Tibet Girls School: PRESS RELEASES
EARTHQUAKE IN YUSHU KILLS STUDENTS, DESTROYS TIBET GIRLS SCHOOL
Evanston Connection Raising Money to Rebuild School, Lives
Evanston, IL, April 14, 2010 – An earthquake reported at a magnitude of 6.9 hit Yushu county high in the Himalayas of Eastern Tibet on the morning of April 14 th. The powerful quake killed at least 400 people, injured 10,000 and left many others buried under debris. 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 and several students are dead or missing.
The urgent priority now is to raise money to help care for survivors and rebuild their homes and schools. Donations can be made on the web site for Tsogyaling Meditation Center of Evanston and Tibet Girls School at
All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law and 100% of funds collected will go to rebuilding in Tibet. Checks can also be made out to “Tsogyaling Meditation Center” and mailed to Tibet Girls School, c/o Heartwood Center, 1599 Maple Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201.
Home to Nomad yak herding and farming families, this remote mountainous region is where Asang calls home. Asang escaped from Tibet shortly after his sister and her baby died during delivery. Along with his wife, Nancy Floy, the school was meant to honor his sister and all the women at risk by offering the key to health and opportunity: education. As survival has now become the more critical need, the school’s board of directors and the community will be putting all of their efforts toward rebuilding homes and lives in Eastern Tibet.
Tibetan women in this area—also called the Nangchen region—typically have as many as six to 10 children, yet the region has one of the highest mortality rates for infants and mothers during pregnancy and childbirth. Education is the key to health and opportunity. While rebuilding homes and lives is critical right now, the goal will be to reopen the school and provide girls with these opportunities which will be needed more than ever. In just two short years, students at Tibet Girls School were reading and writing and planning careers in business, teaching and medicine.
About the Tibet Girls School
Recipient of the 2010 Women and Engaged Buddhism Award, the Tibet Girls School for girls ages 14 to 20 was opened in 2008 to help Nomad yak herding families provide more opportunities for the next generation. Teachers provide healthcare information, especially the use of birth control. The students are taught sewing, weaving and other handicrafts, as well as business and computer skills. The girls cook for themselves as they learn Chinese, math, reading and writing in the Tibetan language. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. The Tibet Girls School is a program of the Tsogyaling Meditation Center of Evanston.
Previous News Releases
APRIL 8, 2010
Partnerships Bloom in Spring Between Business and NonProfit: Evanston Restauranteur Connects with Local Meditation Center for Spring Tibetan Celebration and Benefit
AUGUST 8, 2008
Local Connection Opens School for Tibetan Girls:
Fostering Peace Through Education
MARCH 20, 2008
Evanston Residents, Health Center Helping Tibetan Girls: Local Connection Builds School in Tibet
NEWS
Learn the latest news about the Tibet Girls School.
PRESS RELEASES
Media information and press releases about the program.
JOURNEY FROM TIBET
The story behind how Tibet Girls School began.
Contacts, Presentations on Tibet and
the Girls School Available
Asang and Nancy are available for interviews or presentation about Asang's experience and this important project. Contact Nancy at 847.491.1122 x11.
See our Tibet Girls School Gallery for more photos.
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