In 1950, the remote country of Tibet, high in the Himalayas, was invaded by the People’s Liberation Army of China. Over 70 years later, Tibet remains occupied and Tibetans live in fear of political and religious persecution, imprisonment and torture.
In 1959, the Dalai Lama (Tibet’s spiritual leader) made the agonising decision to leave Tibet, to live in exile and work towards justice for his people. Over the ensuing years thousands of Tibetans have followed him into exile.
Founded in late July 1959, within months of the Dalai Lama arriving in India, Tibet Relief Fund has been working with Tibetans to develop sustainable futures, both in Tibet and in exile.
Since then, Tibet Relief Fund has funded many vital projects covering a wide span of need.
Today, the challenges are as great as ever. Both for those in exile in India and Nepal to build better and sustainable futures, and for those who live in rural communities or as nomads inside Tibet, who need the tools to rise out of grinding poverty and to be able to access healthcare and education.
Tibet Relief Fund continues to work with Tibetans through supporting and developing humanitarian aid projects within Tibet, India and Nepal, forming partnerships with grassroots Tibetan organisations, as well as funding initiatives in education, healthcare, self-sustainable community building and youth development.