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Click on the links below for more information about services and classes we offer at Lha:Arts Arts
Learn the basic traditional Tibetan form of painting including drawing and how to use color for interested individual and small groups with a professional and qualified Artist. Lha has an exchange program for Traditional Tibetan and Western arts. To date, hundreds of people have taken this cross-cultural opportunity. Computer Classes
Lha has a well-established computer training program. We provide training for basic and advanced computer skill levels, as well as internet access. Our training aims to provide students with viable job skills. The computer school offers 15 full scholarships every month and charges a fee of Rs.500 (US$11) per month to those students who are able to pay. In the past, we have offered full scholarships to exiled Tibetans associated with other NGOs such as the Tibetan Women’s Association, Tibetan Youth Congress, Regional Youth Congress, the Kunphen Center, the Tibetan Welfare Office and many others.
In 2002, Lha was asked by the Tulane University School of Social Work to assist a group of graduate social work students on an international social work expedition to Dharamsala. The students engaged in social work projects assisting Tibetan refugees and local Indians. Lha now works with four similar student groups each summer from the Tulane School of Social Work, Tulane University, Centenary College, Loyola University, Rustic Path way and other U.S high schools. One of the main components of each group is that every student is paired with an individual Tibetan refugee of a similar age as a ‘mutual learning partner’. Every year over 75 students participate in the program. Lha initiates environmental awareness activities such as environmental cleanups, pickup of garbage, installation of garbage bins with the help of students, and wildlife conservation education. We are working toward a cleaner, safer Dharamsala. Our volunteers help to educate others about the importance of keeping the environment clean. If you are interested in helping, please drop by our offices. HealthLha distributes medicine to Tibetans and to other NGOs and hospitals in the Dharamsala area. In particular, we have been integral in the provision of medicine and health care to leprosy patients (leprosy being a huge problem in the area). Lha also provides health education about AIDS, sexual health and other health issues. Lha is now incorporating simple health information into its English language classes to help Tibetans have the vocabulary to communicate with doctors and pharmacists/chemists. Most Indian doctors and chemists speak some English and the Tibetans are more likely to have English training than Hindi. Therefore the ability to communicate health problems to care givers relies on English as a common language. This vocabulary and language ability is essential to receiving proper medical care. LHA is also training Tibetans in the community to be translators during office visits. If you are a health practitioner and could assist in training translators or you would like to give general health lectures to interested Tibetans please contact us. If you are a health professional, please contact us if you can spare some time to present a lecture, workshop or provide help at any of the local hospitals. Community NewspaperPartnership with publishes a monthly newspaper called Contact, which provides information to thousands of tourists and Indian people about Tibetan issues, including H.H. Dalai Lama’s teaching dates, events in the Dharamshala community, available services, and volunteer opportunities. Languages
Lha offers seven free English classes a day, from beginner to advanced levels. We also offer two French classes (beginner and intermediate), and Tibetan and Chinese language classes to interested individuals and groups. When the demand arises, and skilled teachers become available, Lha is also equipped to offer free Spanish classes to the students. All of our classes are staffed by volunteer teachers and are open to the public. For Tibetan refugees, learning foreign languages, especially English, is very important both inside and outside the community in order to find employment and establish a productive life in exile. Lha does not limit the number of students or the duration of study, however students are required to make the minimum commitment of one month of study. In the past, approximately 60 percent of English language students participated for six to seven months, and the remaining 40 percent of students continued on to study for two to three years. The French language students studied on average for six months to a year. As a result, the English and French language skills of many Lha students have improved dramatically. Lha also offers Tibetan school children free advanced leveled Tibetan language courses during their vacation time. In the future, we plan to add more advanced language classes and provide the students with certificates of achievement
Volunteer Opportunities and Coordination
Lha offers volunteers the opportunity to teach English, French or computer classes, participating in our hour-long daily English and French conversation classes, teaching yoga, or performing massage or Reiki treatments. There are both long-term and short-term volunteer opportunities. While some volunteer positions at Lha and in the community require at least a one-month commitment, others are totally open-ended. In addition, we connect volunteers with other organizations in the community in accordance with their professions and interests.
Our McLeod Ganj library is well stocked with teaching aids for volunteer teachers, and also houses a good collection of novels and non fiction literature. In addition, the library contains a section dedicated to books about the fundamentals of Buddhism, meditation and happiness. Borrowing is free for all. Tso Pema is a place of pilgrimage for both Tibetans and Sikhs. A place of beauty, and with friendly and welcoming people, it contains a sacred lake, three Tibetan buddhist monasteries, and many caves, one of which a Tibetan buddhist monk has lived in for over 20 years. Currently, a new statue of Guru Rinpoche is being built. If you should be fortunate enough to visit Tso Pema, please consider either donating your time, books, magazines or anything else that you may have that is useful to the new Lha library at Tso Pema. All donations will be gratefully received. Please smile at everyone! Vocational Training
Lha provides vocational training, including massage therapy, which is taught by professionals, free of charge, to refugees. So far, 36 refugees have completed the massage training course through our vocational training program. Now, they work independently giving massage treatment in India and in other countries. In addition, we have future plans to provide other types of vocational skills training in order to increase job opportunities for refugees. Clothing and Medical Donation and Distribution
Lha collects clothing, medicine, and other materials from tourists, and monthly 100 articles of clothing are distributed to the needy, especially to the slums in lower and local villages’ area of Dharamsala through the Dharamsala Rotary Club. Photography Training
Lha has organized three basic photography courses in the past year. These classes were open to anyone who expressed an interest and were taught by professional photographers from abroad. So far thirty two participants have enrolled and many more have expressed an interest. At the end of the course, the participants were able to display their work ‘Lha Photography Exhibit.’
Lha offers Tibetan cooking classes, and, over three days, you will learn how to cook Tibetan momos, soup and steamed Tibetan bread. Once concocted, your delicious delicacies will be taste tested by you as well as any other staff or volunteers that you deem worthy. The rationale behind the cooking classes is to both expand students' cooking repertoires and to preserve the art of traditional Tibetan cuisine. Yoga Classes
The ancient art of yoga is a fantastic way to keep fit, become more flexible, and to learn to control your breathing. India is the original home of yoga, and Tashi Dorjee, Lha's trained yoga instructor, offers Hatha and Shivananda yoga classes followed by a short meditation session every evening, from Monday to Friday. |
| Last Updated on Friday, 05 March 2010 08:11 |
