To help strengthen human resources and develop new employment opportunities in the exile community, The Tibet Fund is cultivating partnerships with other organizations for various model projects designed to support the Central Tibetan Administration’s three-year plan to develop the settlements to be viable and self-sustaining.   

In 2008, we facilitated a working relationship between the Himalayan Institute and the Central Tibetan Administration to bring the Institute’s empowerment programs to the settlements. 

The first project is an Energy Farming project in Rabgyeling settlement in south India that will train the farmers to cultivate high oil-yield trees, produce biodiesel, and gain entry into the local energy market. This model project will be replicated in other settlements over time.

To reverse decades of environmental damage caused by chemically-based farming in the 12 agricultural settlements, the Central Tibetan Administration has initiated a program to convert these settlements to organic farming. 

To support this effort, The Tibet Fund has been providing grants for irrigation projects, greenhouse construction, farm equipment, and farmer training, especially in settlements located in remote areas that contend with inhospitable climates, poor communications technology, and transportation challenges.

These projects have begun to significantly improve conditions but much more needs to be done to reach the CTA’s goal of total conversion by 2011.  The Tibet Fund is seeking support to continue this critical work.

The Tibet Fund assists the CTA Department of Home by supporting income-generating projects including fruit orchards and vegetable gardens and small enterprises such as stores and guest houses. We have funded the construction of housing, flood control structures, community halls and offices, including a housing project for 52 Tibetan refugee families scattered in and around Dalhousie Hill station, Himachal Pradesh, India and the renovation of houses in Bhutan. The Tibet Fund also supports management skills training for staff of the Department of Home and settlement administrators.  To help improve communications within and between 33 Tibetan settlements, we provided computers and training that enabled the settlement administrators to network and use the internet. As conditions in the settlements continue to present significant challenges to self-sufficiency, we are continually seeking funding partners for all types of development projects.