ROKPA Times July 2011

The new ROKPA Kids in Nepal

Volume 31 / July 2011 With Annual Report 2010

The new children 3

From Street Child to Manager 4

Tibet 6

Nepal 8

Zimbabwe 9

Balance sheet 10

Statement of revenues and expenditures 11

Performance report 12

News 14

This is how you can help! 15

Editor: Marie-Luce Le Febve de Vivy

Layout: Volker Haller, www.vhvk.de

Picture Editor: Barbara Meier

All photos and texts: © ROKPA INTERNATIONAL

Edition: 8.500 copies

Printed on FSC-Paper

ROKPA INTERNATIONAL is ZEWO-certified since 2004

Dear ROKPA- friends!

Ladies and Gentlemen!

I would like to share something with you that gladdens my heart at the moment. Recently, I was in Nepal: What is happening here is pure magic – an enchantment you cannot shake off again. In this country there are truly great problems – but, just like in a well-known comic strip – there is a place in this country where something wonderful is happening: the ROKPA children’s home in Boudha.

Many of the children who grew up in the ROKPA children’s home have stepped out into the world and stand on their own two feet today – such as Dilip, for example. He always wanted to be a pilot and is now studying to become a computer engineer in Detroit, USA. His sister, Kanchi, is studying in Australia. They both work together to earn a living. Sönam is just finishing his training as a physiotherapist in South India. Tenzin goes to school in New York – his father is finally able to take care of him after many years at ROKPA. Karma is learning in one of the most prestigious schools in Great Britain. Ram Karki has his own video shop. Ram Bishta works as a cook in India. Arjun, with the fabulous hands, is a confectioner in a restaurant near the stupa. Naresh has opened a DVD shop at the end of our little road, which allows him to finance his college studies. Pabitra has recently moved to London, where he received a government grant. And then Ram Hari: He is using everything he learned with us to help other children (page 4). I have visited his project. I was touched to see signs of ROKPA everywhere – how the children are raised, how the house is furnished – all this is a reflection of ROKPA. Ram Hari gives “his” children the same chance that he once received through ROKPA.

Even though our projects for street children and orphans in Nepal as well as in Tibet were based largely on “gut feeling” 20 to 30 years ago, today it is obvious: our approach, coming from the heart, is the right one. The first generation of former ROKPA children, who are now starting to take action themselves, prove it. Ram Hari and the others are just some examples out of many! All of them ensure that young people can take responsibility in their country and contribute towards reducing the social plight as they grow up. ROKPA will continue living in and with these children! This is the magic of my life! And you, the donors, make this magic possible.

Thank you! Stay in good health – and faithful to us!

Yours,

Lea Wyler, Vice-President of ROKPA INTERNATIONAL

The siblings were brought to us recently by their aunt, who is so

poor, that she cannot feed her own children (ROKPA also supports her). Their father disappeared and their mother died seven years ago.

He had been going to school, but had to leave it to work as a dish-washer until May 2011.

His father, a coal miner, died in an accident.

Her father died when he fell down a steep hill. Her mother was disowned by her family when she

gave birth to another child after the death of her husband.

His mother has severe typhoid and his father cannot go to work as he looks

after his wife and the four children. This is why they have no medical help and not enough food.

My “daughter” Kelsang, 20 years old and just finishing her training at a college for hotel

management, has brought Pema to me. Pema’s foster family in Kathmandu is returning to their village – so Pema no longer has a home.

Her mother is very young but already has three children that she cannot feed.

The father has abandoned the family and married another woman.

His parents separated and both remarried. They disowned their son –

they had no use for him in their new lifes! Since play school, Badal has been the best in his class.

His father is dead, his mother works as a day labourer and does the laundry for other people. She wants her son to

have the chance to go to school.

30 years ROKPA- 30 years help

The ROKPA Kids in Kathmandu now have their own Facebook page:

Our former street children will be very happy if you also become a "Fan" of this page! Please support the children in the ROKPA children's home with a donation to

ROKPA Children’s Home

The New Residents of the ROKPA Children's Home

by Lea Wyler

In May 2011, during my annual control visit to Nepal, I took in new street children. They no longer suffer from hunger and can live free of the trauma that has shaped their early years in grinding poverty. The new ROKPA kids will – thanks to your donations – be able to attend school and grow up with the protection

of the ROKPA family. They joined their 52 brothers and sisters – under the loving care of Sagar, Bijay (both ROKPA “children” who now work at the children's home), Radha, Didi Parvati and all their older brothers and sisters who also take on part of the responsibility.


From Street Child to Manager

by Marie-Luce Le Febve de Vivy

in cooperation with : Christa Gomez

Ram Hari was ten years old when he ran away from home because the poverty was too severe and he was beaten frequently. For 20 days he was on the road, on foot and without money, until he reached Kathmandu. “Sometimes I had nothing to eat for two or three days” he remembers.

Upon arrival in the big city, Ram Hari is surprised by its chaos and noise. “I was afraid of getting lost in this strange place.” But then he meets a man to whom he pours his heart out. The man brings him to a factory, where about 30 adults and more than 20 children are processing wool. “We worked from 4 o'clock in the morning until 11 at night and slept in the same room, with two blankets for all of us. The wool fibres made us cough all the time”. When Ram Hari asks for his wage after six months of work, he is thrown out. Without any money, he is forced to sleep in the street.

When ROKPA's soup kitchen opens in winter, Ram Hari eats there every day until he meets Lea Wyler. He tells her that he would like to go to school. Soon his wish comes true: after being washed, he receives clean, neat clothes. “On this day the happiest part of my life began. I was allowed to ride in a car for the first time, and thanks to ROKPA, I could finally go to school.”

20 years later, Ram Hari is travelling to Switzerland. The cast out street child has become a committed and successful manager. Last year, Ram Hari, who has married and is the father to a four year old girl, has made his dream come true. In the countryside about seven kilometres outside Kathmandu, together with some friends and sponsors he founded two children's homes of his own. “One of the children's houses is for orphans who lived in the streets but stayed “good” children. In the other, smaller children's house we look after more difficult cases, who have been sniffing glue or taking drugs”, Ram Hari explains. “The latter often run away, but wealways fetch them back. When they finally stop sniffing glue, they become very hungry and want to eat every two hours. Their interest in visiting school only awakens once they overcome their addiction.”

A short interview with Ram Hari on the occasion of his visit to the ROKPA office in Zurich.

Ram Hari: To be honest, not to steal, to communicate directly in a decent way, and to help other people.

I have learned to treat the people I work with kindly and with respect – from the smallest to the biggest. I listen to all of them and only then decide what is right or wrong. This is very important when working together with others. I am convinced that when I live these values, people will be happy to support me and appreciate the help I offer.

I very much enjoyed the loving atmosphere and I like the children. They were all very cooperative.

I want to build a children's home for “my” children, just like ROKPA, and to pass on everything I learned at ROKPA.


Amongst the protégées that Ram Hari takes care of, there are many neglected children with whom contact was established through the ROKPA soup kitchen.

Ram Hari went ahead step by step to acquire the skills he needs for his new and responsible task. After nine years of being supported by ROKPA and a commercial education, Ram Hari earned his first money working for a Swiss trekking company. “Even though I was making good money, after four years I was drawn back to ROKPA. I wanted to give something back after all the opportunities for development ROKPA had given me free of charge in the course of my life”. During the last six years, Ram Hari has taken on more and more responsibility at ROKPA, first as an assistant in the children's house, then as the manager of the new ROKPA guest house and co-director of the children's house. By founding his own two children's houses, the former street child now follows in “Mummy Lea's” footsteps. And he makes sure that other abandoned children receive the chance to escape from grinding poverty and receive a loving education.

Meanwhile, Ram Hari gives a home to 48 children and employs 14 staff members, including two former ROKPA children.

During his tour through Switzerland and other countries, Ram Hari is working hard to raise the necessary funds for his projects. His organisation has already founded branches in Switzerland, Ireland and the USA. England will follow soon.

Ram Hari's example shows: The seeds that are sown by ROKPA, will one day bear wonderful fruit. Fruits that can be enjoyed by further generations of street children in need in the completely destitute country of Nepal.

This way we ensure that the donated money you entrust us with is used efficiently and sustainably -- from one human being to another.

With your donation for our Project No. 8200, you make sure that further orphans and street children are given a chance. Please use the enclosed pay slip or make your donation online via our website www.rokpa.ch.

Donate sustainably!

Many charities try to support these children. But only very, very few of them can point to the long term effects their help actually has! Even though ROKPA, as a member of ZEWO, consciously does not offer individual sponsorships, unlike some large charities we personally know the children, the families, the sick, and the elderly people whom we support with your donations.


ROKPA Annual Report

What Happened in Tibet (China) in 2010

by Barbara Pfeiffer In 2010, we were on the road again; moving from project to project, travelling over mountains and through valleys, from school to school. During our inspection trip of several weeks, we visited many schools where ROKPA provides education to over 10,000 young Tibetans annually. As part of its education program, ROKPA found that using the Tibetan language in classroom instruction is an important factor in maintaining the Tibetan culture. To illustrate one of ROKPA’s educational successes of the last year, I would like to give you the example of Jerang Tso (picture on the left). She just turned 19 and works as a hotel receptionist in the town of Luchu. She never met her father, her mother is a pig farmer. She raises eight pigs a year and sells them to neighbours or relatives, receiving around Yuan 800 – 1000 (CHF 100 - 130), which constitutes her full annual income. She tries to make ends meet by growing grain and vegetables, but barely manages. Jerang Tso’s mother was unable to raise her daughter´s school fees, which are mandatory for students past ninth grade. This is where ROPKA was able to help. 5 years ago, Jerang Tso started her education in the Girls´ School in Gannan, where ROKPA currently provides education to 119 girls. There are two fields of professional education available: tourism and administration. After two years of secondary school education, Jerang Tso completed two further years in a training program in tourism and business management. Now she works as a hotel receptionist in her hometown Luchu. She is happy to be able to contribute to her family’s livelihood - even if working hours are sometimes long. Whatever money she mages to save up contributes to making her dream come true – she wants to continue her education.

Population: 6 million Life expectancy (in China): 74.7 years Number of ongoing ROKPA projects in 2010: 122

Project expenses in 2010: CHF 2,159,493.00

Number of direct beneficiaries: 13,349


In 2010, ROKPA also provided health care services for thousands of poor and destitute Tibetans. As an example, ROPKA supported the “Lamdrak Clinic” in Kanze, initiated by a representative of ROKPA - Lamdrak Rinpoche. 70 percent of Kanze’s population are Tibetans who prefer lower-cost traditional Tibetan healthcare to expensive Western medicine. The practice, situated in a residential area, is always very busy. Chödrön, a young nun who studied Tibetan healing arts at university, works here as a doctor and a pharmacist. Together with two other doctors she treats poor people, who sometimes come from far away because the medical help is much cheaper here: examinations and diagnosis procedures are free of charge; only medication must be paid. Tibetan medication on average costs 1 Yuan per day of treatment here. Free prescriptions are given to those unable to afford even this price. Higher-priced modern Chinese preparations are also available. The “Lamdrak Clinic” serves both as a medical practice and as pharmacy and is open 7 days per week. The clinic treats about 50-60 patients daily. The next destination of our inspection trip was the town of Nangchen. Palden – a young Tibetan doctor who received training in subjects such as plant breeding, biological farming and biological composting in Northern Germany and Scotland - lives here. He is now an assistant to the project leader, Dr. Tashi. The ROKPA project aims to cultivate rare herbs in the mountains. In a beautiful, paradisiacal landscape we observed the first successful composting attempts and saw the first test plants growing on the terrain that ROPKA intended for this purpose.

After the devastating earthquake in Yushu (Tibet) on April 14, 2010, ROKPA provided first aid for the local population, including the orphans who had lived for many years in the ROKPA orphanage, which was totally destroyed by the earthquake.

For the first time in its history, ROKPA created a taskforce and, additionally, a Yushu-blog which has attracted international attention. Thanks to charitable donations from around the world, ROKPA was able to provide more than 100 weatherproof, fixed-floor tents and heaters to homeless Tibetans in Yushu (each tent offers space for 6-10 people). The heated tents allowed the earthquake victims to survive in the extremely low winter temperatures. The reconstruction of Yushu is progressing slowly. The ROKPA orphans had to be sheltered in other boarding schools.

, you can make it possible for one or more sick people to receive treatment from a local Tibetan doctor.

, you can make it possible for an orphan to receive school materials for a whole year.

, you can make it possible to rescue the life of a person through simple surgery.

, you can make it possible for an intelligent young person to attend one year of college.

EACH donation is important! Thank you.


ROKPA Annual Report

What Happened in Nepal in 2010

Raja with his sister Dhani in front of his new shop. He still lives in the children´s home and goes to college. In addition, he sells vegetables at the ROKPA soup kitchen and in the children´s home. Clever!

In 2010, “Mummy Lea” took five new street children into the children´s home: Rajan Rokka, Pratik Chapagain, Dolma Lhamu Gurung, Tsering Lhamo Sherpa and Ramesh Khadka. In April, “Schweizer Illustrierte” journalists Stephanie Ringel and Fabienne Bühler visited the children’s house and attended rehearsals for the upcoming “ROKPA Kids” dance tour. They wrote a long article that served as kick-off for the anniversary tour in Switzerland, Germany and England, which unfortunately had to be postponed due to the disastrous earthquake in Yushu (see page 7). ROPKA decided to fully concentrate on first aid for Yushu instead. However, the 11 “ROKPA Kids” did not practice in vain. They performed several times between June 24th and July 12th at the renowned cultural event “Brave Festival” in Wroclaw, Poland – along with children from Zimbabwe and other countries, they received huge ovations for their show.

The ROKPA soup kitchen opened again from December 2010 to March 2011. For this purpose, the site has been upgraded under the direction of Mrs. Margrit Stahel. The plastic tents have been replaced by a

house dedicated to the preparation of the meals and the provision of medical services during winter, which previously took place in a medical tent. This year, sandwiches and tea were served for breakfast, and rice, lentils and vegetables for lunch. 45 kg of tea, 12,865 sandwiches, 4,950 kg of rice, 520 kg of lentils and 2,480 kg of vegetables were consumed within 80 days.

During the months the soup kitchen closes, a local farmer and his family cultivate potatoes and vegetables on its ground. They can also benefit from the solid housing now.

In addition, two shops and a space for a small Tibetan restaurant were built in the area. In one of the shops, Raja sells vegetables; in the other, Changba offers school supplies. Both of them are former ROKPA kids who now make a living independently.

Population: 29.3 million Life expectancy: 66.2 years Number of ongoing ROKPA projects in 2010: 7 Project expenses in 2010: CHF 189,647.00 Number of direct beneficiaries: 799

, you can make it possible for 400 homeless people to be provided with a warm breakfast.

, you can make it possible for one former street child to stay in the ROKPA children’s house for one month– including food, clothes, medical services and education.

, you can provide a poor mother or family with the startup capital to build her/its own business (e.g. a tea shop or a tailor’s atelier).


Zimbabwe is the country with the lowest life expectancy worldwide. 1.2 million people are HIV infected and every fourth child is an orphan.

The ROKPA activities and programs in 2010 aimed to support chronically sick people (especially those affected by AIDS and tuberculosis), orphans, at-risk children and children with disabilities. Many children have to be raised by relatives because they lost their parents. The majority of children lives in homes laking the middle generation, where the aged caretakers themselves require care. About 90 % of the population lives below the poverty level.

Despite the humble resources available for projects in Zimbabwe, ROKPA achieved some strong results in Harare, Chegutu, Chitungwiza and Rusape. ROKPA paid school fees for 219 children and teenagers,

regularly distributed food packages and medicine to families taking care of handicapped relatives, spread information on AIDS and offered counseling training. In discussion groups, the participants learned how to deal better with their life circumstances and how to make new contacts.

ROKPA helped 85 people to develop business competence in order to generate their own income. Some of them were parents with handicapped children in Kuwadzana. At first they were tought how to produce peanut butter, as they were peanut producers and the required machine was available. Some of the income has been invested into another project – batik production. Thanks to these projects the participants can now support themselves and their families.

Tinashe Mashumba has cerebral palsy and cannot use his hands, thus, his legs have to do the work for his hands. Tinashe is worried about how he would pass the qualifying examination for the 7th grade. Thanks to a sponsor who donated a computer to ROKPA, Tinashe can now write his exams and home work on the computer.

Population: 12 million

Life expectancy: 49.6 years

Number of ongoing ROKPA projects in 2010: 10

Project expenses in 2010: CHF 50,480.00

Number of beneficiaries: 3,297

What Happened

in Zimbabwe in 2010

, you make it possible for an orphan to attend school for one month.

, you make it possible for an HIV-infected mother to purchase medicine, so she can take care of her children as long as possible.


CHF % CHF %

Available funds 1.897.665 80,7 1.204.484 65,9 Securities 393.014 16,7 597.443 32,7 Outstanding money from deliveries, goods and services

1.645 0,1 1.180 0,1

Other outstanding money 53.816 2,3 7.798 0,4 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

6.549 0,3 17.244 0,9

Short-term debt capital 137.846 21.394 Loan Lea Wyler 107.759 4,6 0 0,0 Depot Soup Kitchen 6.850 0,3 5.743 0,3 Deferred credits to income 23.237 1,0 15.651 0,9 Long-term debt capital 130.435 130.435 Loans third persons 130.435 5,5 130.435 7,1

Funds Nepal 1.413.412 60,1 1.435.196 78,5 Funds Tibet 847.467 36,0 637.146 34,9 Funds India 163.110 6,9 155.219 8,5 Funds Africa 121.763 5,2 122.604 6,7 Funds Children 4.306 0,2 142 0 Funds Women 3.009 0,1 2.575 0,1 Funds Switzerland 45.000 1,9 45.000 2,5

-513.659 -21,8 -721.562 -39,5 Acquired free capital -513.659 -721.562

ROKPA Annual Statement

Finances in 2010

Balance ROKPA INTERNATIONAL in CHF (consolidated)


Donations Tibet 2.302.744 63,0 1.785.781 55,3 Donations Nepal 185.913 5,1 295.541 9,1 Donations India 65.237 1,8 55.577 1,7 Donations Africa 57.101 1,6 180.778 5,6 Free Donations 855.952 23,4 618.543 19,1

Profits from shop/markets/ticket sales

27.050 0,7 38.291 1,2 Profit from events 88.042 2,4 202.432 6,3 Profit from administration, IT 50.500 1,4 0 0,0 Interests 2.009 0,1 12.676 0,4 Securities profit 6.628 0,1 12.832 0,4 Currency profit 11.026 0,3 28.223 0,9 Diverse profit 185 0 0 0,0

Projects / Sponsorships - Tibet 2.159.493 59,1 2.312.655 71,6 Projects / Sponsorships - Nepal 189.647 5,2 226.000 7,0 Projects / Sponsorships – India 49.351 1,4 21.300 0,7 Projects / Sponsorships – Africa 50.480 1,4 142.664 4,4 Travel exp./allowances, project 16.928 0,5 23.385 0,7

Expenses from shop/markets 7.590 0,2 6.470 0,2 Expenses from events 46.351 1,3 40.248 1,2

Rent 55.570 1,5 51.941 1,6 Staff expenses incl. social services 249.238 6,8 254.860 7,9 Communication 43.565 1,2 34.659 1,1 Administration 49.911 1,4 30.757 1,0

Securities expenses 9.229 0,3 10.444 0,3 Currency expenses 269.560 7,4 42.801 1,3 Other 47.386 0,7 49.970 1,5

Allocation -2.291.930 -2.185.307 Disposition 2.448.972 2.702.619

Allocation -719.661 -556.418 Disposition 0 0 Funds result -562.619 -39.106

Organization capital -154.531 -56.586 Growth/attrition from acquired free capital 207.903 -547.592 Attrition from the free funds -719.661 -182.772 Allocation to committed funds 357.227 673.778 Annual result after allocations 0 0

Operating accounts ROKPA INTERNATIONAL in CHF

(consolidated)

The complete consolidated annual accounts in accordance with SWISS GAAP FER can be found at ROKPA headquarters in Zürich (Phone: 044 26 26 888, Mail: info@ rokpa.ch) or at www.rokpa.org. The calculations represent a fragment of the summary of the annual accounts.


ROKPA Annual Report

ROKPA was founded in 1980 and is based in Zurich. The association’s mission is to provide humanitarian aid and education for those in need around the world regardless of their faith, race, sex or nationality. ROKPA organises its own projects and supports existing projects that reflect its o mission.

The association ROKPA INTERNATIONAL is based in Zurich. It is the umbrella organization for 18 ROKPA country branches around the world and is responsible for all projects and sponsorships in Nepal, Tibet, India, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche (President)

Lea Wyler (Vice-President)

Gerry Leumann

Syl Edelmann

Catherine Brown

Elise Jacobsen

Andrea Widmer

The executive board of ROKPA INTERNATIONAL held four meetings in the financial year 2010.

Finance & Administration

Pia Schneider (30%)

Gabriele Lenk (50%)

Communications Marie-Luce Le Febve de Vivy (25% from 1.11.10)

Internships Kassandra Birchler (50% up to 31.8.10)

Barbara Meier (50% from 7.7.10)

Country offices: Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, United Kingdom, India, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Nepal, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Spain, South Africa, USA.

Bea Schmutz, Susanna Hardegger, Monika Ghenzi

Harald Ammeter, Andrea Keller, Magdalena Kubicka, Marlis Lüscher, Georgios Mazarakis, Raquel Neubig, Susy Oswald, Margrit Stahel, Giovanna Sylla, Eva and Robert Tobler, George Walliser, Elisabeth Weiss, Andrea Widmer

Alana Craigen (Facebook), Klaus Falk (text, picture editor), Volker Haller (design of anniversary brochure), Balthasar Wicki (Yushu blog).

Sian Edwards, Anke Hoffmann, Ina Hohmann, Hanna Hündorf, Bettina Grieser Johns, Katrin Klein, Elaine Knoerich, Ann Krol, Sonja Kroll, Chris Michalski, Martha Müller, Susanne Reiche, David Tonge

The association ROKPA Switzerland (registered in Zürich) is responsible for generating funds in Switzerland. These funds are primarily for use in Tibet and Nepal.

Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche

Gerry Leumann (President)

Elka Gouzer

Claude A. Ribaux

Andreas Vollenweider

Lea Wyler

The executive board of ROKPA Switzerland held three meetings in the financial year 2010.

Robert Schenker (President) Dr. iur. Thomas Bär Walter Bosch Christine Egerszegi Josef Estermann Kurt E. Feller Marc Forster Dr. med. Felix Gutzwiller Peter Hasler Trix Heberlein Philipp Keel Cyrill Koller Dr. med. Remo Largo Charles Lewinsky Dr. iur. Ellen Ringier Roger Schawinski Emil Steinberger Niccel Steinberger Franz Steinegger Sandra Studer Andreas Vollenweider Dr. iur. Christian Wenger

Office director: Pia Schneider (30%)

Administration/Fundraising:

Gabriele Lenk (50%)

Communications manager

Marie-Luce Le Febve de Vivy

(25% from 1.11.10)

Internships: Kassandra Birchler

(50% up to 31.8.10),

Barbara Meier (50% from 7.7.10)


Finance: Bea Schmutz, Susanna Hardegger, Monika Ghenzi Administration / IT: Harald Ammeter, Andrea Keller, Magdalena Kubicka, Marlis Lüscher, Georgios Mazarakis, Raquel Neubig, Susy Oswald, Margrit Stahel, Giovanna Sylla, Eva und Robert Tobler, George Walliser, Elisabeth Weiss, Andrea Widmer, Ralph Williams Communications: Angela von Koblinski (media office), Balthasar Wicki (Yushu blog), Klaus Falk, (picture editor, photos), Maryuri Saldañas (photos), Marie-Luce Le Febve de Vivy (ROKPA Times) Events: Angela von Koblinski, Raquel Neubiq Sales: Bea Schmutz, Margrit Stahel Branch office: Margrit Stahel, 8222 Beringen

Auditor for both associations: KPMG AG, Badenerstrasse 172, 8004 Zürich

The following people were responsible for the management of the organisation during the financial year 2010:

Management, minutes and dissemination of information: Pia Schneider, 8604 Volketswil Financial administration and accounts: Pia Schneider, 8604 Volketswil

In 2010 ROKPA ran a total of 144 aid projects. It received donations totaling CHF 3,466,947 to help run its projects. This represents an increase of 18% on the preceding year (2009: CHF 2,936,220).

At least 23,900 hours of work were donated in 2010 at ROKPA INTERNATIONAL’s head office and its 18 country offices. This is equivalent to at least CHF 950,000!

Unpaid work as volunteers at head office: approx. 4,000 hours Unpaid work on management committees: approx. 5,000 hours Unpaid work at ROKPA’s local country offices: approx. 8,800 hours Unpaid overtime for permanent staff: approx. 800 hours Street kitchen in Nepal: approx. 5,000 hours Markets in Switzerland: approx. 300 hours

In 2010, ROKPA invested a total of CHF 2,465,899 in its projects.

This represents a decrease of around 9 percent in its activities compared to the previous year (2009: CHF 2,726,004).

In 2010, ROKPA INTERNATIONAL used its donations for the following projects (in CHF):

Education and training 1,345,169 Orphans and street children 201,156 Medical care 202,089 Preservation of culture 281,496

Children’s home, incl. education 128,855 Street children 18,407 Street kitchen/Medical tent 15,735 Guest house 18,462

Zimbabwe: 10 projects 50,480 South Africa: 5 projects 0 (*)

(*) To date, ROKPA South Africa’s projects have been supported by local sponsors.

(1 project under supervision)


News from ROKPA Switzerland

and had a brilliant idea for helping ROKPA. At their own cost, they hired a small room at Rellstenstrasse 19 in Adliswil and have been exhibiting and selling Robert Brieger’s own pictures with great success since the middle of March. The proceeds – so far 16,300 Swiss francs – have been donated in full to ROKPA.

The exhibition is regularly updated to include new pictures. At the moment, there is a selection of around 60 pieces (acrylic or pencil and crayon), most of which are relatively small. The Briegers have deliberately kept their prices on the low side in order to sell as many pictures as possible to benefit our aid projects. Why not take a look for yourself?

Dr Herbert Schwabl (Padma), Dr Mingji Cuomu, Lea Wyler

To commemorate the visit of ROKPA‘s President , we organised two events in

Zurich. Together with PADMA AG, we sent invitations for a panel discussion on the evening of 15.April 2011, entitled “Tibetan medicine at the interface between science and transcendence”. The speakers were and the Tibetan physician

. answered questions from the audience.

There was also great response to our on 17. April 2011 in the Hottingersaal. Among the highlights was a surprise performance by the Tibetan mantra singer together with ROKPA ambassador and star harpist

. Andreas also accompanied , one of the ROKPA kids from Nepal, as he performed a beautiful Tibetan song. Pictures of the event can be found on our website at

This year, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is paying tribute to the extraordinary contribution made to society by six former refugees in the United Kingdom (their new home) in the form of a mobile exhibition entitled ‘60 Years 6 Lives’. One of those 6 lives is that of

, President and co-founder of ROKPA, who fled from Tibet to England in 1959.

Mid April saw the formation of a project committee by ROKPA INTERNATIONAL in Zürich. With ROKPA growing bigger and bigger, the job of the committee is to ensure that all new projects comply with ROKPA and ZEWO guidelines and to advise management staff and the executive board. The newly elected members are (ex DEZA), (solicitor) and (ROKPA Germany, from l. to r.)

The website at www.rokpa.org has been given a complete makeover in line with ROKPA’s new corporate design. The ‘DONATE NOW’ button in the top right corner allows visitors to the site to make an ONLINE donation quickly and easily by Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

How you can help!

Donations are ROKPA’s only source of income for over 140 projects in Tibet, Nepal, Zimbabwe and South Africa - helping orphans, the homeless, the sick and aged. YOUR donation can help extremely underprivileged people to escape from desperation – now! Whether you want to make a one-off donation, support one of our projects over a longer period, or decide to include ROKPA in your will – we are grateful for EVERY donation.

As a business person or company director, why not take the lead? You could, for example, choose to redirect the money you normally spend on Christmas or anniversary gifts to your customers and use it instead to support people in need by means of a regular company donation. We are confident that such generous action would delight your colleagues and your customers alike.

Instead of giving someone flowers, you can make a donation to ROKPA in their name. For donations of CHF 50 or more, we will send that special person a beautiful ROKPA gift certificate.

Losing and burying a loved one is a very painful experience. Why not ask those who attend the funeral to show their respect in a lasting way by donating to a ROKPA aid project?

Perhaps you have thought about making a will and then put the idea aside. It is a subject that we often prefer to avoid. However, including ROKPA in your will or through a legacy can give you happiness here and now - and the certainty that your generosity will help orphans and street children. ROKPA has charitable, tax-free status in all Swiss cantons. This means that your donations are not subject to inheritance or gift tax and can be used in full to support ROKPA’s projects. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask for more information or call us on 044 26 26 888.

Whether at work, on the road, with your neighbors or in your class: you can inspire those around you to take an interest in the work carried out by ROKPA. Please call us at 044 26 26 888 if you need information material or donation slips for your friends or acquaintances.

: Post bank account: ROKPA 80-19029-5

Bank details: Clariden Leu AG, Bahnhofstrasse 32, Postfach, CH-8032 Zürich

Account: ROKPA, 0065-455090-11-1, IBAN: CH70 0506 5045 5090 1100 1

BIC: CLLECHZZXXX

Documents

ROKPA Times July 2011