In 1959, at the start of the Tibetan diaspora, His Holiness the Dalai Lama established the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Central Tibetan Administration to oversee the creation and management of what became a system of 53 settlements scattered throughout India, Nepal and Bhutan. Today the Tibetan refugee population in south Asia stands at 140,000, with approximately 3,000 more joining them each year. Over its 28-year history, The Tibet Fund has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of these Tibetan refugees, from the moment they first arrive at a reception center and into their elder years. Our comprehensive grants and programs have saved lives, improved the quality of life in the settlements, provided health, educational and economic programs, and helped to preserve the cultural and religious heritage of Tibet.