SPITI PROJECTS CHARITY

The Spiti Project's mission is to improve the quality of life for Tibetan communities living in the Spiti Valley by working with the local people to promote health care, education and their unique cultural heritage.

Since 1993 we have built a hospital and a school, established mobile health clinics offering dental and eye care as well as general checkups for the more remote villages of the area. Attached to the hospital is a teacher-training programme for health-care workers. In addition we have created a craft centre for women to provide them with a commercial outlet for the traditional Spiti weaves, and the opportunity to earn their own income. Also, several students have profited from our sponsorship programme, and more seek our support every year. Recently, the village elders have sought our help to restore an ancient Tibetan Monastery dating back to the 10th Century AD.

Recently a mud brick project was set up to encourage the local people to return to the traditional method of building houses which is more suitable in a seismic zone, and offers better thermal qualities than concrete in this high altitude area.  This year we were approached by the Public Welfare Society Kaza with a view of helping them with many environmental issues.  We look forward to working in association with them. We have also set up Knit-for-Spiti.  If you would like to knit a sweater for Spiti children, go to this link for the knitting pattern.  Finally, we have created a Child Sponsorship Scheme for deprived children in the valley, who would not otherwise have the opportunity of an education.

  IMMEDIATE NEEDS:

The Spiti Project Charity raises money for both its general operating expenses and for specific items needed in the Valley. Your donation can help purchase:

• The building of a dormitory and science room for the newly built Mane School, which will cost £25,000
• Mud-brick Machines for house building cost £2,000 each for the complete unit
• Eye & dental equipment for village clinics
• Installation of drinking water pump for Mane Village school £6,000
• Doctors' village clinics. A tent is set up in the village square and a visiting doctor sees between 450-500 patients over several days. This is done when weather permits, mostly in the summer when the roads are open. They try to cover 6-7 villages in a month and those who need surgery or other treatment are then taken to Kaza where the hospital is situated
• Training costs for young people in Primary Health care — a 3 month course with board and lodging currently costs £75 per person
• Spinning wheels for the villiages, £200 each.
• Work in association with the Public Welfare Society, Kaza.
    -  Providing wheelie bins for collecting recyclable waste.  £100
    -  Contributing towards the building of public toilets in Kaza.  £400
    -  To help with an Aids Awareness Campaign - to be run by the PWS