150 RMB per year by selling extra farming products (beans) and a limited number of livestock (sheep, yaks, butter and wool) .
Taxes
There have been no taxes since last year. In the past, people used grain and some money to pay for their livestock and farmland. An average family needed to pay 200-300 jin of grain and around 100 RMB.
Agriculture
The total number of farmland one family owns depends on the number of family members recorded when the village divided the land many decades ago. In the two villages, the biggest family might have 12 mu of farmland while the smallest might have about 4 mu. They grow wheat, rapeseeds and beans, with the highest yield of wheat being about 500 jin.
Herding
Not all the families in this village own livestock. Those that do own livestock have anywhere between 5 and 45 sheep. Only 9 families own more than 12 sheep and there is one family that owns 21 yaks. The average family has about 7 sheep and 1 yak.
Weather
There is no clear change between spring and winter. Cold weather lingers for about 5 months, requiring people to wear heavy clothing. Since the farmland is all in the mountains, they depend heavily on rain. In 2006 the land suffered from a severe drought, which greatly affected farming output. One year the rapeseed crop dried out and in 2006 some of the land only generated 200 jin of grain per mu. This forces people to spend money on food that would otherwise be provided by farming.
Project Goals:
The overarching goal of the project is to establish a well protected religious center and preserve cultural heritage
The immediate goal of the project is to r epair village temple and water powered prayer wheels
Problems:
- The Cultural and religious center of lurixi is in danger of disappearing. This cultural center consists of one main Temple, with more than 600 years of history, and 18 water-powered prayer wheels above the sacred stream. It has traditionally been the center for 7 Tibetan villages from the adjacent areas - with a population of more than 1700 people. People gather here many times a year to carry out religious rituals and discuss important events. People also gather here to pray for good harvests, happiness and peace.
- Lack of money to repair the collapsing walls of the main temple. Before 1949, monks from Zhuoni Tibetan Buddhist Monastery had been in charge of taking care of this Temple and the water-powered prayer wheels. There was a big forest used only to cover the expenses of repairing the temple and water-powered prayer wheels. However, this tradition did not continue after 1949 and the people have had to solve the problems themselves. Although the Temple was rebuilt in 1996 from a limited source of money collected from local people, its walls were made of dirt and after ten years of wind and rain damage, cracks are beginning to show. The Buddha statues and old Tangkas are also in danger of being exposed to the elements and the building's dilapidated condition makes it dangerous for use by elders and pilgrims.
- The exterior walls around the Temple are in terrible condition. They were made out of dirt and are falling down so that livestock can easily run into the temple and trample the things inside the walls, such as the Sang Platform where people burn offerings during auspicious days.
- All 18 of the water-powered prayer wheels, built on the sacred stream, are in urgent need of repair. They were built decades ago and it has been a long-time tradition for elders and pilgrims to come and circumambulate them. Now, however, they are almost falling apart. The wind, rain and birds have damaged the religious scriptures inside the prayer wheels.
Solutions
Repair the collapsing three sides of temple walls with bricks. This will prevent elders and people who are circumambulating the Temple from getting injured and prevent the Buddha statues and scriptures inside from getting damaged by wind and rain.
Repair the outside walls of the temple, which are falling apart.
Repair the Water Powered Prayer Wheels, using new bricks, planks and tiles. Reduce the damage by rain and wind to the scriptures inside.
Through the three main activities above, villagers can expect to see the water-powered prayer wheels turning all year round. Also, people will continue to benefit from the existence of the Temple and the water-powered prayer wheels.
Benefits:
a. About 1,700 people from 7 villages will have a place to carry on religious rituals and continue their customs. It would also provide a space to gather everyone together to solve problems and pray.
b. Elders can circumambulate the Temple and Water Powered Prayer Wheels without worrying about getting injured by the collapsing walls of the Temple.
c. It will preserve this cultural spot for next generations so all the traditional customs and rituals may carry on.
Interviews
Zhaxitso (b. 1956) is an ordinary Tibetan woman from Lurixi Village. “Young people are always busy making money and farming, but we should be repairing the Temple or the outside walls. If you circumambulate, you can see the scriptures exposed to the sun and rain. We need money to fix it, but since the forest is forbidden for us to cut down to generate money we have difficulties funding such a project. We do not have a way to make money, but we cannot leave those water-powered prayer wheels falling apart.”
Zhijica (b. 1954) was born in this village and has lived in this village for his life time. He voluntered to help me to do the budget and tell me the story of this village. Later he said he can not imagine oneday, younger generations in this village no longer believe in their clture and they do not know their roots and identity. He said once people from outside came to this village very often, and now the number is decreasing, even during important religious rituals. He said this temple and water-powered prayer wheels are so significant to people here and it is part of their life!
Dingzizhaxi (b. 1949) is an important person in this village since he had been the village leader for many years. He is one of the people who asked me if I could help this village looking for funds to repair ruined walls and prayer wheels. If the temple and prayer wheels can remain unchanged and in a good condition, people will constantly come to this village as a cultural center and it could bring all the people from this area together as we used to be. Not only that we elders can circumambulate the temple and prayer wheels at leisure time. Young people can keep this tradition for longer time and our culture and customs will never die.
Gender equality
This project will help empower local women by enlisting their participation in project implementation. Because the project manager is a local woman, it will also raise awareness among locals of women's capabilities as community leaders.
Women will participate in all level of project implementation, collecting local contributions, and providing unskilled labor alongside local men during construction.
This project will give the project manager practical and real training on doing research in local area, observing living conditions and organizing local villagers such that project implementation is successful. It is such a large project that its implementation will hopefully cause local people to think about females in a different way, maybe reducing some of their old prejudices against females.
Governmental support:
The project manager met with the township leader, Libum, and he agreed that the project would be wonderful for the community and offered his support.
The steps of the project
Step 1. Got ideas from local people and gathered information on their conditions and needs through community meetings. Chose 6 people, including two local women, to form a local project committee responsible for sustainability.
Step 2. Collected information from experts and experienced workers about the workers salaries, project design and potential risks .
Step 3. Went to the local market to visit several businesses and ask about the prices of different items and materials.
Step 4. Took pictures of site and the places where the project is planned to take place, interviewed some of people who will benefit from the project.
Step 5. Wrote budget and project proposal.
The above 5 steps are completed already.
If the project is funded
Step 6. Implementation of the project.
1) Choose a reliable company from which to purchase construction materials and sign a contract which guarantees quality.
2) Buy materials with the local project committee and villagers and deliver them to the project site. Prepare villagers for upcoming work and responsibilities.
3) Make a detailed and organized working schedule for the whole project to make sure it is finished on time.
4) Begin Construction:
There are three main activities in this project:
Repair the collapsing three sides of the temple walls by building them back up with bricks.
Repair the outside walls of the temple, which are falling apart.
Repair the water powered prayer wheels with new bricks, planks and tiles.
Step 7. Take pictures and make a plaque acknowledging the donor's contribution.
Step 8. Interview some of the beneficiaries and gather some information to measure the effectiveness of the project on people's lives. How it changed people's living conditions and their attitudes and understandings.
Step 9. Write a detailed project final report including thank you letters, photos, interviews, project activities and report of the benefits of the project.
Step 10. Submit the final report with photos and receipts.
Timeframe
This project will be completed within two months at the most.
Amount of Time
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Activities
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Implement
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Potential Challenges or Risks
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5 days
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Pile bricks around the prayers wheels
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5 skilled workers
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No
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5 days
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Change the wood planks around the Prayer Wheels
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5 skilled workers (same people as above)
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No
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5 days
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Put tiles upon 18 water powered prayer wheels
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5 skilled workers (same people as above)
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No
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15 days
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Repair the Temple walls, build the walls with bricks
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3 skilled workers
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No
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15 days
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Repair the temple exterior walls
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5 local villagers and 3 experienced workers
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No
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Budget
Donor Contribution:
Item
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Details
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Requested Contribution from the Donor
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Bricks
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1 square meter=120bricks
40 square meter= 4800bricks= 1 side of the wall
3sides*4,800bricks*0.33rmb/per brick
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4,752
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Cement
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2 tons*360rmb per ton
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720
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Sands
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50cubes*55rmb per cube
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2,750
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Payment
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120square meters *20rmb per square meter
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2,000
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Sands:
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30 cubes*55rmb=1,650rmb
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2,010
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Cement:
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1 ton*360rmb
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Payment:
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600rmb (3experts*10days*20rmb/ per day)
Local villagers: 400rmb
(5people*10days*8rmb/per day)
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Cement
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18 prayers*18rmb per sack
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324
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Planks
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18*50rmb per prayer
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900
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Bricks
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18prayers*80bricks per prayer*0.33rmb per brick
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475.2
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Tiles
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18 prayers*88tiles per prayer*1rmb per tile
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1,584
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Payment
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18 prayers*100rmb per prayer
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1,800
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17,315.2rmb
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Local Contribution
Item
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Details
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Local Contribution
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Payment
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120square meters *20rmb per square meter
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400
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Payment:
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600rmb (3experts*10days*20rmb/ per day)
Local villagers: 400rmb
(5people*10days*8rmb/per day)
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1,000
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Administrative fee
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Including transportation, hotel cost for people who are buying the materials.
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800
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Management fee
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500
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Management expenses
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Phone call fee, photos and transportation fee, etc.
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450
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Total
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3,150mb
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Total project cost
Donor contribution
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Local contribution
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Total Cost in RMB
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17,315.2RMB
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3,1 50RMB
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20,465.2RMB
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Sustainability
The earlier ideas of this project came from local people about two years ago, when village elders mentioned that they really need such a project to be supported. From February of 2006, I started gathering information and photographs that might help inform the donors. In May of 2006, I visited local markets to find out reliable prices for the materials that must be purchased. I asked different skilled workers about the money that would have to be paid, asked the villagers what has to be done to complete this project, what are the local contributions and local involvement that could be promised. I asked what are the potential risks and the predictable project influences and effects and how important this project will be to the people who will benefit from it. Combining all the suggestions and information, this proposal was developed based upon actual local people's needs and requests. I speak on behalf of my local villagers.
This is project is sustainable, because it is related to cultural heritage and the local villagers will form a project committee with about 10 capable people (both male and female) to manage its upkeep.
The donors are expected to reserve the right to visit and inspect projects at any time. The village project committee, as well as the local villagers and I will be responsible for maintaining the project after it has been implemented. If there are any unexpected costs or expenses for repairs, the villagers and villager leader agreed to pay for it.
Additional Information:
This project must be implemented in summer when it is easy to do construction and the weather is good but also before the busy harvesting period. It is impossible to do this project in the winter since the weather is cold. The project must be completed at one time, not in several installments, so we need a block of two months time when the weather is good and the villagers are available to donate their labor.
Additional information for the manager, Gadouzhuoma (Lillian)
2003—applied 25 solar cookers from Canada Fund 2003 Solar Energy Project managed by Fred.
2004—applied 120 solar cookers from Canada Fund 2004-2005 Solar Energy Project
Worked as a co-manger on Canada Fund 2004-2005 Solar Energy Project with two other students, the project is valued at 420,000RMB
2005--- applied 156 solar cookers from the Canada Fund 2005-2006 Solar Energy Project.
Worked as the manager of Canada Fund 2005-2006 Solar Energy Project. The project is valued at 420,000RMB.
2002-2006--- I have completed six second-hand clothes projects to six different rural Tibetan communities in Gannan Prefecture of Gansu Province.
Photos :
The ruined Temple stairs that people are unable to repair due to their limited annual cash income.
 A ruined Water Prayer Wheel that has endured decades of rain and storm. It is falling apart and the written prayers within are almost exposed. The tiles and bricks it is built upon are falling down as well. This project will help to repair the 18 water prayer wheels.
 The exterior walls of the Temple in Lurixi Village are falling apart. Using the bushes is the only way for the villagers to avoid the livestock entering and destroying the inner constructions like Sang Platform although it really does not help much. The villagers really hope some donors to help them.
 This is the temple rebuilt during 1996 before the forest prohibition, and the villagers provided most of wood needed for this construction and now it is impossible for them to do the same thing. Except for the front side of the temple, three sides were made out of dirt and they are about to collapse and fall down. During leisure time, villagers, especially village elders, come and circumambulate the temple, we are afraid one of those people will be injured one day if the walls collapse and fall down. Not to mention the temple being ruined
This is another ruined water prayer wheel in Lurixi Tibetan Community built upon the sacred stream where giant salamanders live.
Diagrams
The General Picture of Lurixi Village and Five Parts of the Project
- Repair the ruined water powered prayer wheels.
- Repair the outside walls of the temple.
- Repair the temple walls.
Map of Zhuoni County, Gannan Tibetan Prefecture, Gansu Province. 
This map shows the general location of where this project will take place. The yellow is Gansu province, and on the west side of the portion shown here is Luqu.
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