Rokpa Projects in Tibet, Nepal, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Overview

Rokpa currently supports or runs over 120 projects in

Tibet, Nepal, South Africa and Zimbabwe

The majority of these are aimed at giving children from the poorest backgrounds the opportunity of an education and training. Rokpa also funds healthcare and a small number of environmental projects. The preservation and regeneration of Tibet's rich culture and language has always been an important aspect of our work.

Tibet

Tibetans live in one of the poorest areas of the world. Most of the country is very high with extremes of cold in the long winter making it difficult to grow crops. Most of people's lives are spent just finding enough food and fuel to survive. Outside of the main cities the majority of the population are nomadic herders or small scale farmers.

Rokpa has been working in the Tibetan Homeland since 1989 and now supports over 100 projects. The projects aim to help the poorest people so that they become able to help themselves or just simply stay alive.

Nepal

A large number of people in Nepal cannot afford health care or education for their children. Diseases such as TB and leprosy are common, a situation made worse by poverty, malnutrition and lack of hygiene.

Women are often married very young without being educated, and have large families at an early age. Often deserted by their husbands, they are unable to support themselves and their children. As a result there are a large number of abandoned or orphaned children sleeping rough and begging in the streets.

Rokpa has been giving short and long-term aid through three main projects in Boudhanath, on the edge of Kathmandu, to the many hundreds of hungry, sick and homeless people who gather there every winter to beg from tourists who visit the holy Shrine.

Republic of South Africa

Every year thousands of migrants arrive in Johannesburg, not just from rural areas but also as refugees from other African countries. They join the high number of homeless and destitute people already struggling to survive on the streets. Many have HIV/AIDS.

Rokpa helps through outreach work with the homeless community, providing nutritional meals, giving counselling and advice on HIV/AIDS and encouraging children and young adults to settle in shelters where education is on offer.

During 2003 40,000 nutritious meals were given out as well as free medical care, clothing and shoes, but there are hundreds more who are going without and could be supported if the funds were available.

Zimbabwe

As many as 70% of the population in Zimbabwe are now living below the poverty line. The cost of essential foods and medicines are out of reach for millions of people. One survey found that over 70% of people in high-density urban areas only have one full meal every three days. Because transport costs are so high many people need to walk miles to get to work.

Rokpa's charity work covers a wide range of support in the high density areas of Harare . In its attempt to respond to the growing needs of the poor, Rokpa is constantly expanding its projects as resources become available.