|
>>LUU Free Tibet Soc's Sponsorship Scheme
In June 2006, I (Luke Ward) began tutoring a 23 year old Tibetan man called Sonam. I found a man who was desperate to learn, but had very limited opportunities and access to do so. Sonam is one of many Tibetans in exile who wishes to receive education, but has had his opportunities limited by his own misfortune. One of the aims of the LUU Free Tibet soc is to sponsor Tibetans who need help, and attempt to improve their lives. Sonam moved to India 2 weeks after I began teaching him, and I followed days later, and met up with him again. As I got to know him better, and found out what had happened to him, he seemed to be exactly the sort of person who we could and should help. Sonam is one of the kindest, sweetest people I have ever had the fortune to meet, and I wanted to give him an opportunity to receive the education he craves. I asked him to write a letter to members of LUUFTS, and he did so with the help of a friend, and this is found below. At the time of writing, we were looking to find Sonam a school in Chandigargh, India. Since then, we decided Nepal would be better for Sonam health, and also be cheaper in terms of education.
Sonam is currently studying a 2 month computer course in Boudha, Kathmandu, close to where he lives. He is also learning English, and is going to have lessons in basic Nepali to help him in day-to-day living. After he has finished the computer course, he will start lessons in Chinese. He can already speak Chinese well, but wants to learn to read and write it better, as it will be useful when he returns to Tibet. We currently have enough to sponsor Sonam for 6 months, but we desperately need to raise as much money as possible for Sonam’s and future sponsorships.
If you would like to help us to help Sonam, please contact: Contact the author
Rabtens Letter:
My name is Sonam Rabten and I’m 23 years old .I was born in Tibet in Amdo region. In 2003 my parents send me to India, in order to get a proper education and to receive blessings from H.H the 14th Dalai Lama. I have got the chance to see the Dalai Lama, and also I got the chance to join a school called T.T.S, in Knyara close by to dharamshala. This school is sponsored by the Tibetan’s education department. When I was in this school I studied very hard, and there I got some education, I really wanted to continue my studies, and complete the required 5 years. Unfortunately in November 2004 I got a disease called TB, which forced me to stay in the hospital for six months. After that period, my health condition was getting a little bit better, and I went back to the school to continue studying. However two months ago, unfortunately I had to leave the school again because my disease requires constant treatment in terms of medicine but also in terms of better food and more resting time, and the school could not provide these conditions.
My main aim now is to go back to Tibet, in which I can rest more and reunite with my family. However I can’t come back to my family empty handed without fulfilling the purpose of which they have send me for, i.e. get a proper education.
I thought there is no way for me to fulfill my parents wish and finish my studies, and so I headed to Nepal from where I thought I will come back to Tibet, despite the fact that I will disappoint my parents if I come back with no certificate from any formal school.
When I was in Nepal one of my friends told me that there is a school in India owned by German lady who provide the studies for the Tibetan new comers without any charge. I’m not sure however that I’ll be able to join the school because about 400 people are trying to take the exams to enter this school, but the school can contains only 20 people.
I’m trying to learn English properly in chandigar, but the schools there are very expensive . I have no means to provide this amount of money and since I came from Tibet alone I have no family to support me either. I have no other relatives here in India that can help me financially. I will be very grateful if you could sponsor my studies. I will do my best from my side to achieve excellence in my studies. My main goal in study English is that I can go back to Tibet and teach the kids of my village who are nomads and have no opportunity to receive any English education. I wish to be of benefit to my village people and learning English is the only way I see I could be of help. I have to take the opportunity that I have access to the English language here in India, so if you could help me financially I’ll truly appreciate it.
I would like to say thank you to all of you for supporting our people, and I hope you are all fine.
|
Sonam- pic has been photoshopped, as we cannot show Sonam's face in case this page is seen by Communist authorities.
Relevant Websites
Leeds University
Leeds University Tibet Soc
| |
FAQs l Contact the author l Site A-Z |
|
