Projects

This project is to buy 955 books that include Tibetan and Chinese books for Zhang Da Primary School.
In order to motivate the children to attend school and to improve the students’ reading skills and basic academic knowledge; to reduce the illiteracy rate in Zhang Da village.

Funds needed: $1,075(7,339rmb )

This project is to build a 150 m long barrier wall with 2.5m high, and 1 m wide to protect the 216 households in Gongma Village from seasonal flooding in order to improve the safety and living standards of the villagers.

Funds needed: $17, 298(118,400rmb )

To build a running water system for Walo Village and Yajiong Village, in order to supply clean water for Walo and Yajiong Villages to reduce the villager’s burden, and increase enrollment of school children and improve their living condition.

Funds needed: $9, 358(64,055.5rmb )

To improve Yehe villagers’ living conditions by supplying purchasing 8 threshing machines for 64 households.

Funds needed: $6, 419(43,870 rmb )

To buy 35 solar electricity generating panels for 30 households in Xianzun Village and 5 monks in Xianzun Monasty to improve their living and health conditions.

Funds needed: $6,007(41,050 rmb)

This project is to financially support buying 84 solar water heaters for three villages to use as a beneficial water heating tools, which can protect the endangered forests and the rich biodiversities along Mekong River and lead to a safer environment for the project beneficiaries of over 580 people.

Funds needed: $18,504(126,840 rmb)

This project is to to build four concrete bridges over Tar River that will provide a safe and convenient way for Tar Lam Villagers, and villagers from other 8 villages and two monasteries’ monks to cross Tar River, and at the same time to prevent the locals from walking in barefoot in the cold water, reduce women’s labor burden and school-aged children’s labors.

Funds needed: $31,319(214,678rmb)

This project at least will continually support to help the poor students in Daxing Township for three years to attain an education and to increase enrollment rates in the township. Provide convenient access to funds for parents and students in order to reduce the financial troubles they face in paying for an education.

Funds needed: $7,864(62,500rmb)

Shem’s private donors funded this project

This project is to empower more Tibetan women to write their life stories, ideas, and to value education. An additional goal of this project is to encourage more people to value women’s education on the Tibetan Plateau.

Funds needed:$14,883101,758rmb)

Project Goals
The immediate goal of this project is to hold the Third and Fourth Snow Land Women’s Literature Forum for college women writers, and the First Shem Women’s Group’s Literature Award for Tibetan women writers.

The overarching goal of this project is to empower more Tibetan women to write their life stories, ideas, and to value education. An additional goal of this project is to encourage more people to value women’s education on the Tibetan Plateau.

Project managers

Gonpojyi (female), Pakmodrolma (female), Hortsang Lhegel (male) and Shem Women’s Group

Project Locations
September  12^th 2008.
Second Location: South West Nationality University in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China, on September 20-21^st 2008.
Third Location: Hezuo City, Gannan Prefecture, Gansu Province, China, Mid November 2008.

Population
There will around 2000 people at the Third and Fourth Snow Land Women’s Literature Forum for College women writers.
There will be around 1000 people at the first Shem Women’s Group’s Literature Awards for women writers.

Project Background
In order to improve Tibetan women’s writing skills, motivate Tibetan women to write more and build their self confidence, Hortsang Lhegel, Gonpojyi, and Pakmodrolma together started to hold the women’s writing forum. In 2007, they started a women’s forum and cultural preservation meeting that was attended by around 2000 people in Hezuo City, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. The second forum was held in Qinghai Nationalities University in Xining City, Qinghai Province. During these forums they invited famous women writers, teachers, and important people who really cared about women’s writings and women’s right. Participants also gave each other advice and feedback regarding the problems they faced. Participants and organizers were enthusiastic about continuing their work with Shem’s support.

Hortsang Lhegel (b. 1976) was born in Martang Village Labrang (Xia He in Chinese) County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, and China. He was not able to attend school due to his parents’ divorce and the mistreatment received from his step mother. In 1998 he realized the importance of Tibetan development and Tibetan history. He also realized the importance of education. He received teachings from a Lama in Labrang Monasteries in Labrang County, He then traveled to many different Tibetan areas to do research about Tibetan culture. Now he is the Executive Director of the Tibetan Folk Culture Research Group. He is also a member of Gannan Writer’s Organization, Qinghai Minorities Charity Fund, and is the Under-Secretary-General of Qinghai Buddhist Cultural Service Center. In addition, he has been the main manager of the First and the Second Tibetan Women Writer’s Forum in Hezuo and Xining. Hortsang Lhegel will be one of the main managers of this project.

Pakmodrolma (b. 1984) was born in Mangra County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China. In 2001, she entered Qinghai Nationalities University, Xining, Qinghai Province. She has published over 20 articles in different magazines and newspapers. She was one of the main assistants for the First and Second Tibetan Women Writer’s Forum in Hezuo and Xining. Now she is pursuing a master’s degree in Qinghai Nationalities University. Pakodrolma will be one of the managers of this project.

Gonpojyi (b. 1983) was born in Luqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, and China. Since September, 2007 she has been studying for a master’s degree in North West University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province. Gonpojyi has published more than ten poems and several prose pieces, such as << Believe>>, << Welcome you>>, <<A Description of Tibetan Custom Wool Knitting>>, and so on. She was the editor for the <<Poetry Newspaper>> when she was in the college. Now she is one of the managers of Snow Land Women Newspaper, and Tibetan Women Writer’s Forum.

Problems

1. Lack of self-reliance
In Tibetan areas, since the students’ tuition is paid by their parents, students don’t need to worry about their tuition. Hence, the children and university students do not realize the difficulties of earning money. At the same time they tend to rely on their parents. Therefore, most of the students don’t pay much attention to self-reliance and hard struggles. Even after they graduate from the universities many of them stay at home, and their parents help them to find jobs.

2. Social expectations cause women to have fewer ambitions
Traditionally, most Tibetan families expect their daughters to be hardworking, gentle, and obedient. If the girl gets married with a nice man then the girl’s life is settled, and she ought to be happily ready for her new settled-down life. The parents show their love to their daughters by buying expensive ornaments and clothes rather than sending them to the school.

There is a famous saying that is: “The monks belong to monasteries, and girls should get married and stay with their husband’s family”. So the parents expect their daughters to get married with a nice man and get a nice job… They expect their daughters to get married in their twenties. Many parents don’t expect their daughters to continue their education after graduating, asking, “Are you going to study for your whole life?” People expect boys to be successful in studies and work, and they respect the boys who choose not to get married soon in order to study. Therefore, most women in college are not likely to strive toward successes in work and they are less likely to think about ambitious goals in their lives.

Regarding writing, generally, women hardly continue their writing after their graduation or after marriage. The few women writers who continue to write are looked down on and face difficulties getting the work published.

3. Most Tibetan women are not aware of importance of women’s health
Most women in Tibetan areas don’t have access to health education, information about hygiene and sex education. There are rarely Tibetan health books, newspapers and articles available. Therefore, Tibetan girls have very little awareness of health problems especially sex education

Benefits
The Writing Forum and the SWG writers’ award will encourage women to write more and will provide a space for women to express their ideas, difficulties, and successes. These activities will also have an important influence for encouraging more women to become writers. In addition, these events will help participants gain more knowledge and experience. Women will be inspired to accumulate more ambitions in their lives. Furthermore, this project will help these women realize that they can be more independent through writing.

This project will enable more girls to have access to more women’s writings and will be a model for the younger women generations to write more. This project will also encourage people to pay more attention to women’s writing.

In addition, this project will have a positive effect on Tibetan women’s health. These forums will also serve as a platform for women writers to discuss and publish information about health education, especially hygiene and sex education. At the same time, young girls and boys will have easier access to clear health information.

Number of Beneficiaries
This project will benefit more than 3,000 people.

Detailed Budget

Detailed Budget for the Third Snow Land Women’s Literature Forum in North West University.

Notes:

# Phone cost: is for the 3 managers from the beginning (which is from designing until the end of the implementation of the project), Shem Women’s Group and the 3 main project managers are in different areas and need to discuss and provide information to Shem Group through the phone and internet.

Project Steps for the Third Snow Land Women’s Literature Forum in North West University

1. Talk to the female teachers (Huamao, Tsering Tso and Wanmatso) and writers (Dekyidolma and Jamyangjyi) about their plan and ask them to give speech on the forum. (Done)

2. Discuss with Shem Women’s Group and ask them to write proposal and look for donors. (Done)

3. Look for the meeting hall, restaurant and hotels. (Done)

4. Prepare materials for the forum (such as speeches introducing the forum, reasons and goals of the forum, and the supporters of the forum) (Done)

5. Look for a cameraman and some one who takes video, (and borrow video and camera.) (Done)

6. Find out the budget and provide data and information to Shem. (Done)

7. Write proposal ( Shem Women’s Group) (Done)

8. Receive funds

9. Give announcement

10. Make a schedule for the forum.

11. Invite the teachers and writers who give presentation on the forum, and arrange their lodging, meals.

12. Start the forum, take video and photos

13. End the forum.

14. Write final report

15. Submit the final report with receipts

16. Make CDs

Detailed Budget for the Fourth Snow Land Women’s Literature Forum in South West University

# Phone cost: is for the three managers to communicate. As they live in different areas they need to discuss and plan over the phone/internet and also coordinate with Shem Women’s Group.

Project Steps for the Fourth Snow Land Women’s Literature Forum in South West University:

1. Talk to the female teachers (Baimatso, Tseringkyi) and writers (Dekyidolma and Wosartso) about their plan and ask them to give speech on the forum. (Done)

2. Make announcement for teachers in South West University in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. (Done)

3. Look for the meeting hall, restaurant and hotels. (Done)

4. Prepare materials for the forum (such as speeches introducing the forum, reasons and goals of the forum, and supporters of the forum) (Done)

5 Look for a cameraman and some one who takes video, (and borrow video and camera.) (Done)

6 Research budget and provide data and information to Shem. (Done)

7 Write proposal (Shem Women’s Group) (Done)

8 Receive funds

9 Project managers go to South West University in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province and make an announcement about the forum. 10

10 Make a schedule for the forum.

11 Invite teachers and writers to give presentations at the forum, and arrange their lodging, meals.

12 Start the forum and document with video and photos

13. End the forum.

14Write final report

15 Submit the final report with receipts

16 Make CDs of the forum

Detailed budget for the First Shem Women’s Group’s Literature Award Ceremony for women writers

#: This price is different from the last two forums because after the competition we would like to produce high quality CDs with covers.

Project steps for the First Shem Women’s Group’s Literature Rewards Ceremony for Women Writers

1. Hold meeting with the project managers about the forum. (Done)

2. Decide the style of writing for proposed competition. (Done)

3. Research budget (Done)

4. Choose location (Done)

5. Decide the date of the ceremony (Done)

6. Provide information to Shem for the proposal (Done)

7. Look for a cameraman and some one who takes video, (and borrow video and camera.) (Done)

8. Write proposal (Done)

9. Receive Funds

10. Make an announcement to all the Tibetan Areas mostly colleges in Gansu Province, Sichuan, Qinghai Province and in Tibet.

11. Collect articles

12. Article Selection Section:

a) Select 100 good articles by some Tibetan University teachers and writers

b) Select 50 better articles by Tibetan professors and famous writers

c) Tibetan famous scholars and writers, will select 11 best articles in Xining City Qinghai Province, China

d) Re-confirm date and location of ceremony

13. Give announcement

14. Choose famous, respected people for giving speeches and presenting rewards

15. Select 20 volunteers to help during the ceremony

16. Prepare materials for the ceremony (such as name tag, make schedule, and prepare the loud speaker .etc)

17. Hold the “First Shem Women’s Group’s Literature Rewards Ceremony for women writers” for two days

18. Take Record (photos, video)

19. Conclusion

20. Write final report

21. Submit the final report with receipts

22. Make CDs

Total Cost for the all three events

This project is to alleviate drinking water problems for the people in Waku Rarma Village in order to improve their living conditions and lessen the heavy burden of local women. 140 people will directly benefit from this project.

Funds needed:$20,327(140,620rmb)

Health issue is not taught in most of the universities and colleges in Qinghai Province, China, except in the Medical Colleges. As a result, university students and college students have very limited knowledge about health issues and hardly aware health issues

Funds needed:$680(4,820rmb)

Laurence from Australia funded this project

This project is to provide 50 solar generating electricity panels to bring light into the life of most impoverished nomads in Jatsa Village. And to endow them with a hope for better living condition and empower the women and children by providing adequate information access and proper living environment.

Funds needed:$5,735(40,650rmb)

This project is to to build a running water system for 146 households in Qurang Village, in Gonghe County and to improve the living condition, increase cash income, improve education and reduce women’s task in Qurang village.

Funds needed: $11,600(83,057rmb)

The Shambala Connection funded this project

relieve women and girls of their time-consuming work burdens. With a running water system, more children, especially girls will be able to attend school. Similarly, local villagers may work less hard and improve their personal hygiene and health.

Funds needed: $13,750(96,093 rmb)

to purchase 90 solar generating panels for 90 households and improve living conditions for Cuozhou Township, Jiajia Township and Duojia Township

Funds needed: $10,494(71,930 rmb)

This project is to buy 32 prayer wheels, repair the leaking roof of the Fudi Village’s temple and make the path around the prayer hall wider , it preserves the cultural traditions of Fudi Village as well.

Funds needed: $8,746(59,950rmb)

This project is to buy 192 books to increase students’ attendances and improve their study level; make student more interested in study and in other way this project can also improve family condition; encourage parents to send their children to school.

Funds needed: $1,892 (13,000rmb)

The Shambala Connection funded this project

This project is to provide 145 solar cookers for 145 households in Tajie village in order to decrease women’s burden and increase local people’s income; lead the villagers to save money, which was formerly used to buy fuel; increase school attendance and improve local people’s living conditions.

Funds needed: $4,126 (30,950rmb)

The TRA Fund funded this project

The immediate goal of this project is to build a running water system for 51 households in Lower Mairi village. This project will help more children from Lower Mairi village the possibility to attend school. And improve people’s life condition and to have a healthy life by using this water system.

Funds needed: $26,248 (179,728rmb)

The immediate goal of this project is to build a running water system for 75 households in upper Mengzong village in Jiegu Township.The overarching aim of this project is to improve the lives of the villagers in Mengzong village.

Funds needed: $16,733 (118,600rmb)

The Jesuitenmission Austria and Asia Foundation funded this project

The overarching goal of this project is to improve Huanquhu villagers’ living condition and improve the indoor environment to prevent diseases. The immediate goal of this project is to buy 100 solar panels for the 100 households of Huanquhu village.

Funds needed: $9,185 (65,100 rmb)

The Royal Netherlands Embassy Funded this project

Build a running water system for 60 households in Daiqian Village, Zhaxiulong Township, in order to improve the lives of the villagers in Daiqian Village

Funds needed: $20,018 (153,525 rmb)

The Council On International Education Exchange Ping Grant and Shem’s private donors Funded this project

Buy 45 solar electricity panels to supply electricity to the 45 poorest households in Namtsoma Village. Around 230 local villagers would benefit from this project.

Funds needed: $5,788 (41,027 rmb)

Shem US funded this project

Strengthen Tibetan culture and teach younger generations about religion, Strengthen community ties, Provide a place for lay people and practitioners to worship and conduct rituals and practices, Encourage daily exercise, Raise morale

Funds needed:$8,909(71,992 rmb)

Shem’s private donors funded this project

Buy 160 Tibetan language instructional books and other study materials, hire two teachers and to rent two classrooms for the Basba Sun Tibetan School. Establish a school where the Tibetan children can learn their own language, and to save Tibetan language from dying out

Funds needed for 2007: $2,119 (16,954)

The Pecha fund and John Li funded this project for 2007

The Pecha fund will continually support this project for 2008 &2009