When the British gave Tibet to China in 1950, a terrible bout of oppression and violence was visited upon the peaceful and isolated country of Tibet. The Dalai Lama was forced to flee to India, and with him came many hundreds of frightened people.

India kindly allowed the Tibetans to live in exile in Dharamsala, but one of the most pressing needs was to find the means to care for the many children who had been orphaned or separated from their families during the arduous escape from their homeland.

A centre was quickly established for the destitute children, and over the years, thousands more children made the almost impossible journey, in their ordinary clothes, across the Himalayas. The journey, mostly undertaken at night to avoid detection by the Chinese patrols, takes up to 27 days. I have seen video taken by Danish and British climbers who have witnessed the shooting of these unarmed people.

For those who make it, a warm and loving welcome is ready at the Tibetans Children’s Centre. It is funded entirely by donations.

Imagine how it must feel as a parent to send your child across the highest mountain range in the world. Imagine the terrible choices a parent must make, the risks which must be weighed; the knowledge that you will never see them again.

70 years later a steady tide of children keep coming.

I know many people who feel the pain of the never-ending tragedy which is Tibet will want to show their generosity and help with a donation, no matter how small. These children are unlikely to ever see their family again, yet with your help they can have a new home, an education and a future free from oppression. They can speak their own language with impunity and study their own culture in peace. They will be free to travel, earn an honest living, and in time create their own family to continue the Tibetan culture of compassion, peace and harmony. All this can be achieved with your help.