POSTER CHILD. On return, I saw this photo and knew she had to be the poster child for Warithang. Just so sweet and so Tibetan. Everyone fell in love with her.
Their stories begin with loss, but are full of gratitude and hope. Even with broken hearts, they still smile and play and look forward to a brighter day. They love their new home and their many friends who have become their family. They are all so grateful to the Lama for the opportunity of having an education and a chance to live their dreams of a better future. Their little eyes fill with appreciation for each little thing they have. Knowing the want all around them, seeing the sadness and struggling and knowing first hand what it means to have nothing, they are very dedicated to making the most of the opportunities offered by the Warithang Orphanage.
While we were there, the volunteers taught classes during the day when the opportunity arose. Other days, we hiked behind the orphanage in the grasslands to the sacred mountain, met yak boys, saw a monk meditating on the hillside, met nomads and visited their tent. Even though we had freezing weather and snow in August, we managed by filling plastic water bottles with boiling water and putting them inside our blankets. Lucky for down coats and wool socks. And now the children have some, too!
On this page we have an ongoing project of posting our children. We're just beginning, so check back later in 2008. We will return in October and post a lot of news about the school with pictures and names of each child. Such beautiful little faces, you have to love them!
It was nice to see the children had a climbing gym and a basketball court that was donated the year before by some volunteers. We bought them a few balls (every volunteer should bring balls, they don't last the whole year) and they happily played with Kalsang, our wonderful Tibetan guide. Oh, BTW, if you are in need of guide services, find Kalsang at www.tibetanwildyakadventures.com He's the best! He really saved us since he can speak English and help us with every little thing. All this with no pay, just out of the goodness of his heart. Of course, he did get some business after the orphanage project, but he truly went beyond the call of duty at the orphanage and made happy faces all around.
WINTER CLOTHING PROJECT 2008
Here are the promised photos of the 2008 Winter Clothing Project and Backpack Project. It is amazing to have met and held hands with these precious little children. Their smiles and hugs never ceased during our two weeks with them (yes, it was supposed to be a month, but there was a lot of confusion and problems before we could leave Xining for the 20 hour, 2 day car ride over the gorgeous mountain ranges). These children have so much hope in their little souls, hope that if they can learn English and Chinese, study their subjects well, they can have a properous and happy life. I'm not so sure. Things are very bad in what used to be Tibet for the Tibetans. Work is scarce. Chinese hire Chinese. Tibetan children in orphanages are actually lucky. They are offered an education because of their dire circumstance. Most Tibetan families cannot afford the fees to go to school so their life on the grasslands cattling yaks or on the farms growing barley is pretty much what they have. In the cities there was the opportunity for guide service work for those who could speak English. Since the closures in 2008, guides must now go to school, take tests and get licenses to work as guides in most of Tibet. We hope things change soon. What once was Tibet is no more and its the children who suffer most. Please help us at the orphanage or one of the other orphanages we work with around the world. Check out our new site at www.worldwideorphanages.com or www.orphanagesworldwide.com It's a place to connect without any middle agency, so please come help us help the less fortunate in this world. Thanks!
Their stories begin with loss, but are full of gratitude and hope. Even with broken hearts, they still smile and play and look forward to a brighter day. They love their new home and their many friends who have become their family. They are all so grateful to the Lama for the opportunity of having an education and a chance to live their dreams of a better future. Their little eyes fill with appreciation for each little thing they have. Knowing the want all around them, seeing the sadness and struggling and knowing first hand what it means to have nothing, they are very dedicated to making the most of the opportunities offered by the Warithang Orphanage. 
While we were there, the volunteers taught classes during the day when the opportunity arose. Other days, we hiked behind the orphanage in the grasslands to the sacred mountain, met yak boys, saw a monk meditating on the hillside, met nomads and visited their tent. Even though we had freezing weather and snow in August, we managed by filling plastic water bottles with boiling water and putting them inside our blankets. Lucky for down coats and wool socks. And now the children have some, too!
On this page we have an ongoing project of posting our children. We're just beginning, so check back later in 2008. We will return in October and post a lot of news about the school with pictures and names of each child. Such beautiful little faces, you have to love them!
It was nice to see the children had a climbing gym and a basketball court that was donated the year before by some volunteers. We bought them a few balls (every volunteer should bring balls, they don't last the whole year) and they happily played with Kalsang, our wonderful Tibetan guide. Oh, BTW, if you are in need of guide services, find Kalsang at www.tibetanwildyakadventures.com He's the best! He really saved us since he can speak English and help us with every little thing. All this with no pay, just out of the goodness of his heart. Of course, he did get some business after the orphanage project, but he truly went beyond the call of duty at the orphanage and made happy faces all around.
WINTER CLOTHING PROJECT 2008
Here are the promised photos of the 2008 Winter Clothing Project and Backpack Project. It is amazing to have met and held hands with these precious little children. Their smiles and hugs never ceased during our two weeks with them (yes, it was supposed to be a month, but there was a lot of confusion and problems before we could leave Xining for the 20 hour, 2 day car ride over the gorgeous mountain ranges). These children have so much hope in their little souls, hope that if they can learn English and Chinese, study their subjects well, they can have a properous and happy life. I'm not so sure. Things are very bad in what used to be Tibet for the Tibetans. Work is scarce. Chinese hire Chinese. Tibetan children in orphanages are actually lucky. They are offered an education because of their dire circumstance. Most Tibetan families cannot afford the fees to go to school so their life on the grasslands cattling yaks or on the farms growing barley is pretty much what they have. In the cities there was the opportunity for guide service work for those who could speak English. Since the closures in 2008, guides must now go to school, take tests and get licenses to work as guides in most of Tibet. We hope things change soon. What once was Tibet is no more and its the children who suffer most. Please help us at the orphanage or one of the other orphanages we work with around the world. Check out our new site at www.worldwideorphanages.com or www.orphanagesworldwide.com It's a place to connect without any middle agency, so please come help us help the less fortunate in this world. Thanks!