Project Manager: Shemgroup
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:$14,883(101,758rmb)
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 12th 2008.
Second Location: South West Nationality University in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China, on September 20-21st 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.
|
Item |
Number of |
Price Per
|
Total Cost |
|
Lodging for the |
10 people |
90 RMB/ |
1800 |
|
Transportation fee Roundtrip |
10 people |
|
1852 |
|
Meals for managers |
12 times for |
15 RMB/ |
540 |
|
Meals for volunteers, |
6 times for |
15 RMB/ |
3600 |
|
Desserts and |
|
|
1254 |
|
Phone costs # |
3 managers |
100 |
300 |
|
Announcement fee |
|
|
50 |
|
Conference Room |
1 |
1000 |
1000 |
|
CD |
1000 |
3 |
3000 |
|
Photo |
63 |
5 |
315 |
|
#Other mana |
|
|
250 |
|
Total |
|
|
13,961 |
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
| Item | Number of Items |
Price Per ItemRMB |
Total Cost RMB |
|
Lodging for the |
10 people for |
90 RMB/ |
2160 |
|
Transportation fee roundtrip
|
14 people |
|
5660 |
|
Meals for the |
15 times for |
15 RMB/ |
675 |
|
Meals for the |
9 times for |
15 RMB/ |
4185 |
|
Desserts |
|
|
1446 |
|
Conference room |
1 |
1000 |
1000 |
|
CD |
1000 |
3 |
3000 |
|
Photo |
48 |
5 |
240 |
|
Phone cost for the 3 managers # |
3 |
180 |
540 |
|
Other management expenses |
|
|
250 |
|
Announcement fee |
|
|
55 |
|
Total |
|
|
19,211 |
# 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
| Item | Number of Items |
Price Per ItemRMB |
Total Cost RMB |
| Reward for the Champion |
1 person | 6000 | 6000 |
| Reward for the Second Place Prize |
2 people | 4000 | 8000 |
| Reward for the Third Place Prize |
3 people | 2000 | 6000 |
| Encouragement Reward |
5 people | 800 | 4000 |
| Lodging for article Collectors | 12 days (3 people, 4 places stay for 3 days in each place) |
193/night | 2316 |
| Meals for Article Collectors | 36 times ( 3 people, 4 places) |
52 | 1872 |
| Transportation for Article Collectors |
6 times ( 3 places, 3 people) |
330 | 1980 |
| Lodging for the judging panel |
20 | 90 | 1800 |
| Meals for judging panel |
6 times ( 2 days, 23 people) |
333 | 1998 |
| Transportation fee for the judging panel | 23 | 140 | 3220 |
| Lodging for Prize Givers and Lecture Givers, Government Leaders, and volunteers |
30 people for 4 days |
40 | 4800 |
| Meals for Prize Givers and Lecture Givers Government Leaders, and volunteers | 12 times (30 people) |
600 | 7200 |
| Transportation fee for Prize Givers and Lecture Givers Government Leaders, and volunteers |
30 people | 200 | 6000 |
| Meeting Room | 1 | 1500 | 1500 |
| Video Camera (borrow) |
1500 | ||
| CD# | 1000 | 5 | 5000 |
| Photo | 350 | 5 | 1750 |
|
Certificate of Honor |
11 | 50 | 550 |
|
Prize |
11 | 150 | 1650 |
|
Phone cost for 3managers, |
800 | ||
|
Other expenses |
650 | ||
|
Total |
68,586 |
#: 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
| Total Cost for Third Forum RMB |
Total Cost for Forth Forum RMB |
Total Cost for Reward Ceremony RMB |
Total Cost for all Three Events RMB |
| 13,961 |