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His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting an 82 year old Tibetan lady during Lam teachings in South India, 2015.
In recent years, due to the kindness of benefactors, the FPMT Social Services Fund has been able to offer support to elderly homes in India caring for Tibetans of advanced age who have no access to other means of support. Offering these grants to elderly homes is one way to help repay the kindness and bravery of the Tibetan people. There are many Tibetan elders in the exile community who have either been rendered destitute or whose families are not capable of taking care of them due to dire circumstances. In 2019 we were so happy to offer grants to five elderly homes and directly benefit to 370 elders.
In total, US$287,085.23 was offered in 2019.
This is the fourth year that FPMT has been offering substantial support to elderly homes in India. Without these homes, many elderly first-wave Tibetan refugees have very little prospect of accommodation or support as many are without families of their own.
We invite you to rejoice in some details about each of the homes we supported in 2019.
Jampaling Elder’s Home, Dharamsala.
Jampaling Elder’s Home, Dharamsala
Providing care to 124 destitute elders, this home offers accommodation, medication, monthly pocket money, and supplemental nutrition. The residents normally wake up at 5 a.m. and are served fresh tea and then set out on their morning walk then congregate at the prayer hall at 6 a.m. to perform daily prayers for about an hour before breakfast. Until lunch they spend leisure time reciting prayers and circumambulating the temple and large prayer wheel as well as engage in chores they enjoy such as clean and planting beautiful flowers around the home. We provided a grant for the shortfall of this home’s annual operating budget.
Lugsam Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, Bylakuppe.
Lugsam Samduling Home for the Aged and Disabled, Bylakuppe
This home has 36 elders including one resident who is 96 years of age. This year we provided a grant for the shortfall of annual operating budget for 2018 and 2019, plus new cushions and chairs and curtains needed on the premises.
Residents of Mundgod Home for the Elderly and Disabled, Mundgod.
Mundgod Home for the Elderly and Disabled, Mundgod
This home has 86 elders, some of which are HIV +, have cancer, psychiatric problems, diabetics, and/or chronic arthritis. A lot of the annual expenses are medical. This year we offered a grant toward their corpus fund which pays some of their annual operating budget. They are fundraising for this fund so that in the future it will fully support the operating costs of the home from the interest. We also offered another grant toward annual expenses, that they were not able to cover.
Residents of Hunsur Old Aged Home, Hunsur, Gurupura.
Hunsur Old Aged Home, Hunsur, Gurupura
This home provides accommodation for 20 elders, the eldest is 94 years old. This year we offered a grant toward this home’s annual operating budget shortfall.
Residents of Dhondenling Old Age Home, Kollegal.
Dhondenling Old Age Home, Kollegal
30 residents ranging in age from 59-96 receive care at this home. A grant was offered this year which went toward food, medical expenses, gas, staff expenses, and pocket money for the elders.
Tremendous thanks to all who make these grants to those in dire need possible by offering support to the Social Services Fund.
Since 2015 we have offered $819,671.76 directly to support Tibetan elder homes and communities in India
FPMT Charitable Projects is honored to support the homes of the eldest and destitute Tibetan refugees. Please consider supporting the Social Services Fund.