The Department of Religion and Culture seeks to preserve and promote Tibet’s spiritual and cultural heritage, which is on the verge of extinction in its own homeland.

Over the past four decades, the Tibetan community in exile has established over 200 monasteries and nunneries with an enrollment of over 20,000 monks and nuns.

In the past twenty years, nearly 10,000 monks and nuns have escaped from Tibet. Aged between six and twenty five years, these monks and nuns come from even the most remote regions of Eastern Tibet to receive the religious education due to restrictions imposed by the Chinese government in their homeland.

They travel on foot across the great Himalayan Mountain for several days with a limited food and sleep. They have left behind everything including their families and relatives to pursue religious education in freedom and peace in exile. Since the religious communities are already undergoing financial strain, it is impossible for them to take on newcomers without additional help. They thus provide them with a minimum scholarship.

The Department of Religion & Culture appeals to all supporters & sponsors to provide financial assistance to these monks and nuns to acquire basic needs for them.

Sponsorship for monk and nuns is $25 a month or $300 a year per person for food, shelter, health care and education.