Some years ago I was fortunate to travel to Nepal and join an ‘aid trek’ with TREK-AID (in connection with the Tibet Relief Fund of UK) meeting in Kathmandu before bussing over to Pokhara. From here our 3 week trek took us through stunning yet challenging landscapes of the Annapurna region, towered-over by some of the world highest peaks as our daily companions, as spring was returning to the land.

Along the way we stayed at and worked in several villages and communities of Tibetans in Exile : at each we were able to connect with ‘real’ people; get to be a part of THEIR world for an instant as we helped them develop and fund new projects : eg a sewing machine to make traditional costumes for their cultural performances; conversion of an old stable into a community hall and place to gather to enjoy keeping their culture alive; a new building for village elders to pray and meditate in : each time handing over ‘real’ money to make these projects happen.

Even more rewarding for me personally was to meet Tenzin Kunga, a young boy whom I have sponsored in his schooling now for over 12 years : to be welcomed into his simple family home in Pokhara and experience a little of his world, beyond the many school reports and letters we’d exchanged was a priceless time

Tenzin Kunga was born with a cleft palette and as he grew into adolescence he needed further surgery and speech therapy to help him live a more normal life : previously I had raised additional funds to help him and the family this way.

Now that he is 19, he is wanting to go to college, which also will need sponsoring. And of course more children in that community are just starting school and will need funding. Much of these simple steps will make a huge difference,a nd the network of field-workers and distribution is already established, so I can conenct directly into that now, without going through all the regular and often distanced protocols, and thus ensure sponsorship happens exactly when and where needed

So THANK YOU for the difference YOU make: please DO consider being a part of this new way of raising funds for such projects, and tell others too. More info about Trek Aid, assisting with Friends of the World, can be found here.