Mission

Lha is the Tibetan word for our innate nature of fundamental goodness. It describes the awakened state of mind, the Primordial Pristine Awareness. Lha is a registered non-profit, grassroots, community social work association.

Lha is dedicated to providing essential resources to the displaced Tibetan community living in exile in McLeod Ganj, Upper Dharamsala. The primary goals of Lha are:

• to facilitate an easy transition for the refugee community to India;
• to provide a long-term rehabilitation resource center offering educational, cultural, environmental and health education awareness; and
• to build a social service bridge for  the Tibetan refugee community to northern India.

In order to achieve this principal mission, Lha provides year-round free language and computer training, medical assistance, clothing, and clean water to our community social services center located centrally in McLeod Ganj.
Lha is managed solely by refugee Tibetans, who draw their expertise from their first-hand knowledge of what it means to be in exile. Volunteers from around the world assist the core management in its mission to provide essential adult education and awareness. Lha’s staff coordinate volunteer workers, and place them not only in positions at the center, but also in hands-on positions throughout the community.

Lha is solely dependent on the goodwill of volunteers, and monetary and material donations. Lha offers social assistance through the selfless services of compassionate volunteers, and also a good library, free clothing, and medical supplies.

Lha works in conjunction with various other organizations in the local area to assist exiled Tibetans. By making a joint effort to establish community connections, Lha and these other organizations hope to increase the quality of life for the greater majority of the population. Groups such as the Tibetan Parent's Association, the Tibetan Women's Association, and the Leprosy Assistance project work tirelessly with Lha in an attempt to better meet the needs of the exiled community. Lha's Outreach Program extends Lha’s aid to the wider Indian community in the form of self-sustaining clean water projects and the donation of clothing.

Lha's secondary mission is to assist in the preservation of Tibetan arts and culture. The damage to Tibet's deeply unique culture makes the promotion and conservation of artistic, literary and religious awareness an essential part of the rehabilitation and restorative process.
Lha endeavors at all times to be flexible and responsive to our Tibetan partners. Our programs and projects are adjusted each year as the conditions and the needs of the region change. Yet our commitment remains constant:

·    to help the Tibetan people to survive and to preserve our profoundly important culture; and

·    to offer volunteers and students the opportunity to engage in meaningful community service and social work.