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[message_box bg=”#820065″]Making A Difference In Tibet[/message_box][gap height=”60px”]

What is the first thing you do in the morning? Make your coffee? Brush your teeth? Or do you take a shower? Imagine if you did not have the ability to turn your faucet on in your kitchen or bathroom to get fresh, clean drinking or bathing water. But instead, had to climb a steep mountainside with a heavy large container to fill with water when you reached the top, which you then had to boil to make it usable. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation causes 80% of diseases and kills more people ever year than all forms of violence, including war. Children are especially vulnerable, as their bodies aren’t strong enough to fight diarrhea, dysentery, and other illnesses.

This is what I experienced while in Tibet last year. It was a rude awakening for me, especially as someone whom values my skin care regimen, my morning showers, and evening baths so dearly.

The shocking reality of how thousands of monks and nuns live, those whom lives are dedicated to only helping others, is a brutal actuality. In fact, it is the children and women of the village or monastery whom have to make the trek up the hillside, keeping them from learning to read or write, or the women to take care of their families. With safe water nearby, women are free to pursue new opportunities and improve their families’ lives. Kids can earn their education and build the future of their communities.

Even their make-shift hospital which provides health care does not have clean water to provide a sanitary situation for healing those whom are sick.

After witnessing this first hand, I have decided to donate $1.08 (the number of prayer beads in a mala) from every bottle sold to help provide the resources to bring a sewage system and clean water system to those whom are in need. Take a second next time you turn your faucet on or flush your toilet to think of those whom do not have the luxuries we do.

For more information and to view a slideshow of the progress got to:http://www.tibethumanitarianproject.org

Here is a update from the Organization

Hello to all of our dear friends and supporters from GlobalGiving,

As spring approaches, the villagers continue to be so grateful for the positive effects that the Water Project has on their day-to-day lives. Although this has been a long and difficult winter, a steady supply of fresh water has saved people (and children in particular) from making the arduous and dangerous climb to the mountain spring every day. The washhouses and toilets have enabled a much higher level of cleanliness and sanitation for the people than they had previously, reducing infection and illness.

One issue that has arisen is the need to actively maintain the water system during the cold season from September through April. Due to the very rocky terrain and extreme weather in these mountains, some parts of the pipeline and system fall victim to falling rocks or ice blockages. The village has hired a person who is experienced to maintain the water systems to ensure its proper functioning. Part of the funds being raised are now going towards this ongoing expense as well as towards paying off the loans that the village took out to build the system.

More than 2800 people’s lives have already been made better by the Water Project. It is our hope that the water system can eventually be extended to bring this great benefit to the households in the outlying areas who continue to make the daily trek for fresh water. On behalf of the Tibet Humanitarian Project and the villagers, we deeply thank you for your great generosity and compassion.

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