Latest News & Event

Lha’s 6th and 7th clean water project

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:56:14 +0100

Nearly twelve hundred Tibetan refugees provided with Safe Drinking water in the past ten days. Lha staff and volunteers recently returned from spending the weekend on 4^th May 2013 in the Bir Tibetan settlement, located three hours away in the Dharamsala, where they were successful in installing our sixth drinking water filtration unit. It was placed at the Central Tibetan Administration's (CTA) Sambhota Tibet School in Bir/Chuatra. The unit was located adjacent to the kitchen which se...

Lha's 15th and 16th Massage Course

Fri, 03 May 2013 08:14:25 +0100

Lha understands the growing number of unemployment challenges in our community. That is why one of our prime objectives is to give vocational training to local people so that they can start their own business and generate new job opportunities.

In April 2013, Lha once again initiated the 15^th and 16^thmassage courses with the help of a certified massage therapist and instructor, Laurie Proscia.

With Laurie’s efforts and Lha’s initiative, we now proudly announce that we ...

Lha Clean Water Project Update

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:30:44 +0100

On March 20, 2013, the volunteers and staff of Lha were thrilled to install our fifth institutional size drinking water filtration unit at a Tibetan school located just a few hundred meters from our offices. Since most of the students there are quite young, this installation will protect this very vulnerable population from serious water-borne disease during the upcoming monsoon. Like all of the units used for this project, this one has the capability of producing one hundred liters...

Exchange student group from Mexico

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:51:56 +0100

From December 7^th to 30^th of 2012, we hosted our last exchange student group in Dharamsala, visiting students from Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey Campus Santa Fe (ITESM CSF) Mexico for a cultural exchange program. Under this program we, “Lha”, organised many different activities for them.

Since it was their first visit here in this town, the first thing we did was to introduce “Lha” to them. Later on, we took them around sight seeing to different p...

Lha's fourth water filter installation

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:15:43 +0100

The Installation of a brand new filter water system was celebrated by the students of TCV Day School in McLeod Ganj on the 14th of November, coinciding with Children’s day.
The filter system is an RO+UV+ UF and TTS, considered one of the best filtered water systems available in the area. This filtration system has the 500-liter capacity steel tank and can provide more than 100 liters of clean and safe drinking water per hour to the students, their teachers and staff members.
The filtered...

Lha's Clear Vision project 2012

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:12:58 +0100

The gift of vision is something that enriches life and highlights the small pleasures of every day existence; Lha’s eye care project-2012 was put into action in response to the above sentiment. The project is meant to benefit people who have limited resources and are underprivileged in terms of both financial means as well as awareness of options available to improve sight.

The project, which lasted for a month and a half, included the testing of 105 people of all ages, free of cost, and...

Lha’s third Clean Water Project

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:20:57 +0100

On 18th October 2012, The children of Mewoen Tsuglak Petoen (model school*) School can finally reach turn on the tap and get clean drinking water now that representatives from Lha Charitable Trust have successfully installed a brand new water filtration system. The filter is an RO+UV+ UF and TTS, considered one of the best filtered water systems available in the area, and was provided by the US-based Himalaya Village Fund. It will provide more than 100 liters of clean and safe drinking water pe...

Students from Tulane University’s School of Social work.

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 04:14:40 +0100

Since 2002, Tulane University’s social work students have been coming to India for a one month program in Dharmasala and its surrounding areas. This year, 16 students, 3 professors, and 2 group leaders came to Dharamsala led by Professor Ron Mark. For two weeks, the Tulane students spent time, one-on-one, with Tibetan students from Lha learning about each other’s cultures. For the Tibetans, it proved an excellent venue for practicing basic English conversation skills.

The Tulane students d...

Lha Welcomes Three Cultural Exchange Groups in July

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 04:07:52 +0100

This month, Lha welcomed three cultural exchange groups to Dharamsala. In early July, a new group of 11 adults from Kentucky, led by Professor Ken Casey, joined Lha at Ahimsa House. They spent two weeks in the McLeod Ganj area, with one week’s travel to Bir and Tso Pema.

In mid-July Lha partnered with two groups of high school students from Lifeworks International, an organization providing summer community service opportunities to teenagers from all over the world. Led by Wen King, ow...

Lha Installs Water Filtration System

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:53:46 +0100

In June 2012, students and teachers alike gathered in the kitchen at Sambhota Model Gangkyi Day School to watch as representatives from Lha Charitable Trust successfully installed a brand new water filtration system. The filter is an RO+UV+ UF and TTS, considered one of the best filtered water systems available in the area, and was provided by the US-based Himalaya Village Fund. It will provide more than 100 litres of clean and safe drinking water per hour to the 209 students and their 25 teacher...

Lha’s Third Cultural Exchange Program in 2012

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 03:10:50 +0100

After four busy weeks in India, the members of Lha’s second Cultural Exchange program of 2012 headed home this weekend, bringing with them a wealth of new memories and experiences. The 14 students from Tulane University arrived in Dharamsala on June 8^th after a whirlwind tour of Delhi. Each day they met with their Tibetan mutual learning partners in the mornings. Most of the Lha students they were paired with were not fluent in English but they were all very enthusiastic about learning and sh...

New social services

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 06:05:31 +0100

Every year different groups from around the world ask H.H. the Dalia Lama for teachings, whether on Introduction to Buddhism or Training of Mind, Peace, analysis of religious texts, etc. Most of these teachings happen here in Dharamsala at his temple. With every teaching initiated, local Tibetans will be there for his blessing, tourists will be there who are either interested in Buddhism or wanting to experience a different culture. Lots of domestic tourists (mostly Indian) come as well; wanting ...

Free acupuncture treatment at Lha

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:38:03 +0100

Acupuncture is an alternative medicine methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by manipulating thin, solid needles inserted into acupuncture points in the skin. Acupuncture, according to traditional Chinese medicine, helps stimulate these points and can correct the flow of “qi” (life energy, life-force, or energy flow) through channels known as meridians (paths through which the life-energy known as "qi" flows.)
Acupuncture in our Tibetan society is not so popular; many p...

First Cultural Exchange Program of 2012

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 02:53:34 +0100

Lha’s First Cultural Exchange Program of 2012 Wraps Up Successfully. May 31, 2012 – Amid the buzz of happy chatter, clinking forks, and laughter, the participants of Lha’s first cultural exchange program of 2012 said goodbye to their Tibetan mutual learning partners last night, after a month-long stay in McLeod Ganj. The farewell party took place at their home away from home, Lha’s Ahimsa House, and lasting memories – along with emails and other contact info – were taken away by all...

Contact Magazine Joins Lha

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:20:23 +0100

Lha Charitable trust is proud to announce that it will take over management of Contact Magazine starting in May, 2012! Recognized by Lonely Planet and other international travel resources, Contact has been a very popular, free publication for Tibetan issues and community information in Dharamsala for over 14 years.It is one of the longest-running Tibetan publications in the area, and provides local residents, as well as international visitors, with news and issues centered on the interests and ...

Vision & Dental Assistance Projects at Lha

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:30:00 +0100

Two years ago, Lha began its "Clear Vision" program to provide free optometrist appointments and corrective lenses to residents of McLeod Ganj. This health care program came to an end when the funds were depleted. This year, thanks to the generous donations from Miss Aubrey Lynne to the Clear Vision program and Frances Phares of Louisiana to the Dental project, we have been able to both continue our provision of eye care and expand the program to also encompass dental care.

Since September 201...

Lha’s Clothing Distribution Campaigns for 2011

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Since 2002, Lha has been bringing groups of students from other countries to McLeod Ganj for a Cultural Exchange program. This year 82 students participated from six different academic institutions. Lha's final group of students for the 2011 Cultural Exchange program bid farewell to McLeod Ganj and their friends in the Tibetan community this week as they headed home to New Orleans. The group was made up of 15 students from Tulane University's School of Social Work, who were accompanied by one of ...

Lha’s 2011 Cultural Exchange Program

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:45:00 +0100

Lha's soup kitchen opened on 6th July

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:30:00 +0100

Lha Community Soup Kitchen at Lha's new building, the Ahimsa House, opened on 6th July 2011 commemorating the 76th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The day was celebrated with a special lunch of nutritious food and filtered drinking water served to 37 people. Such would be 1st of its kind in Dharamsala and the exiled Tibetan community.

This lunch service of nutritious food and filtered drinking water will be provided to approximately 35 needy people on a daily basis for a minimal cost of...

Lha's Mutual Learning program in 2011

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:15:00 +0100

Mutual learning exchange program is one of the services offered by Lha. Groups of students from different educational institutes in the USA, such as Tulane University, Loyola College, Centenary College, Lifework International, and Rustic Pathway have come to Dharamsala for the past several years to learn and share their knowledge with our Tibetan students and to explore the Tibetan and Indian culture and society.

Cultural exchange groups are introduced to the Tibetan community in a variety of ...

Lha’s last cultural exchange group & eleventh massage course:

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:00:00 +0100

Lha's fifth cultural exchange program for 2010 took a group of thirteen students and two professors from the School of Social Work, Tulane University, New Orleans. They arrived here in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala on 10 September 2010 and stayed until 23 September 2010. We commenced with a brief introductory session explaining the charitable objectives of Lha. We then introduced the American exchange students to their Tibetan student partners in order for them to swap thoughts and opinions on their ...

Lha's 10th Massage course

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:45:00 +0100

How would you like to add to your repertoire of massage therapy techniques by training in McLeod Ganj, amidst the mountainous terrain, learning not only new techniques, but also learning alongside others with a strong motivation to strengthen their masseuse skills? Lha provides this type of atmosphere for those who seek to deepen their knowledge of massage therapy.

Lha's courses give students a basic understanding of the philosophy, ethics, techniques, and uses of massage therapy. Lha recruits...

Lha's 6th photography training

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:30:00 +0100

In January 2011, ten Tibetan students participated in a one month photography workshop at Lha Charitable Trust. These students learned photography theory, Adobe Photoshop, online photo storage and applied these techniques in the real world.

Each day these budding artists participated in photo excursions that focused on a particular theme such as portraits, motion and macro photos. Furthermore, everyone was encouraged to take risks and think outside of the box. The teachers pushed the student's...

Lha's free clothing distribution

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:30:00 +0100

Lha receives many practical donations from foreigners in the form of clothing, medicine, stationary and other materials. These donations are in turn given to the local Tibetan community and to the needy Indian community located in the slum areas of lower Dharamsala through the Dharamsala Rotary Club.

Each month we give one hundred to two hundred items of clothing to the Rotary Club which we jointly distribute to the Indian slum area once a year. On 10 October 2010, we distributed thousands of ...

Lha’s July special programs

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:15:00 +0100

A group of students from Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) in Taiwan will come to the Lha to teach basic computer knowledge to thirty Tibetan students from the 12th to the 27th of August, 2010.

It's the second group to come from CYCU this year. In the first trip, taught three different sessions of two hours each day. Students were really satisfied with the way they were taught and all the students received certificates at the end of the class with recognition from CYCU.

Third Cultural Ex...

Lha’s special programs in June

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:00:00 +0100

Lha organized its 5th Photography class from May 19th till the 23rd of June, 2010, for ten students. At first the class went well. We had three photography teachers working with the students.

But due to some personal reasons for some of the students, the class turned out to be small and we couldn't host the end of class photography exhibition. We plan to exhibit the student's shots with the next photography class which will start soon.

Our second group of cultural exchange students this yea...

Lha observe the World Environmental Day on 5th June.

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:45:00 +0100

Environmental awareness is one of the programs that Lha has been focusing on. Lha plays an active role every year in organizing a daily event on "World Environmental Day" in McLeod Ganj, Upper Dharamsala.

This event consists of cleaning up the Ling Khor area, Jogiwara Road and Temple Road. We believe that Dharamsala is a sacred place where His Holiness the Dalai Lama has his residence. We should also realize that it is each and everyone's duty to keep this area a clean place for one's own and ...

Lha’s first students’ exchange group

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:30:00 +0100

Mutual learning exchange is one of the services offered by Lha. Groups of students from different educational institutes in the USA, such as Tulane University, Loyola College and Centenary College, have come to McLeod Ganj for the past several years to learn and share their knowledge with our Tibetan students.

This year, the first group of 14 students and 1 professor from Centenary College were here from May 22nd to June 3rd and stayed at Lha's new Ahimsa House building for guests. While they ...

Lha's IT Skill training and Massage courses

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:15:00 +0100

A student group from Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) in Taiwan, come to Lha annually to teach basic computer knowledge to the students. A 20 day computer class was held for 25 Tibetan students. 5 CYCU students taught the class and it was held from the 22nd January to 11th February 2010. At the end of the class, they distributed certificate to the Tibetan students under their University recognition.

Lha has organized their tenth massage class beginning the 15th March, going for two weeks...

Lha's 4th photography course

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

Lha organized Photography class with generously sponsored by Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The class was taught by Ms. Orion who is a Photographer and writer who has spent the past eight years living and working in New York City, USA.

Though the Class is an intensive beginner in photography, Orion's determination to teach and the student's eagerness to learn made the class into worthwhile. The class started from 9th November to 11th December 2009 for t...

Lha’s 8th & 9th massage training course

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:45:00 +0100

Lha has organized and completed i ts 8th Massage course program for Lha students. The first dates for the course ran from the 19th October to 30thOctober 2009 for seven students and the second course ran from 2nd November to 13th November 2009 for six students under the guidance of professional massage therapist Ms. Anne Juliet.Anne has over ten years of experience and has great knowledge in this field.

The massage course consisted mainly of basic Swedish relaxing massage which is very benef...

Lha’s free eye checkup and free glasses project

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:30:00 +0100

As a part of Lha's Health and Hygiene Services & Education program, Lha organized a free of charge eye checkup and glasses project with the target budget to help 120 people within the community. The project started from September and was supposed to be valid until the end of October. However, since we exceeded the budget and number of people before our estimated time frame, unfortunately the project had to be ended much earlier.

The eye check up was available to anyone who wanted their eye...

Lha’s 2009 Mutual Learning Exchange Program Great Success

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:15:00 +0100

From 2002, Lha has b een organizing a mutual learning exchange program every year for about 70 – 100 foreign students. So far, the main groups have been coming from American institutions and colleges which include Tulane University, Centenary College and Loyola University New Orleans. We have also had several students come from Taiwan Christian University and Rustic Pathways, which is an organization that offers high school students the opportunity to travel and study abroad in a variety of c...

Lha’s 7th Massage Course with BCMT

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:00:00 +0100

Lha is giving Massage courses on yearly basis for 15 to 20 interested Tibetan's. So far, there are approximately 70 people who have learnt the massage course through Lha with different associations.

From September 21st to 26th 2009, Lha organized the 7th massage course and this is in association with instructors from Boulder College of Massage Therapy who has experience of 30 years as a professional and qualified instructor. The massage course included both basic and advanced levels for 20 stu...

Lha computer course

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:45:00 +0100

On the 13th of July 2009 the Lha volunteer office welcomed the arrival of a university group from Taiwan.

Five students and their project coordinator from Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan have come to McLeod Ganj as part of their school program for three weeks to devote their time to teaching I.T to 30 Tibetan students here at Lha.

The students were taught how to use the internet (Google search), sending emails, blogging, introduction to Microsoft Word, typing and Power Point.

In to...

Lha Observes World Environment Day

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:30:00 +0100

In observation of UN World Environment Day, Lha Charitable Trust organized a mass trash collection project Friday, June 5th, 2009 in McLeod Ganj. Over 50 people, including Lha staff, volunteers, and students, gathered to spread awareness and collect trash in the main streets of the city.

The UN established June 5th as World Environment Day in 1972. Each year, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), also established in 1972, uses this day to promote awareness of environmental issues and ...

Lha Clothing Drive 2009

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:15:00 +0100

Saturday, April 18, Lha hosted a free clothing distribution at its headquarters on Temple Road. Over 200 local people came and collected over 1,000 items

of donated clothing, including brand-new baby clothing items; men's, women's, and children's clothes; shoes, jackets, scarves, and other items.

Apart from organized clothing distributions like this one, Lha regularly distributes items of clothing to individuals from its location on Temple Road. Also, each month, Lha distributes at least one-...

Lha Massage course program 2009

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0100

From February 2nd to 10th 2009 the Lha Charitable Trust offered a massage course to nine eager students, who had the opportunity to learn massage therapy from Adam O'Mara, an Australian massage therapist and health sciences student volunteering with Lha.

For seven days, these students had class for three hours a day, learning the basics of Remedial, Aromatherapy and Swedish massage. In addition to the practical massage knowledge gained, these students also learned about the trade procedures in...

Lha’s third photo training project 2009

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:45:00 +0100

On the afternoon of January 18th, 2009, seven students from the Lha photography class held an exhibition of their work at the Lha Charitable Trust building on Temple Road in McLeod Ganj. Visitors were encouraged to come and experience the artistic accomplishments of the Lha's third photography program.

Over the previous two weeks, seven Tibetan students had the opportunity to learn basic photography skills from Allison Domzalski, a freelance photographer based out of New York City. In only two...

Lha receives new photocopy machine and a computer

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:30:00 +0100

TIBET RELIEF FUND, a London based foundation working for the welfare of the Tibetan people, recently recognized the good work done by Lha for the betterment of

the Tibetan community and has donated £1710 to Lha for the purpose of purchasing a photocopy machine and a computer. The above mentioned equipments will be used for official purposes.

Lha is thankful to TIBET RELIEF FUND for this help and generosity as it will further strengthen the technological infrastructure of LHA and indeed hel...

Joomla web content management workshop

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:30:00 +0100

Lha recently conducted a free workshop from 24th-28th November, 2008 on JOOMLA. Joomla is a free system that can be used to manage websites. It helps in designing and maintaining websites and makes the task much easier as compared to some of the complicated soft wares that are used nowadays. It's userfriendly interface also helps in developing and maintaining websites in multiple languages (eg. English, Tibetan & Chinese). Some of the NGOs in Dharamshala are already using Joomla because of ...

Lha Massage Program Update

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:15:00 +0100

For the second year in a row, Lha students had the opportunity to learn basic massage therapy as a professional skill. Many Tibetans living in exile need vocational training to cultivate a future life and gain employment. As part of our mission, we focus on improving the lives of Tibetan refugees.

Lha teamed up with Tibet Action Group's founder, Maria August, to expand and improve this year's professional training course. (www.tibetactiongroup.com) Maria is a graduate of the Boulder College of...

The Dalai Lama Trust donated five computers

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0100

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Trust has been helping the NGOs working for the welfare of the Tibetan people from time to time. The Trust helps the NGOs with infrastructural development. Recently, the Dalai Lama Trust has acknowledged the welfare and rehabilitation work done by Lha

in the field of education and the Trust has donated 5 personal computers to Lha to further improve the technical infrastructure. Lha has been conducting computer lessons for its students and this donation from the Trus...

Lha's Health Education Class

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:45:00 +0100

Throughout the month of October Lha has been providing a new Health Education Class to students. One of the main focuses of the classes is teaching English vocabulary relevant to describing illness or health problems when visiting a doctor. Most of the Indian doctors do not speak Tibetan

but know English, making English the bridging language between the patient and doctor. But within the course of their English classes the Tibetans are not taught words to describe their physical problems. This...

Lha Distributes Donated Clothes in Lower Dharamsala Beggar Camp

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:30:00 +0100

Indians, who rely on the income gained from begging to survive. More than six-hundred individual pieces of clothing were given, all of which were collected at the Lha Donation Dropoff Center at the Lha Office. If you have anything that you wish to donate, do not hesitate to bring it to the Lha Office in McLeod Ganj, on Temple Road across from Thomas Cook

Lha continues to collect used clothing and books from generous foreign visitors. Those articles of clothing that are not d...

Lha's Photography Classes

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:15:00 +0100

Last year, Lha ran a very successful three-month photography class for ten students. Students were taught in class in the morning, and took photos in the afternoon. They then used their photos to create and edit their own blogs. The students' photos and stories culminated in a stunning photography exhibition entitled "Unseen Dharamsala: Refugee Life As Seen Through The Eyes of Refugees." Please see www.unseendharamsala.blogspot.com for more.

Following the success of last year's class, this yea...

Lha's 2008 Cultural Exchanges

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0100

This year, we have already organized three cultural exchange programs between several US universities and Lha students, and there are three more scheduled before the end of the year. This demonstrates the success of the program, which began in 2003. Please see our Programs and Services page for details about how we run our cultural exchange programs.

During each program this year, Lha students have shown their US student partners around the Dharamsala region, including their homes, the Dalai L...

Lha books distribution program

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:45:00 +0100

lha distributes donated clothes a Indians, who rely on the income gained from begging to survive. More than six-hundred individual pieces of clothing were given, all of which were collected at the Lha Donation Dropoff Center at the Lha Office. If you have anything that you wish to donate, do not hesitate to bring it to the Lha Office in McLeod Ganj, on Temple Road across from Thomas Cook lha distributes donated clothes b Lha continues to collect used clothing and books from generous foreign visit...

Lha Joomla web programme workshop

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:30:00 +0100

Lha organized a two-week workshop in May 2008 regarding the excellent Joomla web programme for content management. Those present at the workshop were Lha and three other NGOs: the Khawakarpo Tibetan Culture Centre, www.khawakarpo.org the Multi Education Centre www.tibetmec.org and tibetpost www.thetibetpost.com or www.pressoftibet.org Lha is already using the Joomla web programme for its own website, and these other NGOs would also like to adopt Joomla. One of Joomla's main benefits is the abilit...

New book released

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:34:04 +0100

An important new book has been published by the Wildlife Protection Society of India, which was released on 5 June 2008 (World Environment Day). Called Environmental Protection and International Endangered Species Issues, it was authored by Ngawang Rabgyal, a field officer with the Wildlife Protection Society of India.

The book focuses on the illegal trafficking and harvesting of endangered animals and their pelts, and the role that conscientious Tibetans can play in halting this practice. Mr....