We need your help. Please send a donation now! Thank you. Postkonto 80-19029-530th year / April 2008 www.rokpa.org

Dear ROKPA friends,ladies and gentlemen,

ContentNEPALHelp us to get children out the streets! 3

TIBETA new landmark 4

INTERNATIONALTenpa's speech in the British House of Commons 5

WHY ROKPA?Testimonial Linda Darnell 7

SCHWEIZGala 2008 6-7

ImprintEditor (voluntary):Marie-Luce Le Febve de Vivy,www.health-lifestyle.ch

Layout: Caroline Hösli Laportosacaroline@grafik-zh.ch

All photos: © ROKPA INTERNATIONAL, Ami SianoCopies: 8,000 exemplars.Published Quarterly.

As your are reading these lines in hopefully spring-like tempera-tures, I am once again with our children in Nepal. After an exhausting flight I landed in in Chengdu, China on December 18th. From there I continue without stopping, traveling

by jeep to Sershul, where there is the famous mile-long wall of carved mani stones (OM MANI PEME HUNG). Driving for hoursthrough the snow-covered countryside at an altitude of more than12.000 feet is a particular challenge – not only because of the thinair which makes breathing very difficult. The temperatures far belowfreezing point are also difficult to bear, in spite of Western style down jackets and thermal underwear from finest Merino Wool. Butwe are well off – the nomads who are living here in tents, only havesheepskins to protect themselves from the cold.

In Sershul we were awaited by the president of ROKPA, Dr. AkongRinpoche with many children, to join the ceremony to celebrate thecompletion of the 10-year project of rebuilding the culturallysignificant mani-wall. As I was too tired to circumambulate the wall on foot, I drove round in a jeep, together with Akong Rinpoche.Justat the moment when I began to feel happyabout this successful project, it happened: An old lady lifted a small, serious-looking girlup to the car of Akong Rinpoche, asking forit to be blessed. This is a typical gesturefrom Tibetans, when a high lama comesvisiting. I sensed right away: there issomething wrong with this girl! It needshelp urgently!

This intuition turned out to be correct. The parents of this girl are both dead. Now thegrandmother is looking after the crippledchild. In order to move from one place to another, the grandmother has to tie her grand-daughter to her back and carry her(see picture). There are no wheelchairs, taxis for disabled ortransport ambulances in this place everyone is fighting for survivalwith whatever means are at their disposal. As did this old woman. She has promised to renounce eating meat for the rest of her life in the hope that this sacrifice will improve the health of her granddaughter!

I watched those two as they moved away and asked myself: Whatwill become of this girl, when her grandmother is no more? With all my heart I wished that ROKPA could inspire many, manymore sponsors to support our work. Then we could help eachsick or poverty stricken person that is crossing our path, here in one of the most remote and poorest regions of theworld, in which other charities rarely dare to venture.

These people need you and your support urgently! Let your heartsspeak and donate as much as you can. I am counting on you!

Yours, Lea Wyler

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Help us to get children off the streets!

All studios and apartments have a fully equipped kitchenette

Furnished in a caring and local style

The rebuilding of the ROKPA guesthouse in Boudha/Kathmanduwill be finished in the end of April. In order to secure the future of itschildren's house in the long term, ROKPA is now urgently looking forgenerous sponsors to help financeone of the 14 small holidayappartments.

By Marie-Luce Le Febve de Vivy

In Kathmandu hundreds of children end up in the streets – often alone and without parental protection. Whetherbegging, stealing, sniffing glue or evenprostituting themselves: these smallestand slightly older children are not sparedanything to survive. This is why ROKPA is busy retrieving those forgottenchildren in order to take them into theROKPA children's house and give theman education with a chance of a future. Meanwhile there are over 50 childrenliving with us and we pay the school feesfor hundreds more.

Our ROKPA children's house has becomea point of refuge and an importantaddress in Kathmandu. ROKPA has therefore looked for ways to secure thefuture of its children's house in the long term, in order to continue getting as many street children as possible out of misery in the years to come. On a mild winter afternoon in February 2008, Lama Yeshe and architect Narendra (pictureabove on the left) sat over a cup of coffee and the ground plans. Their aimwas to rebuild the existing ROKPA guesthouse next to the children's house in such a way as to create modern holidayapartments with a local flair, that wouldsuit the needs of Western holidaymakersand long term residents. The conversionof the original private house - which hadbeen donated by the most generousfamily Dr. Christian Wenger from Zürich -began in May 2008 and is supposed to be finished in the end of April (pictureabove on the right). The result are eightstudios, two deluxe-studios and four 2-bedroom apartments, which you as

generous sponsor can finance in order to secure the future of the ROKPA children's house! As sponsor of a furnished holiday apartment in theROKPA guest house in Kathmandu youare making the gift of a respectablefuture to hopeless street children. At thesame time you will for the next ten yearshave the following advantages yourself:

● You and/or your family or guests canlive free of charge for three monthsduring each of the next ten years in the ROKPA guest house and safelystore your luggage in its depot.

● We offer you a fantastic location,three minutes from the Great Stupa of Boudha

● WC/shower with hot water● Beautiful private garden● Lobby with TV and library● studio with wheel chair access

overlooking the garden

Become a Sponsor of ROKPA's Guesthouse!

Request our special brochure and support this important ROKPA's Charity-project. For more information and project detailsPlease contact the Project Management in Zürich:

Tel: +41 44 26 26 888Mail: info@rokpa.ch

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Above: The new landmark seen from a distance. Below: Five Tulku’s inaugurating the statue, in the middle ROKPA president Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche.Right: To give you an impression of the statue’s size.

ROKPA in Tibet

A new Tibetan landmarkOn 6th January 2009, Dr. AkongTulku Rinpoche and four other Tulku’s inaugurated the huge statue of Guru Rinpoche in Chöpdrak, Nangchen, in the presence of ROKPA vice president Lea Wyler.

With sub-zero temperatures prevailing and in hazy weather, the crowds arrived from near and far in order to experience the worthy moment of the official inauguration of the majestic statue of Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan

Buddhism, who is venerated by young and old. Thousands of Tibetan men and women took part in the great ceremony together with abbots, monks, Tibetan local authorities and Chinese delegates. About thirty monks headed by five reincarnated Lama’s gathered in a low-ceilinged yak-hair tent. The monks read a Puja, i.e. prayers for the welfare of all beings in the surroundings, the country and the world. Lengthy Tibetan horns were sounded, drums beaten, conches blown – a stirring mixture of spiritual

Music and monks’ bass voices.There followed a ceremony of blessing outdoor in front of the statue. For the deeply religious Tibetans this was an exceptionally impressive day, which they will remember and talk about for years. Many of them queued up for hours to receive a personal blessing from ROKPA president Akong Tulku Rinpoche.The new landmark, which was built by ROKPA on a site of spiritual power in the province of Yushu, is as high as a five-storey building and dominating all the valley. It should not only become a place of pilgrimage to the local destitute population – comparable to Lourdes in the Christian world - but also generate badly needed revenue when pilgrims and tourists from all continents visit the site to see and circle the statue.

ROKPA will build statues of Guru Rinpoche in nine different locations in Tibet. It is said that if this work is done, freedom will come.

Please help to preserve Tibetan culture!CHF 100 will buy 50 prayer flags in Tibet.CHF 1,000 will finance a sculptor for three months.CHF 5,000 will pay a substantial part of the materials needed for a statue.

We thank you for your donation endorsed: Guru Rinpoche Nr. 7662, to either• Bank Account ROKPA Nr 0065-0455090-11-1 at Clariden Leu AG,

Bahnhofstrasse 32, CH-8022 Zurich• Swiss Postal Account ROKPA 80-19029-5

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Lea’s children rise to speak

ROKPA INTERNATIONAL

Advent in Parliament in London! On 1st December 2008, the British Member of Parliament Jeremy Hunt invited to a VIP event taking place in the House of Commons in favour of ROKPA.

By Lea Wyler

No sooner had we passed the security check, than we were standing in the inner courtyard of this stunning building, where a huge Christmas tree bathed the surrounding fronts in solemn light. The moment we entered this magic site, the famous Big Ben struck the hour. I turned to Tenpa, once a timid orphan and now a doctor in Tibetan medicine, and asked him: “Are you conscious of where you are now and what will happen?” He, the nomad boy, offspring of an illiterate family in the Tibetan mountains, was going to address of a number of assembled VIP’s in the Palace of Westminster in London on behalf of ROKPA. Tenpa took my hand and started laughing: “I can hardly believe it myself!” This moment seemed to me a Christmas tale come true.Together with Chuetso Dolma, another one-time ROKPA child, Tenpa dressed in traditional Tibetan costume received the VIP guests – for instance the actress Indira Joshi (The Kumar’s), the BBC host

Alistar Appleton and the Mount Everest conqueror Doug Scott.Our host, the Member of Parliament Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Secretary of Culture, started the evening by delivering an impressive speech to introduce our relief organization. Subsequently, the ROKPA ambassador Jill Dawson (BBC producer) read a message by Charles Dance, the internationally successful British actor and director, who co-starred with Eddie Murphy the film “The Golden Child” and has been a ROKPA ambassador since 2008, too. Charles Dance apologized for not being able to participate in person and asked those present to be generous: “Some of the stories that Lea told me would cause even the most stone-hearted to offer all possible help in order to enable ROKPA to continue to do an excellent job – be it by volunteering for work or by giving financial support.”And so I addressed the audience by telling them the stirring life stories of a dozen ROKPA children, whom I had taken off the streets in order to offer them education and thus a future. Tenpa’s speech was found especially moving (see right-hand). Thanks to the ROKPA intervention, he is now a doctor in medicine. The power of his words was extremely emotional.

In 1981, I was born into a nomad family with five children. We lived in a yak-hair tent and often suffered from cold. When I was about eleven years old, my father’s lungs failed, and a few months later my mother also died.Shortly afterwards a representative of the government came to the village and we learned about the existence of a new school for poor children. I will never forget my first ROKPA days: For the first time in my life I got bread and two warm meals a day. My favourite subject at school was the Tibetan language. I was a hardworking pupil and won a prize every year.Later I followed a five-year education in Tibetan medicine in order to become a barefoot doctor. In summer, I made translations for physicians from Canada and Great Britain, which gave me interesting insights. When new laws became effective, I continued my studies at the university for further three years and graduated to physician.When in 2007 I participated in a conference in Yushu, I learned that in Tibet many of our precious medical plants are in danger of extinction. So, thanks to ROKPA, I was able to obtain further training in biodynamic farming, and in Scotland I will follow a course in biodynamic gardening. As soon as I return to my country, I will teach Tibetans how to grow medical plants and save endangered species.Without ROKPA I would still be leading a miserable life. But the education I received made me autonomous and able to take on responsibilities. I want to be a useful person and help destitute and sick fellow human beings.With sincere thanks to all my ROKPA friends – Tenpa

Strongly abridged version of the speech held by Tenpa in the House of Commons

Host Jeremy Hunt

ROKPA ambassador Jill Dawson TV producer Alistar Appleton

Tenpa's speech in the British House of Commons

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Going once, going twice, sold!The ROKPA charity galaperformance on November 26th, 2008 in Zurich was a heart warmingevent: 250 people came together in the lovingly decorated restaurant“Lakeside” in order to raise as muchmoney as possible for the ROKPA projects. The proud sum of 180000 Swiss Francs ($ 150.000 / £100.000) was collected – a newmilestone in the almost 30 yearhistory of ROKPA!

by Marie-Luce Le Febve de Vivy

Whether dressed in multicoloured silkshawls, traditional Tibetan dress or thelittle black dress, the elegantly attiredguests who came for the ROKPA Gala all had a common aim this evening: to givethe unique charity by Lea Wyler and Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche their energeticsupport. This will help the poorest and the sick, for whom their are few reliefprojects. As opposed to other aidorganisations, ROKPA ventures to themost remote regions on the roof of theworld, in order to provide these“forgotten” peoples with a dignified

future. Along with salad, Thai curry withbreast of guinea fowl and Parfait Grand Marnier, the guests enjoyed culturalmorsels of the highest standard –starting with the touching Duo of TV presenter Sandra Studer and star harpistAndreas Vollenweider (both dedicatedROKPA ambassadors), followed bymeditative mantra chants of the Tibetansinger Dechen Shak, and culminating in the virtuoso performance of Emil Steinberger, who created a cheerfulmood in the ballroom with his “ tales of true lies”. By the way, all artists waivedtheir fees so that the entire proceeds of the evening could flow towards theROKPA projects! After the sociable part of the evening, the assembly got “down to work”: withlots of charm and esprit, star auctioneerCyril Koller urged the guests to donatemost generously. With success: He pulled stacks of money out of people'spockets (see box) and created a recordresult in ROKPA history. The loyal ROKPA donors were joined thisyear by numerous Swiss celebrities, whose presence helped to bringt a greatnumber of TV and press journalists to

on the charity event and the ROKPA charity. They were amongst others(in alphabetic order):

• Frank Bodin, advertiser of the year2009

• Walter Bosch,executive consultant• Giselle Celio, wife of previous federal

councillor Nello Celio• Christine Egerszegi, councillor of state• EMEL, soul musician• Mario Fehr, national councillor• Stefan Gubser, actor• Trix Heberlein, previous federal and

national councillor• Erica Koller, wife of previous federal

concillor Arnold Koller • Röbi Koller, TV-presenter• Christine Maier, TV- presenter• Vreni Müller-Hemmi, previous national

councillor• Nik Niethammer, chief editor of

„Schweizer Illustrierte“• Ellen Ringier, solicitor and publisher• Roger Schawinsky, media pioneer• Sabine Schneebeli, actress• Rosmarie Zapfl-Helbling, previous

national councillor

Andreas Vollenweider, Sandra Studer and Emil Steinberger present the autographed Racket Tennis-As of Roger Federer.

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Why ROKPA?

250 people with a heart came together in order to donate for ROKPA charity.

Lea Wyler with the youngest ROKPA amba-ssador – seven year old Keren Schneidinger.

Gifted auctioneer: Cyril Koller made forhigh donations.

ROKPA-vice president Lea Wyler gives thanks to everybody, whocontributed with their presence and their donation to this heart warmingcharity event. A special thanks goesout to Andreas Vollenweider, Sandra Studer and the entire teamof volunteers, who with their greatengagement made this galaperformance into such a greatsuccess.

More pictures of the ROKPA-Gala performance you can find on our homepage:www.rokpa.ch

Linda Darnell

“I work for ROKPA, because...“

From September until December2008, I worked as a volunteer at theROKPA INTERNATIONAL head-quarters. Before coming to Zurich, I only knew that it is an aidorganisation which runs a children'shome in Kathmandu and supportsschool children in the Tibetan regionof the peoples republic of China. I was surprised to find just how manyprojects ROKPA is actuallysupporting and that so many peoplebenefit from them. I also find itadmirable that all the work ismanaged by such a small, dedicatedteam. Through my assignment in thepicture archive I gained an insightinto the life-changing effects of ROKPA's help. To see how a poor, begging orphan child develops into a well fed and happy student is verytouching. I salute the fact thatROKPA particularly cares for orphangirls and establishes girl's schools. I also appreciate ROKPA for the factthat the projects serve both theindividual and the community. Thanks to ROKPA, children without a chance can acquire knowledge and skills with which they can later earna living and contribute towards thepreservation and the future of theircommunity. ROKPA's present to these children is invaluable. Therefore I support ROKPA.

Linda Darnell has been living in Spain forover 20 years.

The 10 largest donations (in Swiss Francs):

• 20000.- for private concert by Andreas Vollenweider • 14500.- for a hand painted picture by lepers in Tibet• 10000.- for one week holiday with individual care in the new ROKPA guest

house in Kathmandu • 10000.- for a signed tennis racket by Roger Federer • 10000.- for a song auction by Andreas Vollenweider with Sandra Studer• 10000.- for a silk screen print by Philipp Keel• 7000.- for a private reading by Stefan Gubser• 5500.- for an illustration by Tomi Ungerer• 5000.- for a night at the cinema with Marc Forster • 5000.- for 2 show tickets and private dinner with Victor Giacobbo

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We need your help!Bank details:Clariden Leu AG ● Bahnhofstrasse 32 ● Postfach ● 8022 ZurichAccount: ROKPA, No. 0065-0455090-11-1 orPostal Account: ROKPA 80-19029-5

ROKPA Switzerland ● Böcklinstrasse 27 ● 8032 ZurichTelephone 044 262 68 88 ● Fax 044 262 68 89E-mail: info@rokpa.ch ● www.rokpa.org

His home is the street, his bed an old cardboard box – even at temparatures 20 degrees below freezing!