Help Tibet…It’s cooler than wearing a t-shirt!
You may sympathize with those signs and banners that read “Free Tibet”; maybe you even went out and bought the T-shirt. As much as we commend your attempts to spread the word (and be fashionable), here is a chance for you to actually do something to help Tibetans living in exile:A brief history:
Tibet is a small Asian country that has been raped in every way possible by the Chinese from the 1949 Mao communist era until the present. Tibetans’ traditional beliefs were very much like those of Native Americans (focusing on human connectivity with nature). Their land was full of natural resources (coal, forests, etc.). At the hands of the Chinese government, Tibetans have suffered massive deforestation, had their spiritual practices crushed, have been jailed, killed and were ultimately forced off their land. As refugees, Tibetans have had to figure out new ways of sustaining their lives in unfamiliar bordering areas like Nepal and India. Basically, its not all gumdrops and butterflies for these people…
VolunteerTibet.org: is an organization dedicated to connecting volunteers with displaced Tibetans in the foothills of the Himalayas in India. They offer both short term (under 2 months) and long term volunteerships directly in the region where Tibetans must now call home. While some positions require experience (mostly in technology and teaching), others are administrative and only require you to donate your time and genuinely care for the cause.
Do you play a musical instrument? Have you showed a friend a couple of chords or keys? Well, they need people to teach basic guitar, piano or drums for about two months. Apply here. What about gardening? Grown a veggie or two in your backyard? You can help people feed themselves by showing them how to raise their own little farm. Apply here. An array of volunteerships are available in various areas of interest and experience levels. Here is the full list.
Although none of these volunteerships pay a salary, living in this region of the world costs significantly less than living in the U.S. You can get by comfortably for about $150-300 per month (food and living expenses considered).
So as nice as it is to say you want Tibet to be free, it is much nicer to physically contribute to the freedom of this exiled nation and its displaced people.
Written by: Anna Starostinetskaya
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