URGENT

As I’m sure you know, many charities have been hit hard by the recession, particularly small charities like ours. Donations are down this year and we are in urgent needs of funds if we are to maintain our work in India & Nepal. Times are tough for us all, but if you donate something right now- any amount is welcome- you can and will make a real difference. You will enable us to continue our important work with the vulnerable children who have made the long and often dangerous journey from Tibet to find a better life in exile. They have endured so much and with your support, Art Refuge UK can help them.  Please give whatever you can, and on behalf of those children, thank you. You can donate online, on this site, or you can send a cheque to us at our mailing address: P. O. Box 37, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP155WY, UK.

Summer 2010 update

Hello, We hope you’re having a good summer and enjoying the odd spots of sunshine and holidaymaking as well as all the festivals.

Talking of festivals, we took part in the Tibet Festival in the Park in July, at the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, along with over 2000 people, gathered together to celebrate the Dalai lama’s 75th birthday. It was a very popular event, featuring performances from the Tashi Lhunpo monks and the Tibetan Dance Group as well as many other performers. We were one of the stalls in the Lhasa Bazaar, where you could buy sweaters of yak wool,  incense, books, prayer flags, cards, crystals and find out about various Tibet organisations and supporters. Indeed, we were sandwiched between the Tibet Society stall (with the formidable Reka) and Isabel Losada, author of note, who was promoting her book ‘For Tibet, With Love: A Beginners Guide to Changing the World’ (highly recommended!) Isabel is a fantastic fun person to be around, and had made cupcakes to give away when people bought her book- very tempting. We met many old friends there, made new ones and found some great new supporters.

Since then, Tsering, one of our trustees, has carried the flag for us from festival to festival, handing out our brochures and spreading the word. Thanks also to Jane who has done the same at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk.

At the end of July, we had a 3-page spread in the East Anglian Daily Times, which has brought renewed interest and a new volunteer in Suffolk.

And the big move to the new Centre in Dharamsala has begun. At this time we cannot show any photos as the move is not complete yet, but when the new classroom is up and running, we’ll make sure you get to see it.