Service Trips, Past and Future

TCEF 2012 Service Trip :    What we do
This year we are planning an exciting service trip concentrating
on our Sikkim projects in Northeastern India.
We have a few major projects in mind and are open and excited
to create projects based on the skills of those of you wanting
to participate. We all have something unique to offer and
showing up in friendship and support has a huge positive
impact .
Our focus this year is on doing “school nurse” type health
screenings. During this screening we will make basic health
observations and ask a pre determined set of questions about
general health and immunizations. This data will be used to
determine future health needs.We are projecting testing of
200-300 kids.
We will be doing eye screening and a simple vision tests for
refractory errors and providing glasses for those in need. We
are pretty sure we have an audio machine donated for hearing
tests. A health record will be started for each student. We will
be working with the hostel staff and community members,
teaching the methods of testing in order to sustain these
programs.
Eye testing is being coordinated with BOOKS . We will be
collecting books to bring and create a library at the hostel. EYE
care and BOOKS – need a catchy phrase here.
In conjunction with the health screening we want to create a
puppet show on basic hygiene and teeth brushing. The plan is to
teach the older kids or assist them in creating the puppet show
and have them perform for the younger kids. A fun way to
emphasize the importance of basic hygiene – hand washing,
sneeze and coughing in a sleeve etc.
Every year we take photographs of the kids and interview them.
This bio data and photos are used to #nd sponsors for those in
need and to communicate and update the existing sponsors.
This is very important to our program. We also will spend time
assisting the kids in card making and letter writing to their
sponsors.
I would like to continue our tailoring project, if anyone has
sewing skills. We bought several machines last year and did
some basic lessons but would love to continue. Also would love
to introduce quilt making.
For fun and friendship service Art, Dance, Puppets, Music
projects are all wonderful ways to contribute. Presentations on
just about any topic are always welcomed by the kids and I do
pack a digital projector with each trip. In the past
presentations about Life in the US and Australia, Montana
Wildlife and Conservation were all immensely appreciated by the
kids. We are open to your ideas and talents.
Whatever skills you have and your willingness to assist with
projects, reading, art , music, dance puppets are NEEDED and
WELCOMED. I am also in need of someone to DOCUMENT the
trip with photos and film.
This trip we also need to visit the Tibetan Children’s VIllage in
Gangtok and make an assessment of a thermal solar project for
the school.
For those of you wanting to spend a longer period in India, I will be first going to Clement Town to the Kyitselling
hostel to do eye screening for 3 days. We then will be in
Dharamsala the seat of the Tibetan Government in exile for 5
days having meetings with the Gu Chu Sum Movement, the
Tibetan Minister of Education, and a visit to our friends at TCV
school in Upper Dharamsala. Anyone is welcome to participate
in this portion of the trip.
The end of the trip is an optional stay on the beaches of Kerala.
RELAX -South Indian Style!!!
Accommodations on this trip will be in clean and simple hotels
with western style toilets and hot showers within the Tibetan
communities. Phadamchen is the exception. Here we will stay in
the home of friends with a western toilet but no shower. If the
Hostel’s thermal solar unit is complete we will be able to shower
there .
Transportation on this adventure will include domestic air,
jeeps, buses and jeep taxis. If you elect to join us in Clement
Town and Dharamsala ( before Sikkim) we will be taking an
overnight train and an overnight bus.
Please contact me with any questions Thanks for your interest .
I promise this trip will change lives yours and theirs!!
Valerie Hellermann Project Manager – valerietibet@gmail.com or
mtmtntop@aol.com or phone 406 439 3580

TCEF SERVICE TRIP 2012 Itinerary

Day 01- Arrive Delhi
Taxi to Majnukatilla Tibetan Colony stay at either Sakya House or Wongdhen House.
These are simple clean accommodations. Majnukatilla is the heart of Tibetan activity in
Delhi.
Day 02 – Delhi
Tour of Old Delhi, rick shaw ride to spice markets, Islamic Mosque, Sikh Gudwara, and
the Gandhi Memorial
Day 03 – flight to Bagdogra, jeep to Gangtok
Jeep taxi through the bustling commerce town of Siliguri and up the long and winding
mountain road to Gangtok .stay in Hotel Tibet
Day 04 -Gangtok
easy day, market,visit Enchay Monastery , one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim,
Spend an hour or two at the Orchid House viewing hundreds of blooming orchid
species, Evening training in eye exams and audio machine
Day 05 -Gangtok to Phadamchen
long drive through beautiful countryside, winding mountain roads, lunch in Ravangla
Phadamchen is a small village in the remote area of Western Sikkim. It is the village
below Zuluk and is restricted due to itʼs critical and sensitive location on the Tibet,
Bhutan, India Border
Phadamchen is where the Sukhavati Educational Hostel and the Good Star Academy
are located. It is here we will do our “School Nurse Screening” and art, culture and
tailoring projects with the 52-54 kids in the hostel. They are very interested in DANCE
MUSIC and ART. In addition we will try to teach some basic hygiene through puppets
and encourage the older kids to create the show to teach the younger kids. LOOKING
FOR SOMEONE TO BUILD A PUPPET STAGE
We will be housed in a comfortable village home with a western toilet. Showers will not
be available unless the Hostel thermal solar panels are finished. Warm water buckets
will be available.
Day 06-011 Phadamchen Service projects
One of these days is Losar Tibetan New Year and we will share the celebrations with
the local villagers.
We can expect the children to put on a dance and singing performance. Any DANCERS
AND SINGERS would be very welcome to work with the kids on this.
Day 012- Phadamchen to Gangtok
arrive Tibet Hotel
Day 013 – Gangtok
Visit traditional Handi craft center and friend and thangka painter Tseten Dorjee
Day 014 – Gangtok to Yuksom
a 4-5 hour drive to the lovely rural village of Yuksom. Stay at the Yangrigari Hotel with
our Dubdi project Manager Nawang Bhutia.
Day 015-018 Yuksom
Visit the monks at Dubdi Monastery and do School Nurse Screening for 34 young
monks. Spend time reading and doing art with the boys
Also we will be doing screening for the younger grades at the Government school in
Yuksom
There is a day available to hike to the water falls or relax and read a book.
Day 019 – Yuksom to Gangtok via Tashi Ding Monastery
Tashi Ding is an old and beautiful monastery on a plateau. It is about a 15-20 min steep
walk up steps but well worth the effort. It is famous for the water that flows through the
monastery walls once a year attributed to the blessings of the deity Padmasmbhava, the
Buddha of compassion.It is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists. If we are lucky we will be
able to meet the mani carver, a man in his 80ʼs who has dedicated his life to the carving
of mantras to the Buddha of compassion.
Arrive back in Gangtok stay at Tibet Hotel
Day 020 – Gangtok
visit markets, monasteries
Visit Tibetan Childrenʼs Village school to access  future Thermal Solar
Project
Day 021- Cham Dances at Rumtek Monastery
Taxi there and spend the day
Rumtek Monastery is the seat of the Kagu Lineage of Buddhism headed by the
Karmapa, Due to Sikkim being politically sensitive to China, the Karmapa who escaped
from Tibet 10 years ago has not been able to return. The Monastery Cham Dances are
the best in SIkkim and a delightful masked performance of good against evil
Day 022- Cham Dances at Rumtek Monastery
Day 023-Gangtok to Bagdogra flight to Delhi
arrive Delhi evening, taxi to Majnukatilla
Day 024 – Delhi
shopping day , tour of Hamayan Tomb. Red Fort or museums (your choices)
Day 025 – Delhi to Home  or 10 day add on to Kerala , South India

Itinerary and Cost – Below is the proposed dates . The fee covers ALL domestic travel in India, All Hotels and lodging and 2 meals a day. You are responsible for airfare to and from Delhi and trip insurance.

PART 1 – CLEMENT TOWN AND DHARAMSALA -$ 500usd ADD ON
Feb 2 -depart USA
Feb 3 transit
Feb 4 arrive Delhi
Feb 5 Delhi to Dhasa
Feb 6 Dhasa
Feb 7 Dhasa
Feb 8 Dhasa
Feb 9 Dhasa
Feb 10 Dhasa to Clement town
Feb 11 Clement town
Feb 12 depart USA Clement town
Feb 13 transit Clement town night train to Delhi
PART 2 – SIKKIM SERVICE GROUP – $1800usd
Feb 14 arrive Delhi
Feb 15 Delhi
Feb 16 Bagdogra Gangtok
Feb 17 Gangtok
Feb 18 Gangtok to Phadamchen
Feb 19 – -Phadamchen
Feb 20 Phadamchen
Feb 21- Phadamchen
Feb 22- Phadamchen Losar Tibetan New Year
Feb 23- Phadamchen
Feb 24- Phadamchen to Gangtok
Feb 25- Gangtok
Feb 26 -Gangtok to Yuksom
Feb 27 – Yuksom
Feb 28 – Yuksom
Feb 29 – Yuksom
March 1- Leave Yuksom, vis it Tashi Ding Monastery
March 2 Gangtok
March 3- Cham Dances Rumtek Monastery
March 4- “
March 5 Gangtok
March 6 Gangtok to Delhi
March 7- Delhi and HOME
Part 3 OPTIONAL ADD ON -$700usd
March 7 Delhi to Kerala
March 8
March 9
March 10
March 11
March 12
March 13
March 14
March 15 Kerala to delhi
March 16 delhi
March 17 Delhi home

TCEF SERVICE TRIP 2011

AT DUBDI MONASTERY SCHOOL SIKKIM

For several years now TCEF Program Manager, Valerie Hellermann has been doing service tours to our project sites in India. These tours are an opportunity to immerse yourself in Tibetan culture and  relate directly with the people and particularly the children we serve. We have done many wonderful projects such as art exchange projects, photo projects, construction projects , music , english  literacy and “world culture” presentations. It is a truly wonderful opportunity to be of service while visiting India and the Tibetan community in exile.

First Telescope

March 2011 Currently the Shekhavati Hostel in Phadamchen has 52 children .
I am thrilled to report the 3rd floor has been built with the money raised from the TCEF and
TRAS( Trans Himalayan Aide Society ) . The money was transferred through an existing NGO
the Hope Family Trust located in Kalimpong India.
A member of Monbuk Rotary Club, Victoria, Australia, who traveled with the
2010 TCEF Service Group, committed to fund raise for the thermal solar unit through his rotary
club and has informed me the money will be sent in June 2011. The cement columns for the solar
array are already in place on the roof. How exciting to think the first hot shower is just a few
months away.
Our service group , Sharon Mason from Seattle, Momica Gripman, from Wa., Sophie and
Hannah Paton of Montana, TCEF intern James Michael of Montana and Valerie Hellermann,
TCEF Program Manager all contributed invaluable hard work and heartfelt service to make this
trip a huge success.

Meeting a Sponsored Brother

Currently the boys have moved into the 3rd floor and the kitchen has moved to the roof. Lama
Paljor’s Good Star Academy primary school lost it’s land and building lease and has moved into
the first floor for one year. While I was in Phadamchen Lama Paljor secured a land purchase and
began construction with funds raised by his French Connections. Once the Good Star moves out
the first floor will become the intended multi purpose dining, study and recreational room.

The general condition of the hostel was neat and clean and in good repair. The children are much
more warm and comfortable with their new mattresses and quilts. These were donated for ALL
the kids in the Hostel last year by a very generous donor from Idaho. The kids are really grateful.

This year our service group had 3 projects. The most challenging was our tailoring project.
Thanks to our kind donors we purchased a treadle and electric sewing machine, sewing supplies
and fabric. A Helena supporter painstakingly made 5 sized pattens and 6 fully assembled ethnic
reversible vest for the first project. The kids loved the vests and were really excited to make one.
However we met up with some rather hilarious challenges. The first that the treadle machine
arrived needing assemblage and oiling and NO DIRECTIONS. Lama Paljor sent for the village
tailor to assist, he was MUTE. Somehow we transcended the barriers to communication and
cheerfully got the machine up and running. While the treadle was being made ready we moved
on to the electric machine, almost got the bobbin winding demo finished when the power failed.
UGHHHH.

Sewing by candle light

We valiantly continued by returning to pattern pinning and cutting by candlelight. The power
returned intermittently, the treadle belt came off, but we pushed on and 2 days later had a
completed vest and several older kids who were competent in the machine and pattern
preparation and assemblage. They worked well as a team and were really proud of their vest.
This year we also brought 3 telescopes and several books on the universe . They were set up on
the third floor balcony and the boys especially were interested. These kids do not have much if
any practical science so this was a treat.
Our yearly art exchange project went well. We brought some great art supplies again and found
we left them in New Delhi. Luckily we found a shop in a bustling border town where we bought
paper and colored pencils and we all donated whatever supplies we personally had. Many of our
sponsors will be receiving a hand made card from their sponsored child.
The gifts that many of our sponsors sent were all delivered. The kids really appreciated these and
especially the letters and photos from their sponsors. We distributed brand new toothbrushes and
toothpaste and happily remembered the felt pen to write names on each brush. This year we
again hauled many large heavy bags of donations that included books, games, puzzles, clothing,
jump ropes and flash cards. The educational books, science, math, geography, and art books were
very popular. It was great to watch the kids treasuring books. We have the start of a pretty good
library.
It was a wonderful visit. The kids were much more talkative with us now that we are yearly
visitors and their english has improved greatly. They performed traditional and modern
Bollywood dances for us. Members of the TCEF service group performed Irish Dance in full
Irish costume, gave a guitar and voice performance and a modern Hip Hop Rap dance. It was
great entertainment and cultural exchange for all even with the intermittent power failures.
Future Needs
Part of or work is to continually evaluate the progress and needs of the hostel. There is a great
need for computers and TCEF will be working on a fund raising campaign for a computer. lab. It
is not practical to send computers. It is important to purchase computers in India where they can
be maintained.
A generator to deal with the continual power failures.
Primary Health Education and Assessments Currently there are no health records for the kids,
they do not have yearly health exams or vision exams. There is no class on basic hygiene and
there is currently no sink or soap near the toilets.
The 2012 Service trip intends to focus on this area of need.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE 2012 SERVICE TRIP contact:

Valerie Hellermann Program Manager@ valerietibet@gmail.com