Our Goal: better life conditions in Golog.
The goal of the Golog Support Foundation is to improved healthcare and education in Golog. Golog is a so called TAR, Tibetan Autonomous Region, in the Chinese province Qinghai, about 500 miles North-East of Lhasa. That is just outside the territory that we know as 'Tibet'. We focus our activities on the poorest people, mostly Tibetan women, children and older people.
The foundeation was started in June 2007 and is independant, so not connected to any religious or political organisation.
Here you can read more about our vision and targets.
Your help is urgently needed. You can donate on bank account number 1331.37.848 of Stichting Golog Support Foundation, Rotterdam, with the mentioning of 'earthquake'. From outside The Netherlands you need the IBAN number; that is: NL67 RABO 0133 1378 48 Or to our counterpart in Luxemburg: pictures (notice! some shocking images)
or download here the letter on behalf of lama Jigmé Namgyal (pdf format). |
Project 1. 'The doctor nearby'. [new text December 2009]
With the slogan "the doctor nearby" we intend to improve the healthcare situation in Golog. How can we execute this? There are many obstacles, but as always, there are also opportunities. Our financial means are limited and foreigners have almost no access to the region.
During the summer of 2009 we made the financial means available for a local, Tibetan doctor to travel around and visit places where in that period many nomads gather. With a car, Tibetan medication and some local assistence, the doctor provided basic medical help to 1840 individuals. The costs were a few euros per patient, including medication.
The doctor giving medical consults in his tent
Although there are many additional wishes, the reactions were in general very positive. Treatment of more serious complaints was not possible with just one or two consults. But for many people a single consult was effective and with the help of Tibetan medication their complaint was cured. They suffered from common, sometimes chronic diseases, like pain in their throat, stomachache and kidney inflammation; also hepatetis is common. There were also gynecology related problems.
Through our very direct contacts, we can be sure that all of the money for this project reached it's target. There were no 'hidden' costs.
Based on our experience with this project, we decided to continue this approach and if possible extend it. With this (new) approach we left, for the time being, our earlier plan to establish one or more fixed medical posts. Now we focus on mobile help and focus on repeating this, if possible on a larger scale and with specialized doctors.
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Project 2.Lessons English for Tibetan children.
In Tibetan regions there is a strong need to learn how to speak English. It provides a way to get into contact with people outside their daily circle.
photo: Michiel Peters, 2007
From April 2007 we had our first teacher (Hannemeis Peters) teaching at the primary school in the regional capital Dawu. She teached there for half a year as a volunteer.Two successors are ready to go there; as soon as they can trvel to the area they will pick up where Hannemeis left. On the education page you can find more information about Hannemeis' experience and the future approach.
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Project 3. The Golog Child Fund.
Many children in Golog migrate with their nomad parents and therefor lack access to schools. There are also many orphans in need of daily care and education. For this purpose we have started the Golog Child Fund. As a start we took over a small private initiative to take care of ten children. We plan to contunue this activity and also to start a second group.
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The Golog region
photo: Lux, 2006
Golog is an Tibetan Autonomous Region within the Chinese province of Qinghai. Over ninety percent of the population areTibetans. The Tibetans in Golog are mostly nomads. They make a living from their yaks, a kind of rund. They provide milk, meat, skins and dung. Everything is being used.
Parts of Golog are among the poorest areas in the world. Within China and Tibet they belong to the most backward regions.