Update (5) COVID-19 Urgent Appeal for Tibetan refugees in India - 5th July 2021

We have raised 72k and to make a total of 86k the Lelung Dharma Trust has covered the shortfall.

All the money has now been sent or pledged to Tibetan communities and organisations.

Thank you for supporting the Covid-19 Urgent Appeal for Tibetan refugees in India.

We have dedicated these virtuous deeds for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on His 86th birthday.

Update (4) COVID-19 Urgent Appeal for Tibetan refugees in India - 8th June 2021

Thanks to your support, the Lelung Dharma Trust has managed to provide the following assistance to various Tibetan refugee communities in India.

(1) Dehradun, Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement £4,200 Doctor's salary

(2) Dehradun, Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement £4,450 Stipends for 6 nurses for 6 months

(3) Dharamsala, Tibetan Settlement Office & Tibetan Youth Congress £1,550-

Essential Medical Kits for COVID Care Centre

(4) Hunsur, Rabgye Ling Tibetan Settlement £1,000 COVID Testing kits

(5) Hunsur, Zhongkar Choede Monastery £300 Face masks

(6) Kollegal, Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement £1,270 PPE, Oxymeters, face masks etc.

(7) Mundgod, Doeguling Tibetan Settlement £10,800 Doctor's salary

(8) Delhi, Tibetan Cancer Society £22,000Ambulance for Tibetan Cancer Society (pending)

(9) Bylakuppe, TCV School £1,200 Portable Oxygen Concentrator

(10) Bylakuppe, TCV School £555 Oxygen Cylinders

(11) Orissa, Phuntsokling Tibetan Settlement £3,000 Oxygen cylinders & PPE

(12) Kollegal, Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement £9,820-

COVID-19 vaccination for 982 Tibetan refugees

(13) Mundgod, Doeguling Tibetan Settlement £11,000-

COVID-19 vaccination for 1100 Tibetan refugees

(14) Hunsur, Rabgye Ling Tibetan Settlement £1,500

COVID-19 vaccination for 150 Tibetan refugees

We still need to raise at least £15,000 to cover COVID-19 vaccinations. So, we invite your continued support and donations.

With prayers,

Lelung Tulku

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Update: (3) 20 May 2021

Dear Friends

COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause unprecedented disruptions worldwide. Each day, we see and hear more deaths and pain inflicted upon us by this deadly virus.

Our amazing friends have generously contributed towards the Lelung Dharma Trusts recent COVID-19 appeal for the Tibetan refugee communities in India. The country is still facing a great deal of challenges from this second wave. Its so wonderful that many are practising compassion for those who need real help.

With your support, we have now raised over £52,000. Thuk-je-che - we thank you for your generous giving!

Special Buddhist Prayers Meeting - 26th May (6.pm to 7.15pm)

On Wednesday, 26th May from 6pm to 7.15pm, we are convening a Special Buddhist Prayers meeting at the Lelung Dharma Centre.

This day is the holiest day of the year in Tibetan lunar calendar. It is the 15th Day of the Fourth Month. Tibetan Buddhists believe and observe the Fourth Month as the Saga Dawa festival.

On this day, Lord Buddha was born, enlightened and reached parinirvana. It is believed that a merit earned on this holy month is multiplied to a million fold. Likewise, if a negative action is committed during this month, it is multiplied to a million fold. So, we should avoid negative actions and instead engage in many positive actions during the holy month period!

We are going to dedicate our prayers for those who died from the coronavirus for their quick rebirth in the fortunate realms as well as speedy recovery of the affected COVID patients. And, of course, whilst acknowledging the generosity at the time of greatest needs for beneficiaries in India, we are also going to dedicate our prayers to all donors for the removal of obstacles in their lives and to have a good health, success and meaningful life.

Please join us live via facebook or in person at our centre.

Note: In order to help keep everyone safe we would like to request that you take a Lateral Flow test before attending. The test are free, are available at chemists and can also be ordered online: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Lelung Dharma Trust

Peace House

Parkside Way

North Harrow

HA2 6BX

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UPDATE (2) 7/05/2021

COVID Surge in Delhi: Help Tibetan Cancer Society

Delhi is currently the world's biggest hotspot for COVID-19 and an increasing number of Tibetan refugees are facing hardships in the Indian capital.

Thanks to NGOs like the Tibetan Cancer Society, the refugee community in Delhi and neighbouring states are getting some much needed help. Volunteers from the Tibetan Cancer Society are working day and night, ferrying patients as well as vital oxygen supplies between Delhi and neighbouring states.

The Lelung Dharma Trust is helping to procure an ambulance to support the ongoing work of Tibetan Cancer Society.

An ambulance costs £ 24,000 (approx.)

Please support whatever you can afford. 100% of funds raised (your donations) will be donated to the intended purpose.

Thank you, Lelung Tulku

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UPDATE (1) 7/05/2021

India COVID-19 Relief for Tibetan refugee community

Heres a quick update. Thanks to your generous response, we have now raised the initial target.

During these past few weeks, we have been in regular contact with our partners in India, including with senior Tibetan medical doctors, health officials, community leaders as well as NGO workers in Delhi, Dehradun, Dharamsala and Mundgod.

Based on the urgent needs and requests, our initial extended support of £7,663 for the affected Tibetan settlements in Dehradun (north) and Mundgod (south India), was sent to the Department of Health, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala for the following purposes:

A. COVID-19 Urgent Relief for Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement, Dehradun (£2,254), north India

1. Stipends for 4 full-time nurses:

Rs 15,000 per month X 4 nurses = Rs 60,0000 monthly

For 3 months: Rs 60,000 X 3 = Rs 180,000

2. Stipends for 2 part-time nurses:

Rs 7,500 per month x 2 nurses = Rs 15,000 monthly

For 3 months, Rs 15,000 x 3 = Rs 45,000

(Total Stipends for 6 nurses: Rs 2,25,000)

B. Top-up Salary for 1 Medical Doctor at Doeguling Tibetan Settlement, Mundgod

(£5,409), south India

1. Top-up salary for 1 Medical Doctor:

Rs 45,000 per month x 12 months = Rs 5,40,000

For one year, Rs 5,40,000 (Five hundred and forty-thousand rupees)

The Doeguling Tibetan Settlement in Mundgod, one of the largest Tibetan refugee settlements in India, currently has no resident doctor. With this urgent relief grant from Lelung Dharma Trust and support from the CTA Department of Health, the local Settlement Officer has now recruited a Tibetan doctor, who will soon start treating patients. (More updates soon)

Total amount: Rs 7,65,000 (Seven hundred and sixty-five thousand rupees)

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Dear Friends

COVID-19 continues to cause great hardship, isolation and fear locally and will continue to do so for many months, despite vaccinations being administered.

India, the world's second largest population, has now been badly hit by this second wave and, due to this surge, the Tibetan communities there are facing great hardship, including increased illness and deaths within the refugee camps. A shortage of oxygen and other medical supplies is now a growing concern too.

Naturally, I am very saddened by this deteriorating situation. In addition to prayers, the Lelung Dharma Trust has pledged an initial £10,000 to support the emergency needs of the Tibetan refugee community in north and south India.

As the needs arise, we are now launching this urgent appeal for help to support the efforts of the Tibetan refugee community to tackle the COVID problem and associated illnesses in India.

Therefore, I urge you to lend your support, no matter how small, by responding to this appeal compassionately. Your response would make a huge difference to the lives of the Tibetan refugee community in India. I hope you will consider giving support to this urgent appeal, today.

100% of the funds raised - your donation - will support the cost of covering doctors fees and medical supplies, including oxygen. I assure you that your entire donation will go directly to the intended purpose.

Our contributions to the Tibetan refugee communities' suffering perhaps would lighten the Indian Government's shoulder a bit.

You can donate by bank transfer:

Lelung Dharma Trust

c/o Barclays Bank

London W12 8GG

Account number: 33298876

Sort code: 204141

IBAN: GB76 BUKB 2041 4133 2988 76

SWIFT BIC: BUKBGB22

For donations by cheque, please make it payable to Lelung Dharma Trust.

Please return it to: Lelung Dharma Trust, Peace House, Parkside Way, North Harrow HA2 6BX, United Kingdom.

Please quote ref: COVID-19/India-Appeal

I thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Lelung Tulku

Spiritual Director, Lelung Dharma Trust