ROKPA Annual Report 2017

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Editorial Dear friends of ROKPA, A truly moving year is behind us. In 2017 we were able to significantly advance our new construction project in Nepal, the „Akong Rinpoche Memorial Center“. Many clever minds and diligent hands made it possible for the multi-purpose building to be opened right on schedule on March 4th, 2018 after a two-year construction phase. The opening was not only a celebration of the new beginning, but also of a reunion: Pema, a former ROKPA Child, today living in the Netherlands, surprised his family with a visit. The joy of his parents, who had come all the way from the far-away Dolpo, was indescribably great. Three of his sisters (also ROKPA Kids) were there and were able to embrace their brother again after a long time apart. It is such moments of happiness that carry me through the difficult times of my work. So it is particularly difficult for me to tell you today that for the time being ROKPA cannot continue project work in the Tibetan areas of China. For decades, alongside ROKPA Co-Founder, Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche, I have personally established and reviewed our projects on site. Even after his tragic death, I continued this work with my local project team. Unfortunately, the current situation in the Tibetan areas of China no longer permits this. We will of course inform you as soon as possible and try to talk to you about the possible further use of the collected funds for these projects. I am grateful to you for staying with us in this challenging time. Fortunately, our other projects were spared such turbulence. In Nepal, our two ROKPA Social Businesses, the Guest House and the Women‘s Workshop, are thriving every year. And in the Children‘s Home we were just able to give three new street children a home. I am also happy with our projects in Africa. Dedicated personnel and numerous volunteers are doing impressive work for the poorest in Zimbabwe and South Africa. I thank you wholeheartedly, our dear donors, for your continued support. Yours, Lea Wyler with Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche. CONTENTS Editorial 2 An optimistic glance into the future 3 A milestone for ROKPA 4 From kindergarten all the way to graduation 5 Health and care for the poorest 6 Dahl and bio vegetables appease the hunger 7 ROKPA in numbers 8 – 9 How you can help 10 ROKPA Office / ROKPA Network 11 Your donation helps 12 Executive Board ROKPA INTERNATIONAL Lea Wyler, President and Co-Founder / Peter Fanconi, Vice President / Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche / Gelong Thubten / Andreas Vollenweider Imprint Editorial team: Corinna Biasiutti / Melanie Ewing / Caterina Meier-Pfister / Thomas Stettler / Tina Zaugg Copy editing: Liane Brand (www.lianebrand.ch) / Melanie Ewing English translation: Kaja Kurczewska Graphic design: Renée Reust / Staša Lampret Cover picture: © Corinna Biasiutti Text: © ROKPA INTERNATIONAL Print run: 6‘900 copies (German edition) Lea Wyler Co-Founder and President ROKPA INTERNATIONAL Photo: © Lea Wyler Printed on Recycling Paper, produced according to the rules of: „The blue Angel“.
Breath-taking views for guests of the ROKPA Guest House: rooftop deck overlooking Boudha stupa. An optimistic glance into the future Photo: © Robert Bösch ROKPA can look to the future with optimism. 2017 was a year full of challenges: In addition to the realization and planning of ongoing projects, the opening of our Vocational Training Center in Nepal took center stage. Looking to the future, we will increasingly tackle projects in cooperation with partner organizations. A demanding year for ROKPA 2017 was a challenging year for ROKPA. Project payments in Tibetan areas of China were not possible for a variety of reasons. As a result, project expenditures fell by 45% compared to the previous year. Since the work in Tibetan areas of China cannot be continued until further notice, ROKPA sets the focus in the future on other important projects in the remaining project countries. Donation income has fallen slightly in comparison to previous years due to increasing competition in the donation market. The most important donors of ROKPA remain individual donors and charitable foundations. The good news: For individual donations, we were able to maintain the donation level. New projects and cooperation with partner organizations The year started brilliantly with the opening of the new Vocational Training Center. Meanwhile, the training courses in the hotel sector have begun, and the start of the textile craft courses is imminent. Nearly 50 young men and women are provided with the necessary tools for their successful (re-)entry into the job market. Cooperation with partner organizations is becoming increasingly important, not only in the new Vocational Training Project, where the search for candidates was coordinated with local relief organizations, also in rural areas of Nepal, where ROKPA works closely with local partners on several new projects. One example is the Water Project in Simthali, which improves the precarious water supply that has been in place since the 2015 earthquake. The project was being carried out together with Ram Hari, a former ROKPA Child and today himself the head of a children‘s home. Further projects with partners are in planning. Such joint projects can leverage synergies and optimize the use of resources. We can approach 2018 with optimism and confidence. Thank you for accompanying and supporting ROKPA on this journey. Only together with you, we are able to relieve suffering and allow the seeds of hope we planted to grow. Peter Fanconi Vice President ROKPA INTERNATIONAL 3
Page 1: ROKPA TIMES Akong Rinpoche Memorial
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Page 7 and 8: In the ROKPA Soup Kitchen in Kathma
Page 9 and 10: Source of funds Individual donors a
Page 11 and 12: In 2017, ROKPA carried out nine pro

ROKPA Annual Report 2017

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