Route map of Tong-Len
Mcleod Ganj
Temple Road
Jogiwara Road
Dharamsala
Kachehri
Chilgari (BSNL Of) Dari Norbulingka
Sacred Heart High School Tong-Len Gagal
Mataur Sidhbari Sarah (IBD School)
Kangra
Tong-Len
1 His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama 2 ONG-LEN Charitable Trust T www.tong-len.org
3 Compassion in Action
Lobsang Jamyang
4 CONTENTS
Inspirations-From Tibet to Dharamsala 23
Aspirations-The Hopes & Dreams for Tong-Len 54
Humble Beginnings- The Early Years 58
Ten Years on, where are we now? 35
Looking to the future – Five years and beyond 54
Acknowledgments 54
5 Inspirations From Tibet to Dharamshala CHAPTER
1 Jamyang Lobsang, founder and director of Tong- Len Charitable Trust was born in Tibet in 1974, the youngest son in a family of eight children. “True Compassion is the cultural revolution, his family remained very not just an emotional religious and his early introduction to caring was learned at his mother’s side. Another great commitment founded on reason” - ing young sheep and goats. His mother, sensing His Holiness, 14th Dalai Lama sent him to this uncle and together they stayed in a small hut hand feeding young animals. This was a very moving experience for Jamyang and planted the seed that would lead to his quest to care for others. From age twelve to his early
6 Inspirations From Tibet to Dharamshala
twenties Jamyang lived in a monastery in Tibet, but much attention to his lessons or academic training. His interest was to do something practical to relieve
In order to be free to practice his religion and live his life in service of others, Jamyang decided in 1997 dangerous route to exile in India. For safety reasons he was unable to say goodbye to his family. On his last day in Lhasa Jamyang prayed in the temple
“If I can care for others and serve the community please keep me safe, if not I will not regret dying on the road”
7 Inspirations From Tibet to Dharamshala
Reaching Nepal after thirteen days and nights of deep sorrow in mind and heart Jamyang believed his prayer answered. Soon afterwards he reached Holiness, The Dalai Lama, his inspiration in lov-
Living in Dharamsala in a small room, Jamy- ang was moved by the children he saw begging, sharing his lunch and from this small act of car- helping them and the slum communities in which they lived.
8 Aspirations The Hopes & Dreams for Tong-Len CHAPTER
Janyang visited the slum called Charan Khad in 2 Lower Dharamsala. He had never witnessed an eating raw vegetable from the garbage, ravaged by disease and fever, mothers ill, conditions worse “Therefore a truly compas- than he could ever have imagined. He was moved to sionate attitude towards others does not change As a young boy his mother said “whatever happens even if they behave nega- to you no matter how desperate your circumstanc- tively” es, do not steal, better to beg’. With this in mind he felt obliged to help these people who were begging His Holiness, 14th Dalai out of desperation. They were not stealing, although Lama - forced to steal to survive but Jamyang understood this and did not judge her actions.
In 2002, with no intention in his mind to start a for these people. He spent his days doing his teach- ings at the temple and at night spent time in the slum, helping where he could and getting involved
9 Aspirations The Hopes & Dreams for Tong-Len
said he was mad to do this, always feeling tired and sleeping in the teachings. They also thought that it was dangerous for him. Despite their warn- meditation and monastic life but here with these people who had also left their homes and families to survive.
He asked of himself “How can I close my eyes, how can I stay and do nothing? As a monk and as a follower of His Holiness who encourages loving kindness and compassion, my responsibility is to do whatever I can for these people.”
For two years Jamyang spent his time deepening his understanding of the issues facing the poor people of India. He was confronted by distressing circumstances such as family violence, alcoholism, disease and death.
10 Aspirations The Hopes & Dreams for Tong-Len
He was emotionally moved by the conditions fac- ing these people and aspired to give them hope. He just for survival and secondly to bring change for the future.
decided to start a society for them that would be called Tong-Len, two Tibetan words meaning “giv- ing and receiving”.
for these people through education, better health and empowerment to achieve their full potential and a sustainable future.
11 Humble Beginnings The Early Years CHAPTER
The early years of Tong-Len required humility 3 and patience to gain the understanding and trust of the slum community at Charan. The commu- nity, seeing no further than today and tomorrow,
“When you realize that Providing some support for basic needs helped all beings are equal in gain trust and opened their minds to seeing an their desire for happi- alternative future - if not for themselves, for their ness and their right to children. obtain it, you automati- cally feel empathy and In these early times Jamyang observed that closeness for them” almost none of the children attended school. It
th His Holiness, 14 Dalai the families needed the children to supplement Lama the family income though begging. Most children had no experience of education. Some had never even seen or been inside a school.
children in school but school attendance was shared his dream with Rachel and Michael, young Western volunteers who he met through their
12 Humble Beginnings The Early Years
to help both with fundraising and with organiz- children were living in the slum. A shelter was used crowded round, all anxious to learn. This was the beginning of the tent schools.
With three months of the children starting school the spread of disease from the camp into the school was such that Tong-Len was told that the children would be unable to continue without secure hostel accom- modation in which they could live and study. Also - rented house, opened in February 2005. Navita was appointed as house mother and the ten children moved in. In April they were joined by ten more and in 2007 a second hostel was opened for another 20 children. Equality was given to gender and ethnic from a family to be fair to the whole community. Selection was based on need and on performance in the tent schools.
13 Humble Beginnings The Early Years
For those children still due to fear, myths and a sense of powerlessness in not at school, the tu- many families. Hygiene and sanitation was very ition tent was expanded, poor and this needed to be addressed. Just main- teachers appointed, taining life and reducing disease such as TB and who, with the help of diarrhea was a major priority. Rachel, a nurse, volunteer, provided basic who had remained in India to help Jamyang, be- education in literacy and gan a small health project in January 2006. This numeracy. This led to provided general medical care, health awareness, improved enrollments in wound dressing and access to hospital for the Government schools over seriously ill. At the same time a nursery tent for time. the younger children was established. This tent was used as a health clinic in the mornings and Health remained an as a nursery in the afternoons. Many of the older ongoing problem in children had to care for younger siblings, so hav- Charan, and access to ing the nursery feed them for their own studies as medical care was limited well as giving the little ones opportunity to play
These humble beginnings laid the foundations of trust and a relationship with the community that would allow positive change for the future, mov- ing from incentives and direct services to promot- ing healthy positive lives.
14 Ten Years on, Where are we now? CHAPTER
That Tong-Len has become a familiar and respected 4 name in Charan and other slum communities in Kangra District is a major achievement of the dream. That the people of Charan can call us friends is an important outcome of compassion in action.
That ideally one child from every family in Charan “I try to treat whoever I has an opportunity to live in the hostel is an meet as an old friend. This achievement of the dream. That 70% of babies from gives me a genuine feel- Charan are now born in hospital is an achievement ing of happiness. It is the of the dream. That approximately 150 children practice of compassion” attend the tuition tent on a daily basis is an achieve- ment of the dream. That older children from the His Holiness, 14th Dalai hostel have completed secondary school and now Lama attend university is an achievement of the dream. That fresh water and solar lighting support the families of Charan is an achievement of the dream. 3800 people have been supported by the Tong-Len Health Team. Deaths have decreased and life expec- tancy has increased. All of these are achievements of the dream.
So many achievements, too many to list here, but the greatest achievement is that Tong- Len, through changed the attitudes and beliefs of many of the 15 Ten Years on, Where are we now?
community, allowing them to move from just sur- vival to seeing a better future and better standards of living. This is the true realisation of the dream.
but now people from Charan are proud to tell you that their child is a child of Tong-Len, they see their children as holding the hope for the future.
The children of Tong-Len and the families of Charan give testament to the last ten years.
“Ever watched a seed carried by a strong wind be- ing dropped into a heaven like place. It is due to the hard work of the strong wind. For me this strong wind is Tong-Len. Before I came to Tong-Len I was nothing. I was a simple guy who used to look for garbage in dirty bins and spread my hand for begging. I did not have hope; my future was the life of a dog. Finally I reached Tong-Len and now have every facility necessary for my life. Now the light for my future has appeared” Rinku
“It is amazing to have a wonderful opportunity to
16 Ten Years on, Where are we now?
be in the Tong-Len family. I am very proud and the future. All this has been always feel lucky to be a Tong-Len child. Without achieved through compas- God’s gift of Tong-Len I have no chance to have sion in action, through the such a wonderful potential in life. The human life is much more amazing, colourful and with poten- been given by so many in so tial than what I thought when I was child. As I am many ways. growing up I realize that I have potential and can be a good person and spend my life in meaningful ways in society” Nisha.
“Tong-Len is God’s gift to Charan Community, they help us to live a good life, through kindness they give hope to the new generation, they are a like a family to Charan” Vinay
“I have been a child of Tong-Len for all of the ten future in the India Navy. Before Tong-Len no-one in my family went to school now my brother and three sisters all go to school” Karan
The achievement of ten years are not assessed through what has been done, but through the lives that have been saved, the futures that have been changed and the hope that has been provided for
17 CHAPTER 5 Five years and beyond
In the world there are millions of people living “Never give up, no mat- - ter what is going on, - never give up, develop ment. The children live hand to mouth with no the heart. Too much thoughts for their futures. So we must never give energy is spent develop- up, no matter how small our contribution may ing the mind, instead of the heart. Be compas- we will and must do. sionate, not just to your friends but to everyone. The overall desire of Tong-Len is to provide a Be compassionate, work sustainable future for these people. Of course for peace in your heart at this time we can only do for those in our own and in the world. Work district, but as time goes on and we are able to for peace and I say help the Children of Tong-Len reach their true again never give up no potential in life. The messages and actions of matter what is going on hope and the intention of all these children will around you. Never give be to also support bringing a sustainable future up” As these children move in all directions in their His Holiness, 14th Dalai lives they will be able to provide guidance and Lama support to others. These children become a resource and so that action is passed from child to child, family to family and community to com- munity.
18 Five years and beyond
And so we now plant the seeds for the future and as - luminate the world with hope.
what has been achieved in the past ten years we now
achievements but at the holistic development of the child, creating good people who will live in harmony with their family, community and their nation. The pilot program of the model of holistic child develop- ment has been in action during this last year but not only children in the hostel or the district but all
Ideally Tong-Len dreams of having a school, where not only hostel children can attend but all children in slum communitiest and from the local area, giv- 19 Five years and beyond
independent in achieving its aims, particularly in holistic development of children.
Also a program that implements the philosophy of Social Entreprenuership will provide empower- ment and employment opportunities for men and women in the area. Ideally this would provide capacity for slum communities to be better integrated with the general community in the area.
A vocational centre in the area for adolescents from the slum communities will empower those in need of a sustainable income and provide an alterna- tive to time spent in ways that do not help realise their potential.
With so much need, it is with the inspiration of His Holiness that we will never give up, while whatever we can do, we will do.
20 CHAPTER
Although the seed of an idea and an intention is usually formed in the mind and heart of an in- 6 dividual, one who sees the potential of a dream, bringing this dream to fruition takes many minds and many hearts. So in celebrating ten years of “The creatures that inhabit Tong- Len, we take this time to acknowledge those this earth--be they human who have been part of the dream, who have made beings or animals--are here their contribution to the prosperity of Tong-Len to contribute, each in its and to the lives of those we serve. own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the His Holiness ,14th Dalai Lama. world.” His Holiness, 14th Dalai Every dream is inspired by something or some- Lama. one, and as written in the journey of Jamyang the deep and ongoing inspiration of His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama. It is such that we use quotes from His Holiness to commence each part of the record of the ten year journey.
It is with sincere gratitude that we dedicate our achievements to particularly for their support and inspiration in the
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implementation of secular ethics and holistic child development.
From the hearts of the community that we serve we say thank you for our ongoing survival in be- ing able to alleviate suffering.
Tong-Len U.K.
We especially wish to thank and acknowledge the work of Tong-Len U.K and the Board of Trustees, but in particular Anna and Gareth Owen and their daughter Rachael, who were there in the begin- ning; and for their ongoing and unfailing dedi- cation and hard work. Also to the late Michael Blakeley we give thanks for his legacy.
Thanks to Annie and Fred and all members and directors.
Tong-Len U.S.A. Thanks to Derek and all mem- bers and directors.
We also acknowledge and thank:
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The Fontana Foundations, energy organisations and all other organisations that have assisted in our journey thus far. Without all of you Tibetan Delek hospital for their ongoing support. our journey would not have been possi- To all sponsors past and present who have sup- ble, and so we look ported our children, we say thank you, and to the to the future with children’s families we say thank you for giving us you all in our minds your trust. and hearts as part- ners in never giving To all past and present volunteers and of course up and working to to all of our staff past and present, thank you for realise the dream. your valuable contributions.
Thanks to the for their ongoing understanding and support
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