News Archive
Tashiling Tibetan Refugee Settlement - 20 years on.
I was in Pokhara in 1994 for a meeting to discuss the development of Upper Mustang which had recently opened to tourism. Mustang then was similar to the Khumbu in the late 60’s – pristine and rugged with people living as they have for many centuries. Tourism in Nepal was flourishing, so the Lobas wanted to share the beauty of their landscape and culture to benefit their own people like their Tibetan counterparts in Pokhara who depended on sales of souvenirs and Tibetan carpets to tourists. Tashiling camp, where several hundred Tibetan families live in Pokhara, was nearby, and that is where I met Sonam-la, a well educated Tibetan businessman who was committed to improving the lives of the Tibetans living in the camp.
They requested AHF to fund the construction of kiosks with aluminum roofs to make the area more suitable and attractive for tourists to visit. There was also a request to plant trees on a beautiful hillside owned by the camp which lay barren, susceptible to landslides and vulnerable to encroachment by neighboring Nepali villagers.
On my way to Mustang this spring, we stopped by again at Tashiling under torrential rains and were met once again by Sonam-la. 13 years later, the 500 saplings that were planted firmly hold the hillside are now full grown trees up to 20 feet tall. It is now a Peace Park in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The success of this project inspired us to do the same at another camp close by. The kiosks are still intact and served the community well during better times. This year we will renew our ties with old friends once again.
While the kiosks are up and trees fully grown, through it all Sonam-la’s dedication to his community has not changed. While the projects at Tashiling are not big, they have not forgotten the benefit our contribution has made. Sonam-la is someone we can rely on and trust. He is the kind of partner we are proud to work with. Having roots are important in the Himalaya. Once they are established, they last a long time.
Norbu Tenzing
Vice President
American Himalayan Foundation
In addition to trees and kiosks, AHF supports weekly doctor’s visits and medicine for the clinic at the Tashiling Tibetan Refugee Settlement in Pokhara, Nepal.
Help make life a little easier for Tibetans in exile. Click here to find out how.
They requested AHF to fund the construction of kiosks with aluminum roofs to make the area more suitable and attractive for tourists to visit. There was also a request to plant trees on a beautiful hillside owned by the camp which lay barren, susceptible to landslides and vulnerable to encroachment by neighboring Nepali villagers.
On my way to Mustang this spring, we stopped by again at Tashiling under torrential rains and were met once again by Sonam-la. 13 years later, the 500 saplings that were planted firmly hold the hillside are now full grown trees up to 20 feet tall. It is now a Peace Park in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The success of this project inspired us to do the same at another camp close by. The kiosks are still intact and served the community well during better times. This year we will renew our ties with old friends once again.
While the kiosks are up and trees fully grown, through it all Sonam-la’s dedication to his community has not changed. While the projects at Tashiling are not big, they have not forgotten the benefit our contribution has made. Sonam-la is someone we can rely on and trust. He is the kind of partner we are proud to work with. Having roots are important in the Himalaya. Once they are established, they last a long time.
Norbu Tenzing
Vice President
American Himalayan Foundation
In addition to trees and kiosks, AHF supports weekly doctor’s visits and medicine for the clinic at the Tashiling Tibetan Refugee Settlement in Pokhara, Nepal.
Help make life a little easier for Tibetans in exile. Click here to find out how.