Update on ASIA America Activities for 2007
More than 150 projects have been realized in the sectors of emergency disaster relief, education, health, training, long distance sponsorship, hygiene promotion, cultural heritage protection, rural and livestock development in Tibet, India, Nepal and Inner Mongolia, as well as interventions of reconstruction and development after the destruction caused by the Tsunami in Sri Lanka. Projects of public awareness on
development issues in Italy and Europe.
With the wish to continue to work driven by the same passion and conviction that “civilization is always a delicate flower which is constantly in danger. Let’s fight to give it light, sun, life!” (Fosco Maraini).
How you can help continue ASIA’s work into the future:
1.) Make a donation to the Khamdogar Project.
2.) Become a Long Distance Sponsor for a child at the new Shala School for Girls, the new Derge Elementary School or for one of the nuns living in Khamdogar.
3.) Offer a scholarship to a young person so they can go on and continue their education and training beyond the elementary level.
4.) Sponsor a monk, nun so they can continue traditional studies and practice.
5.) Sponsor an elderly person, so they can have a decent life.
6.) Become an “ambassador” for ASIA, helping to spread the word of ASIA’s work and mission,
The Khamdogar Project
History
Khamdogar is an ancient community of practitioners founded by Ringdzin Changchub Dorje, the master of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, in the early 1900s.
Ringdzin Changcub Dorje, a Dzogchen master and a famous Terton (discoverer of treasures) lived in this place with his family working as a doctor and transmitted his Teachings in a completely informal manner without creating monasteries or religious structures. Over the years monks and lay people came together around him in order to receive his Teachings and practice, creating a lay community to which each person contributed his or her work.
Near Khamdogar, in an area called Dedrol, there is a cave in which Atha Lhamo, the daughter of Master Changchub Dorje, lived and practiced. After a long period of inactivity due to the Cultural Revolution, the nuns have managed to build a small nunnery and take up their spiritual activities again. At the moment there are 66 nuns who live in retreat for long periods without contact with the outer world.
At present, because of the difficult situation in Tibet, the entire complex of Khamdogar is in ruins and the local people live in conditions of extreme poverty.
Concerned about this situation, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu asked Tsegyalgar East to help this community in order to preserve the Teachings transmitted by his Master. ASIA America is collaborating with Tsegyalgar, doing fundraising for this project.
Activities
1) Building a small study and practice college.
Estimated cost $65,945USD.
2) Construction of an aqueduct.
Estimated cost $51,290USD.
3) Restoration of the old temple where the Chorten of Rigdzin Changchub Dorje is preserved.
Estimated cost $58,620USD.
4) Restoration of the printing house and the Chortens built by Rigdzin Changchub Dorje.
Estimated cost $51,290USD.
The total cost of these works is $227,150USD.
The objective is to raise these funds as soon as possible and start construction work by spring 2008.
Long Distance Sponsorship of the Nuns
The project to provide ongoing, annual support for the 66 nuns who live in retreat at Dedrol Gompa, has begun.
The objective is to contribute to maintaining support for all 66 nuns in 2008.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Donate
You can contribute with a donation to the construction work, for which fund-raising has already begun.
Become a sponsor and support a nun
With only $250USD per year ($21/month) you can provide food, basic medical assistance, educational materials and everything necessary for a nun to have a decent life and meet basic needs.
ASIA America, in collaboration with Tsegyalgar East, has received $30,000USD in donations during 2006 and 2007 from individuals in the Dzogchen Community and through grants.
We have received Khamdogar brochures from ASIA Italy, which we will send to each North American local Gakyil and practice group to share with people. Gakyils at other Gars should request brochures from ASIA Italy. We should also have an update on the project from ASIA Italy in early 2008. ASIA field officers tried to visit in September, while in Derge, but couldn't due to heavy rains. As you know, access to the region is very difficult, making this one of ASIA’s most challenging projects.
Sponsorships - Adoption At A Distance Project
This is one of ASIA’s most successful projects. We have raised a significant amount of support for this project, currently facilitating sponsorship of 70 individuals --- most are children, the rest are monks and nuns, plus one scholarship for a youth to study beyond the primary level. We have a very generous donor who, single-handedly, sponsors 50 children. We would like to increase our sponsors in 2008 to bring the total to at least 100. Can you help by finding one friend, family member or colleague who would be interested in becoming a sponsor or by becoming a sponsor yourself?
So far, we have found only one sponsor for one nun in Khamdogar. We need your help to reach our goal of sponsoring all 66 nuns in 2008.
In addition, there are children in 2 new elementary schools – the new Shala school for girls and the new school in Derge – who are in need of sponsorship.
Upcoming fundraising drives
• Khamdogar Project: collaborating with Tsegyalgar East to continue fundraising and to find sponsors for the nuns. There are 66 and so far we have only one sponsor. The cost is $250US per year.
• Finding sponsors for the young female students of the new Shala School for Girls and the new school in Derge, both of which are primary schools. The cost is $360US per year.
Staff and volunteers of ASIA America
Since November of 2006, Margherita Pagni (based in California) has offered her skills as an organizational consultant on a pro bono basis to help us strengthen the board, streamline documentation, recruit board members, expand and organize our database of contacts, raise funds, write proposals, and plan in order to build our capacity and sustainability.
We also hired a part time administrative support person in 2007, Oni McKinstry, to clear the backlog and allow us to function more effectively. We are very pleased with her performance and dedication. Oni moved in early December and cannot continue with administrative services thereafter, however, she will consider joining the board once she gets settled.
We have identified and engaged the services of a new Certified Public Accountant, after a thorough search. We also hired a Bookkeeper for the first time. We felt that ASIA has grown to a point where these professional services are necessary, not only to ensure proper and continued financial management but to free up the board member who has been responsible for these tasks, to go forward with fundraising projects.
Board of ASIA America
Currently we have four board members: Andrea Nasca, Jim Casilio, Nathan Janoff, a new member from New Mexico and Barbara Paparazzo, a new member from Conway, MA. Thank you and welcome Nathan and Barbara!
Carol Fields, who served on the board, stepped down given her many other duties on the Baja project. Thank you, Carol, for your service on the board.
We’ve done intensive outreach to recruit board members and we’d like to bring our total to seven people who can meet (by phone) once a month on a regular basis.
Please spread the word and help us recruit new board members! Besides monthly phone meetings, we are asking of board members a commitment of at least 5 hours a month to take on some volunteer activity such as fundraising, maintaining contact with sponsors and donors, organizing events, administrative and fiscal oversight, etc. Knowledge of non-profit operations is not essential. Dedication to realizing Rinpoche’s goals for ASIA, common sense and ability to work collaboratively and creatively are important.
Building our capacity
We would like to increase our effectiveness in contributing to the activities of ASIA, to continue to serve those minority populations most in need and to fund projects developing infrastructure and services. There is great potential for ASIA America but it will take resources (human and financial) we currently don't possess. We need more people willing to make a commitment!
How you can help
Consider becoming a volunteer, a board member, increasing your donation, making a donation or taking on a sponsorship.
Please contact us if you have any questions, would like to make a donation or would like to initiate a sponsorship. We hope you are all doing very well and have a happy new year!
Thank you for your ongoing support, without which nothing would be possible!
ASIA America
Post Office Box 124
Conway, MA 01341-0124 USA
413.369.4153 Phone
413.369.4473 Fax
asia-usa@tsegyalgar.org
