Always grateful for the love and support we got from Tibetan Childrens Education Foundation (TCEF).
Just like hundreds of other tibetan children, i am one alike. Most of Tibetan Parents (in-exile) due to low income and bad financial background faces difficulties regarding their children's education and growth. Through the directors of Kyitsel-ling Hostel, I was fortunate enough to experience the comfort school life. Today, i am working for Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as one of Auditor and i believed that this won't be possible without the help T.C.E.F for my upbringing. I am forever thankful for T.C.E.F., not just for sponsoring my education but many other tibetan children as well.
May God bless you all, and thank you!
I was 5 years old when my mother juggling enough with the sweeter selling business and to look after me at home, she leaves me in safe hands of Gyan Karma and Amala Gyatso. I vaguely remember that my mother eyes full of tears and with the core belief that this would lead me to a better future. From 5 years old girl turning to 18 years old in the same hostel every brick of the hostel has captured her memory. The opportunity which has bestowed on us with the help of sponsorship from T.C.E.F has made our life long thankful. With such help, I became the first in my family to go to college and that also in one of the best colleges of India- Miranda House, Delhi University. Currently, I have been employed as an Academic Executive in an institute called IIHMR University. Thank you all for bringing the real changes in persons life.
Tibetan child education foundation is a great organisation. Who helps and supports many Tibetan children in their education. As I am one of them Who have been helped in my education and today I am working as a staff nurse, and now I am helping vulnerable people in the hospital by giving every individual, family, and patient effective nursing care and emotional support to them. TCEF didn’t only contributed me in my education but also in how today I have become as a human being. Thank you for making me as a person who can stand tall in today society. Once again thank you TCEF for your kind support and help to not only me but also to many other Tibetan children in India.
I’ve known the work of TCEF over many years. They truly help Tibetans with education access and also provide service to the elders. The programs are implemented with sincerity and I think they do great work.
I began donating to TCEF in 2009, after meeting the founders. I have sponsored children and elders through this organization and have also been to India to meet the people who are being sponsored and see where they live. I've dedicated most of my fundraising efforts to TCEF because I believe in the cause of the Tibetan people, I believe that education is what ultimately changes society, and because this organization operates with the utmost integrity. And I know that every day that I'm changing lives for the better.
I have sponsored a Tibetan refugee child through TCEF since 2007, and a few years after that I added a Tibetan refugee elder to my sponsorships. I have visited my sponsees in India three times and have been very impressed by the help that TCEF provides. My sponsored elder lives in a two-room apartment with an attached tiny kitchenette and an outhouse on the edge of the jungle. Her son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren all share a single bed in the one bedroom, and she sleeps on a small cot in the living room/dining room/all purpose room. Clearly, this family lives in extreme poverty. Every time I visit she thanks me profusely for helping her and her family financially. I don't know how she and her family would get by without the money I send them through TCEF. The student I currently sponsor is a sweet girl whose family could never afford to send her to school. She gets excellent grades and my sponsorship will undoubtedly help her break out of the poverty that her refugee family has suffered. Karma Tensum, who founded and continues to run this non-profit is an amazing person and a good friend. He makes sure that I receive regular updates and photos of my sponsees, and clearly cares about all of them. As a child his own education was funded through a foreign sponsorship. He ultimately earned a masters degree from Harvard -- not bad for a poverty-stricken child whose mother carried him over the Himalayas when he was two years old, and got a job breaking rocks with a hammer for road projects in India to feed him. TCEF is one charity that I know for a fact helps some of the poorest people in the world break out of poverty and even to thrive. Without TCEF, my sponsored elder would be begging in the streets. Without TCEF, my sponsored student would be working for a pittance to help support her family despite her young age, and would probably never even learn to read, much less get a decent education. Please consider sponsoring a student or an elder, or even one of each. After all, you can't help every poor person in the world, but you can make a world of difference in the life of one or two.
I have been a supporter and sponsor of the Tibetan Children's Education Foundation for over a decade. I have visited the primary project of the TCEF, Kyitsel-ling school in India on four occasions and have always been impressed with the growing success of its programs. The children receive a quality education that not only prepares them for modern life but also keeps them grounded in Tibetan culture and values. I cannot say enough in praise of the Tibetan Children's Education Foundation.
David C. Andersen, PhD
United Methodist Church (Retired Elder)
andersenhel@aol.com 406-461-8321
I have been supporting TCEF for many years. I found out about the organization through a fellow professor and friend, Dr. Bill Wilmot, who spent a great deal of time in India helping found the school. I have also met with Executive Director Karma Tensum and his family. This nonprofit makes a profound difference in the lives of refugees and their families. I have seen the ripple effect of the education. I love getting letters and pictures of my students and eagerly write them about my family, also sending pictures and words of encouragement. The vision and the dedication are first rate. I encourage others to get involved knowing that anyone's gain is everyone's gain. Dr. Elaine Yarbrough
An 8 year school boy then, to a certified registered nurse today.
My story with Tibetan children's education foundation started long back with Amala crystal water when I was an 8 year old kid in the year 2000. I still remember when my mom saw me watching from the gate of 'Kyitsel ling'( A school which situated in clement town in northern part of India) towards the other kids who were playing around and she knew that I eagerly wanted to be a part of them. So my mom got me an admission and I was so happy, scared and nervous too . She was so happy because she saw her son her smiling happily with other kids but she was nervous because she knew that it will be hard for her to get my next year school fee. For me, I was too young to understand all this so I was enjoying my part in Kyitsel ling and that was my happiest year making new friends and being part of family and enjoying every part of my life, but that happiness started to changed into dejection when the year end and my mom told me that she could no longer be able to keep me in the Kyitse ling .
My mom was so worried that day and she directly went up to approach Mr Karma Tensum's office for some helping hand. After listening to my mom's story and our family condition Mr. Karma told my mom without any hesitation that he could help us in finding a sponsor through T.C.E.F for my school fee and told us not to leave Kyitsel ling. We were so relieved when we heard that. We were so thankful to Mr. Karma for understanding our problems and need.
After sometime Mr karma called us and told us there was a surprised for me that he found a godmother named Crystal Water through T.C.E.F ready to help me and my family. We were so happy and couldn't express our gratitude enough. Since than Amala Crystal Water has been in my life and still is with me, helping me in every circumstance with my college fee or in giving motivation. Today I am in my final year of my BSN RN degree. I also wanted to thank her family Johnny , Ilan ,Luna and my love Zia for supporting her.
For me TCEF is really doing a great job in enhancing ones life specially for Tibetans like me who have been stated refugee by birth and got raised in house were the word hope is not mentioned much. Because of the support from sponsorships I have witnessed myself and many of my friends who have been under sponsorship programme come out with a great life and for that I really want to thank TCEF first and the boards of members and than Mr. Karma Tensum for finding me my godmother. I really feel that education can changed once life and TCEF plays a great role in making lives better for people like me. You can imagine when an 8 year old refugee kid can make it to BSN RN, I think that a huge accomplishment that Both TCEF and I have done together.
Every year I do meet with the members of TCEF here in India during there India tour. I try my best to be a part of it since I am a part of foundation . Recently I met my godmother Crystal Water in Jaipur and I have been there with them for three days and met other sponsord too and got to interact with them about my journey to the RN . Words are not enough to express my gratitude and thankfulness to members and supporters of TCEF.
At last I want to remember ama India the founder of Tibetan children's education foundation for her life long dedication and kind generosity. Her legacy will always be our inspiration to help other people as much as we can . We Miss you Ama India .
With regard
Lodoe gyaltsen
TCEF is an excellent organization doing such important work, It is so meaningful as a donor to have a connection to your sponsored child or elder. I feel privileged to be involved in a small way with this Foundation- It is very rewarding to see the direct impact of any contribution. I have sponsored both youth and elders.
TCEF is a superior nonprofit, not only for its purpose, but in its operation. In particular, it is the most responsive of the many organizations I have dealt with. I trust that every dollar I contribute is carefully and ethically accounted for. We contribute to TCEF both in a general supportive role and in particular to support for elderly Tibetans. We receive regular updates on the activities of the foundation and personalized letters from the elders. The director is always personally responsive to questions and comments.
While we enthusiastically support many causes and foundations, we are particularly grateful for TCEF.
TCEF does incredible work in the world! Supporting both Tibetan and Indian children and elders, TCEF has a dedicated, heartfelt staff and Board, and operate with true integrity and purpose. I’m inspired by what they’re up to and HoW they fulfill their mission, and am honored to have gotten to support their work in the past. If you’re considering donating, volunteering, or working with them, do it!! It’ll change your life, and the lives of so many.
Tibetan Children's Education Foundation has sponsorships to assist in the education of Tibetan children living in exile in India. There are also sponsorships for elders who are living in exile in India and are no longer able to work in road repair and other unskilled labor jobs, due to their advanced age. They escaped from Tibet many years ago and because they were living in exile, without a country, there was only road work available to them. Many of them have no one to care for them and lack the bare necessities of life. My monthly donation goes directly to pay for room and board and education of the children I have been assigned. I am able to communicate with them and send packages. The Grandparents I sponsor do not read or write, but I am assured that my donation goes to help them specifically with life necessities and medical care. I am able to travel to India and visit with all of them personally. I see their pictures in my home each day, and it brings us all closer together. TCEF allows for a personal relationship and that is very important to me. I believe I have been called to help the Tibetan people who are living in exile to preserve their culture and identity. I believe we all have an obligation to speak out about the persecution and atrocities being inflicted on the Tibetans still living in Tibet by the Chinese government.