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Tibet Girls School

Rebuilding Efforts Underway

An earthquake reported at a magnitude of 6.9 hit Yushu county high in the Himalayas of Eastern Tibet on the morning of April 14th. The powerful quake killed more than 2,200 people, injured 12,000 and left many buried under debris or homeless. Tibet Girls School founder and executive director, Asang, has learned not only that he has lost family members in the disaster, but that the school was destroyed.

A portion of initial donations were sent to Yushu in early June for the girls and their families to get medical supplies and food, as well as to make burial arrangements for family members. The rest of the money raised will first set up the temporary school in Nanchen, then toward rebuilding Tibet Girls School.

The priority now is to raise money to help the surviving students and rebuild the school. Donations can be made online here:

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About Tibet Girls School

Tibetan women in the Nangchen region — who typically have 6 to 10 children — have one of the highest mortality rates (for infants and mothers) during pregnancy and childbirth.

The Tibet Girls School, a vocational boarding school for girls ages 14 to 20, was opened in 2008 to help Nomad yak herding families provide more opportunities for the next generation. Asang, a meditation instructor at Heartwood, escaped from Tibet shortly after his sister and her baby died during delivery. The Heartwood community, along with Asang and his wife, Heartwood's Nancy Floy, honor his sister and all the women at risk by offering the key to health and opportunity: education.

Working with permission of the Chinese government, the Tibet Girls School needs $11,000 per year to cover room, food, clothing and education for ten girls in the city of Yushu. It takes only $1,100 per year ( about $100 per month or $3.00 per day) to clothe, feed, educate and job train one girl. Teachers provide healthcare information, especially the use of birth control. We teach sewing, weaving and other handicrafts, as well as business and computer skills. The girls cook for themselves as they learn Chinese, English, math, reading and writing.

Won't You Help Us?

To make a tax-deductible contribution, click the secure button above to pay online with your credit card. Any size donation is welcome. Or send checks — payable to "Tsogyaling Meditation Center" — to:

Tibet Girls School
c/o Heartwood Center
1599 Maple Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201 USA

Many thanks to our generous supporters. We met our initial goal to open the school in 2008. But there is a waiting list and with additional contributions, we can expand the program to teach more of these girls who are so eager to learn. If you have any questions, email Asang or leave a message for Nancy Floy at 847.491.1122 x11.

Talks, Presentations on Tibet and
the Girls School Available

Asang and Nancy are available to your group with a talk or presentation about Asang's experience and this important project. Contact Nancy at 847.491.1122 x11 to schedule a presentation for any type of community group or organization.

Learn more about a similar, inspiring project: Read Greg Mortenson’s New York Times best-seller Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time. We are humbled by his achievements and hope to help more women and children learn and thrive.