India-Tibetan Social Work

Tashi Delek.

I would like to first thank everyone who has donated to the Pennies for Partnerships and provide you an update.

We currently have funding to purchase approximately 85 bags of organic rice at 25kg (55 pounds each). This is an additional 2125 kg (4675 pounds). The schedule for this large distribution will occur in a few months based on receiving the proper permits and also following the harvest. Until then we would like to continue to generate funds for the projects with the hopes of distributing to as many families as possible.

The above total does not include 7 bags which will be purchased for the school project alone which we will be scheduling to do the distribution in the next week. Because of logistics and timing we are unable to procure Tibetan Organic Rice and deliver to the India village so we have modified the project. since the class will be breaking soon and we need to provide follow up to the students we have decided to remain in the spirit of both communities benefiting so we will purchase local rice from the Indian farmers in Himachal Pradesh and distribute to some of the Tibetan refugees most in need. Thanks to the Tibetan Women’s Association we are able to efficiently locate the families and individuals most in need here in Dharamsala.

So to bring you up to date fully.

Pennies for Partnerships has already served 105 families in India and will serve at this time an additional 92 household making a total of 197 households served. The total amount of rice purchases that has been provided by gifts to Pennies for Partnerships is 10,835 pounds of rice (4925 kg).

I would like to say this is only make possible by your generous contributions.

Also soon there will be a group of fellows arriving in India who have expressed interest in giving energy to the project to assist the farmers. This is a very exciting opportunity for us to welcome new and fresh energy in hopes of building upon the current foundation of Pennies for Partnerships.

I would like to also mention a discussion with a fellow social worker of whom I met when the relationship with the Tibetan Farmers was first being developed. Because PfP has always been a project that supported existing Tibetan organizations she and I have been discussing the way in which we can combine forces since she was inspired by this project to return to California and have a fund raiser for the Tibetan Old People’s Home in Mundgod settlement camp. She recently brought in approximately $1400 to assist with projects for the elders and also contributed money for PfP to subsist with the purchase of organic foods for the elders. More to come on the ways in which the partnerships will develop.

Again thank you and if you have a creative idea, want to get involved, or want to contribute please comment or e-mail me:

penniesforpartnerships@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Leann Halsey

Tashi Delek from India!

From today until midnight on May 11th I would like to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s visit to the University of Arkansas where I first came to learn of the Tibetan struggle.

In 2008 I had the privilege to study under two amazing professors at the U of A, Dr. Burris and Geshe Dorjee who introduced me not only to the Tibetan community but to Tibetan Buddhism and the cultural values of this community.

Dr. Burris and Geshe Dorjee have been instrumental in bringing the Dalai Lama to Arkansas.

I am sad to be missing the event at the U of A as I know it is a very exciting time but I am here in India, as a social worker, volunteering in the community of which I feel drawn to advocate and garner support for; especially after my experiences in 2008 with the TEXT: Tibetans in Exile Today Program and my social work internship with the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA).

Today I would like to initiate an online celebration of the Dalai Lama’s visit to the U of A while at the same time drum up support for the Tibetan community in exile. There are many ways in which you can get involved and I will name a few.

WIN A TIBETAN HANDICRAFT – Buy an online raffle ticket by supporting the Pennies for Partnerships Rice Drive

Pennies for Partnerships is conducting a fund raiser to support Tibetan Organic Farmers, who are the poorest in the community and work the most labor intensive jobs and need assistance in economic development to sustain their environmental commitment to organic farming.

Pennies for Partnerships is having a RAFFLE. For every $15.00 gifted for a bag of rice your name will go into a drawing to WIN a Tibetan Handicraft Item. This is approximately the cost of 1 bag of rice which is 55 pounds (minus online transaction fees) and can feed a family for approximately one month.

There will be 3 WINNERS for the raffle not to mention all the people who will benefit from your gift.

Starting NOW anyone who contributes to Pennies for Partnerships will have their name put in a hat for a drawing to win a Tibetan handicraft gift sent from India directly to YOUR doorstep.

In order to participate you can contribute online.

http://www.indiasocialwork.wordpress.com

http://www.giveforward.com/penniesforpartnerships

or you can mail a check BUT YOU NEED to MESSAGE me for this info or e-mail me directly at:

penniesforpartnerships@gmail.com

or for those of you who live in Fayetteville, AR you can donate directly at the Bank of Fayetteville BUT YOU MUST MESSAGE ME FIRST for the information.

100% of your contribution will go for the purchase of rice (less fees for processing online transaction) to support the Tibetan Organic Farmers and the rice will be distributed to disadvantaged households who live on less than a dollar a day.

Let’s show the Tibetan community we care. Gift a bag of rice and WIN a Tibetan Handicraft.

Thank you for your gifts of compassion. The Pennies for Partnerships is only made possible by YOU and I am pleased to be your messenger of YOUR generosity. PLEASE Spread the word by JOINING us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pennies-for-Partnerships/200854716618673

Thank you,

Leann

Other organizations Pennies for Partnerships has supported previously do great work and have initiatives you can support. If interested in showing support to these organizations please contact them directly.

Pennies for Partnerships’ first initiative in 2008 supported the pilot program of Tutors for Tibetans (initially known as Tibetan Children’s Heritage), a program developed to offer Tibetan students assistance with their studies and directed by Dr. Burris and Geshe Dorjee. For more details visit their website http://artibet.com/activities/tutors-for-tibetans/

The Tutors fro Tibetans is under the umbrella of a wonderful nonprofit organization which you can support – The Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas http://artibet.com/

Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) is another organization Pennies for Partnerships supported in 2008. TWA is currently assisting Pennies for Partnerships with information regarding families in need who will be recipients of a rice distribution to occur soon. For more information visit their website http://www.tibetanwomen.org/

In 2009 Pennies for Partnerships supported a clothing drive and also an online raffle for Lha Charitable Trust. Lha Charitable Trust has a support system in Fayetteville through St. Paul’s Episcopol Church for a community soup kitchen initiative. If you are interested in this project contact the church or the following organizations.
http://www.lhasocialwork.org/ or http://www.lhainfo.org/

Support to these organizations are not included in the raffle.

This online celebration is an effort to recognize the Dalai Lama’s wonderful work in the world of teaching about Peace and Nonviolence by generating support for the Tibetan community. These projects are made possible by those of you who care.