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Name of Administrative Contact:
Jurme WangdaStreet Address:
1098 Karsh StreetCity, State/Province, Country and Postal Code:
Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 4P9 CanadaTelephone Number:
(613) 738-9871Fax Number:
Email Address:
info@oft.caWeb Page URL (Address):
http://www.oft.ca/The Ottawa Friends of Tibet (OFT) was founded in 1996 by Jurme and Angela Wangda
and a small group of committed volunteers as a non-political organization
dedicated to improving the health, education and economic conditions of
Tibetans and Tibetan refugees in India and elsewhere. In 2001, OFT became a
federally registered charity. Current projects include the building of a
seniors' residence in Kalimpong, India, for destitute elderly Tibetans; and, in
cooperation with Child Haven International, the funding of two orphanages for
Tibetan children, one in New Delhi, India, and one in Tibet near Lhasa. Our
mission is to serve disadvantaged Tibetan children, men and women in India,
Nepal and Tibet, and to increase public awareness and appreciation of Tibetan
culture. The Ottawa Friends of Tibet also aims to establish an Ottawa Tibetan
Centre to increase awareness and appreciation of Tibetan culture and to further
the understanding of Buddhist philosophy and practice.
The Ottawa Friends of Tibet are involved in the following projects:
Kalimpong Senior's Home Project:
More than 130,000 Tibetan refugees are now living in various areas of India and
Nepal. Since the first mass exodus in 1959, Tibetans have been fleeing the
region at a rate of 1,300-3,000 a year to escape religious persecution and
political oppression at the hands of the Chinese government in Tibet. They
make the dangerous journey across the Himalayas into Nepal and India, with only
as much belongings as they can carry. The majority of the refugees are
scattered across India in about 35 settlements. Poverty and inadequate housing
leave the elderly in the worst of predicaments. There are approximately 14,600
Tibetan communities throughout the northeastern provinces of India: Kalimpong,
Darjeeling, Sonada, Ganktok, Shillong, Bomdila, Miao and Teju. Within these
communities, 1,800 are elderly � many of whom are destitute and unable to care
for themselves. At this time, there are only 55 beds available for the
communities. As the refugee population ages, the number of elderly requiring
proper care facilities will continue to increase.
The Senior�s home will provide a functional environment with adequate care to
the growing number of elderly Tibetans. Also, the design of the facility will
set a new standard for quality-of-life facilities in the Kalimpong region.
The Ottawa Friends of Tibet support the following groups/charities:
Child Haven International
Inspired by the ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Child Haven
International is a registered charity, founded in 1985. Child Haven assists
children and women in four (4) countries - India, Nepal, Tibet and
Bangladesh, who are in need of food, education, health care, shelter and
clothing, as well as emotional and moral support.
Web site: http://www.childhaven.ca/
The Palyul Namdroling Foundation of Canada
"The Palyul Foundation of Canada is an incorporated, non-profit charitable
organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the teachings of
the Nyingma lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism, with particular emphasis on the
traditions of the Palyul school, which is headed by His Holiness Pema Norbu
Rinpoche, its eleventh throne holder."
Web site: http://www.palyulcanada.org/
last updated: 9.7.06
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