Rokpa UK Overseas Projects
Rokpa is a worldwide charity founded in 1980 by Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche, a Tibetan doctor and teacher, Lea Wyler and her father Veit Wyler the Swiss lawyer. Its aim is to improve the quality of life of the poorest peoples around the world irrespective of their religion, nationality or cultural background. For more information on how you can make a difference visit www.rokpauk.org
The word Rokpa means to help or to serve in Tibetan.
Rokpa supports or runs over 120 projects in:
- Tibetan areas of China
- Nepal
- Zimbabwe
- South Africa
The majority of these are aimed at giving children from the poorest backgrounds the opportunity of an education and training. Rokpa also funds healthcare and a small number of environmental projects. The preservation and regeneration of Tibet's rich culture and language has always been an important aspect of our work.
Rokpa Projects Nepal
Rokpa supports or runs over 120 projects in:
- Tibetan areas of China
- Nepal
- Zimbabwe
- South Africa
The majority of these are aimed at giving children from the poorest backgrounds the opportunity of an education and training. Rokpa also funds healthcare and a small number of environmental projects. The preservation and regeneration of Tibet's rich culture and language has always been an important aspect of our work.
Overview
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Total Population: 23 Million
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GNP per capita per year: US$220
(compared with US$33,900 in the USA) -
Total adult literacy rate: 28% (23% females, 58% males)
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Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births): 75
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Tuberculosis: More than half of the 23 million population are infected with TB
90,000 suffer from acute tuberculosis.
44,000 new infecions every year -
Leprosy: India, Myanmar and Nepal account for 70% of the world's leprosy cases. At the beginning of the year 2000 13,572 cases were registered in Nepal.
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HIV/AIDS: At the end of 2001 38,000 cases of HIV infections were estimated in Nepal. More than 2,500 children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
The Kingdom of Nepal is among the twelve poorest countries in the world. Imported goods exceed exported goods by 3.5 times. Due to decreasing employment and educational possibilities in the mountainous regions there is increased migration towards the valley of Kathmandu.
In Boudhanath, an area close to Kathmandu, many destitute people gather to beg from tourists visiting the Holy Stupa. Rokpa has given short and long term aid in this area through the following projects:
Rokpa Children's Home
The Rokpa Children's Home opened in March 1996 and over 50 neglected or orphaned children are now taken care of in familiar surroundings and sent to school.
After many years in rented accommodation, a new home was opened in March 2005. It is run by a small team of locals who give a high quality of loving care. All the children go to local schools. Eventually, they will be trained in a skill or go onto higher education.
Women's Workshop Women in Nepal are often married and have had children at a very early age, so missing out on their education. Many are abandoned by their husbands and are forced to beg to support themselves and their families. Since 1996 Rokpa has offered apprenticeships for women. They are taught to design and sew clothes and other articles. These are sold to support the women and their families and give their children an education. This workshop has been approved by the Fair Trade Organisation.
Rokpa Projects In Zimbabwe Overview Total Population: 12.2 Million GNP per capita per year: US$460 Total adult literacy rate: 87% (85% females, 93% males)
(compared with US$33,900 in the
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Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births): 69
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Life expectancy: 39.9 years
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HIV/AIDS: More than 25% of the adult population is HIV positive. In other words Zimbabwe has the world's highest HIV-positive rate. Thousands of children have lost one or both parents due to AIDS.
Within the last few years economic and social changes have brought great poverty to this country. Survival is increasingly difficult due to a continuous rise in living costs and a collapsing health system. The rate of inflation is 70% and the unemployment rate is 60%.
As many as 70% of the population in Zimbabwe are now living below the poverty line. The cost of essential foods and medicines are out of reach for millions of people. One survey found that over 70% of people in high-density urban areas have only one full meal every three days. Because transport costs are so high many people need to walk miles to get to work.
Rokpa's charity work covers a wide range of support in the high density areas of Harare . In its attempt to respond to the growing needs of the poor, Rokpa is constantly expanding its projects as resources become available.
Rokpa helps by:
Supplying Food
to families with disabled children, destitute people, single mothers and orphans. Many families also get money for school fees.
Providing Medicines
A number of HIV infected people who have developed AIDS are supplied with anti-retroviral drugs and vitamins at a cost of £30 a month for one person. Medicines are also supplied to the destitute who cannot afford the prescription drugs.
Providing Training and Start-up Funds for Businesses
in permaculture and small income generating projects such as making peanut-butter, soap or producing seedlings for sale. This is particularly for women with disabled children and those caring for orphans. £50 is given for a start-up fund.
A new business that will be especially beneficial
The leaves of the Moringa Tree are high in vitamins and minerals and can be used to make a nutritional supplement which helps boost the immune system of people suffering from HIV and AIDS. A group of mothers are being sponsored by Rokpa to buy and plant 500 of the trees and to harvest the leaves for sale.
100 grams of maringa leaves contain:
