Fund Raising in Dharamsala

This August while attending the teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Namgyal Monastery, Varada Effort has put up a little stall to sell some of the merchandise designed and produced by its members in order to raise more money for the toilets. During the 4 short days with only not more than one and a half hour per day to sell the goods, we managed to raise the following amounts:-

1) A total sum of 47,400 rupees (nett) from the sales of 80 tote bags, 32 CDs and 372 note books

2) A total amount of 23,300 rupees plus US$10, S$210, and Ringgit$60 from public donation 

The above amounts have already be given to the Monastery (refer to receipts) as the deposit for the general sanitation construction. Hopefully, from the existing expansion of toilets, more toilets than the 2 units we anticipated, can be fitted with seats and grab bars. We are still waiting for the quotation from the suppliers of the monastery.

Since all the toilets are situated on the 2nd and 3rd level due to the lack of land, there still exist a problem for the wheelchair bound and those on crutches as there is no lift access to any of the upper floors of the monastery. Therefore, now we are looking into the possibility of purchasing mobile toilets for these disadvantaged people as the best alternative solution. Further research are being conducted now as to where to place them and which system of disposing the waste will be choosen. We are keeping our fingers crossed so that when the devotees return for the teaching next year these amenities will be upgraded as planned.

Therefore we have not stopped the collection of donation as we are still calculating the costs for the mobile toilet(s) and the freight charges to Dharamsala, which has exceeded our original budget. 

Visit to TCV Suja, India - 22nd August 2011

22nd August was a special day for some of the members from Varada Effort, as most of us (except for Yeng Yeng) were not there in TCV Suja during the shawl distribution last December. We could only see from the pictures that Yeng Yeng sent us to share the joy. Now  eight months later, Lay Beng and I were able to time the visit to TCV Suja with the teaching from Geshe Dorji Damdul in Deer Park Institute together. We were so excited by the thought that we were able to meet the children at long last.

Together with another 12 Singaporeans who were also attending the teaching, plus our dear Geshe la and Dr. Barry we set off to TCV  that late afternoon. Of course we also did not forget to ask our dear Tibetan friends Tenzin and Jigme to purchase 1,800 sets of candies and snacks to bring along for all the children there.

In 5 taxis off we went in the rain. When we reached the school, the headmaster was already waiting for us. Delicious Tibetan snacks and tea were offered to us. After a brief introduction about TCV, off we went to the school hall as the children were all ready to perform for us with the new musical instruments that they have purchased with the money we donated. They started by singing the 50th Anniversary Song of TCV composed by Geshe Dorji Damdul. This was supposed to be a surprise item for Geshe la since we had wanted him to be our guest of honor. Originally, Geshe la was not willing to attend, as he had to prepare lessons for us during his free time. So in the end, I had to let the cat out of the bag by telling him that the children have been practicing the song really hard ever since the day they knew we were coming. They would be very disappointed.  That was something which Geshe la could not refuse. On hearing the song, I think all of us were somehow emotional about this even we did not understand word for word the meaning. But I myself and Lay Beng ( I could see from the corner of my eyes), were having moisture in our eyes and trying to control them from rolling down onto our faces.

More performance items followed and they were truly a lovely bunch. Geshe la also gave a very powerful speech to the students to encourage them and also to remind them on preserving their culture. At the end, I was glad that I managed to gain back my composure by giving a short thank you speech in English and Tibetan ( a real challenge for me). I hope through this trip, more Singaporeans are aware of the plight of these children and extend their hands out to help them in whatever way they can.

~ Rita

Statement of account - TCV Suja