India-Tibetan Social Work

Hello, Tashi Delek and Namaste from India.

Today was an incredibly awesome day!

Morning Activities:

It started off at 6:00 am with a sunrise rickshaw ride to the Indian community to conduct profiles of the recipient families. We interviewed 15 families who have now received 3 deliveries of rice. The assessment consisted of profiles of each family to include name and age of all family members residing in the home. Additional data includes, type of work, monthly income, any government assistance and whether or not the children are attending school. More information regarding the assessment will be provided in future posts but it was very interesting to start the day with this community and see their daily activities such as the long distance they walk to retrieve water, the refilling of the kerosene lantern since they have no electricity,  breakfast being prepared on open fires, and best of all, the excitement of the children as they head off to school. I will say however the information obtained on this community notes destitute poverty with incomes ranging from $18 a month to $40 a month which is noted in the hunger index as those who suffer from serve hunger and malnutrition as they live on less than $1.00 a day to $1.50 a day.

Afternoon Action

Tibetan Organic Farmers step up compassionate action with Pennies for Partnerships.

The Tibetan Organic Farmers have been working on the construction of an organic outlet shop in Tattahali Settlement Camp, (Mundgod) scheduled to open to the public March 25th. The outlet will offer the farmers additional exposure and opportunities to sell directly to the local community which will also help increase the direct benefit to the farmers and address poverty among the Tibetan Organic Farmers.

March 14, 2012 Pennies for Partnerships was the first to make a direct purchase from the new outlet shop. The Tibetan agricultural officers invited me to an Organic Farmers committee meeting where I had the opportunity to present to 8 committee members, 3 Agricultural Officers and the settlement officer head Secretary, the Pennies for Partnerships Compassionate Outreach project to address poverty in the Tibetan Organic Farming community while at the same time addressing hunger in the surrounding India communities. The feedback was very positive from the farmers and it appears we have huge support from the leaders of each camp.

Following the meeting the committee members reconvened at the new construction site of the Organic Outlet. Additionally they all showed their support and participation while preparing the next distribution.

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After bagging rice, our past team members and I distributed 20 bags of rice to the families in the Indian and Tibetan communities which we have identified living with destitute poverty and food insecurity. Now having worked with us through several deliveries the team is prepared to carry on the distributions as planned for the months to come. As a social work project we seek to reach self-reliance within the operations of the project as well as move forward with new developments. I feel confident in the team in that when I am not here they will successfully carry on the project with efficiency and compassionate action given to those who have been chosen as recipients of  the rice.

Additionally, we seek to maintain consistency with the program and are looking for contributors who will commit to sponsoring a family for one year for as little as $15.00 a month. More details to come on how to become a Golden Partner of Compassion. I will be compiling profiles of the families  and sending information to those interested. You will be provided details such as number of members in the family, age, income, and type of work they conduct along with photos.

So if you or anyone you know might be interested in helping address food insecurity, hunger, poverty and environmental commitment to organic farming please email me at penniesforpartnerships@gmail.com.

Also, please remember “sharing is caring” and we appreciate your assistance in helping spread the word. All measures for marketing the outreach project is through social networking and the help of you spreading the word.

Those interested can donate directly online through payal and receive a tax deduction. Also, we are currently conducting an online raffle which details are provided in the previous post “Bangles for Bucks”.

Thanks you to all who make this possible as I am only the messenger of your compassionate action and generosity.

More details on our nonprofit status can be found at our official website of Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas (TCIA).

www.artibet.com

and any donations made through the TCIA website please designate Pennies for Partnerships which is also listed under the activities link.

Thank you from the Tibetan Organic Farmers, the Indian community and TCIA for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Leann Halsey

Project Director – Pennies for Partnerships

Hello, Namaste and Tashi Delek from India.

Many of you are aware of the Tibetan Plight and the current situation inside Tibet as well as the History of Tibetans fleeing  into exile.

March 10th marked the 53rd year of the Tibetan Uprising and the continued situation of Human Rights violations inside Tibet which has forced many Tibetans to make the difficult decision to escape the violent oppressive conditions in hopes of someday returning to Tibet with  basic human rights to include freedom of expression, freedom of religion…..

At this time the Pennies for Partnerships would like to also recognize the needs of those living in Exile in India and the difficulties faced as a displaced population. The Pennies for Partnerships outreach to support the Tibetan Organic Farmers is one way in which we can support those working diligently to create a better environment through their commitment to Environmental consciousness of organic farming practices. Pennies for Partnerships was alerted one year ago to the growing concern of increased poverty within the Tibetan Organic Farming Community due to the slow growth of the organic market in India. In order to show support to the farmers’ commitment to create a healthy environment and remain organic we stand with them during the slow growth period by purchasing rice directly from the organic farmers at a fair market value. Additionally, this is one way of showing support to the Tibetan people as they continue their Human Rights campaign while facing different complications while displaced from their Tibetan homeland.

So today on March 12th Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day we initiate a fund raiser called “BANGLES/BRACELETS FOR BUCKS”.

“Bangles/Bracelets For Bucks” is an online raffle.

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We hope to generate additional financial support to assist the Tibetan Organic Farmers through the opportunity for you to get a little something in return. Thanks to our International friend Franz, from Austria, who recently visited the Tibetan community in Mundgod with me, we now have the option to offer you a little gift from India in return for your support to the Pennies for Partnerships Outreach. This is a true outreach program which is a gift that keeps on giving. There are 15 bangles/bracelets available for the raffle (only a few photos available at this time due to slow internet).

Franz, a true philanthropist, helped an Indian merchant who was struggling to keep his business by purchasing a large amount of jewelry which he has now donated to our project. Additionally, he has offered to support the online raffle by Matching BUCK FOR BUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have 15 bangles/bracelets to raffle.  We have pulled out all the bangles/bracelets for this raffle and the rest of the fashion jewelry will be given to the Indian community in an effort to help them to develop a small business opportunity.

So how about that?  Pennies for Partnerships continues the mission to take something like pennies, aluminum, clothing or anything that one chooses to give and we take the gifts with pleasure in hopes of turning it into something for those in need.

$1.00 Raffle Tickets are now available for a short time so please don’t wait. Buy as many $1.00 raffle tickets as you wish and increase your opportunity to receive an Indian Bangle/Bracelet.  All raffle tickets can be purchased either online through the paypal DONATE button on the left sidebar or you can can contact me directly at penniesforpartnerships@gmail.com if you wish to send check or make direct deposit.

With the funds generated through the ONLINE RAFFLE –  “BANGLES/BRACELETS FOR BUCKS” we will continue our  efforts to support Tibetan Organic practices through the procurement of organic rice which is then distributed in 25 kg (55 pounds) bags  to some of the poorest Indian neighboring communities facing hunger in Mundgod, India. The Tibetan settlement camp close to Mundgod is called Tattihali and was the second refugee camp to be established in India (1962). Tattahali is home to approximately 20,000 Tibetans and is the largest community committed to organic farming. Additionally there are approximately 1000 organic farmers.

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Pennies for Partnerships Outreach Online Raffle. We would like to ask for your consideration to the cost of shipping which will be approximately $2.00 for United States donors and approximately $4.00 to other countries. As well the items offered in the raffle range from retail price of  $2.00 to $50.00. The Bangles and Bracelets are brass, metal, silver and some with porcelain details. Nice fashion jewelry and gifts for those sweet ladies in your life.

Thank you again and please spread the word.

www.indiasocialwork.wordpress.com

Remember “Sharing is Caring” and we ask that you pass on the link to our site in hopes of generating more partners in outreach to address global poverty and hunger.

Also we would like to thank all the friends from Kudle Beach who have donated clothing and other items such as mattresses, rugs, blankets, books for the children and more. These items will be delivered this week to various people in the Tibetan and Indian communities. “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!”

Kind regards,

Leann Halsey

Director- Pennies for Partnerships (TCIA initiative)

www.artibet.com

Details of sponsorship for families who face food insecurity and/or Tibetan farmers Greenhouse sponsorship to come.

May no man, woman or child go hungry in a world of plenty