Rokpa International

Rokpa International, proper spelling: ROKPA, ( ROKPA of Tibetan, " help " or "serve" ) is a Swiss NGO, based in Zurich, the organization is represented in 20 countries.

The charity wants the lives of people in need - regardless of religion and culture - improve. Focus country is Tibet every year to flow about 80 percent of donations there. Nepal, Zimbabwe and South Africa are further focus countries. The education is particularly encouraged in order to lead people permanently out of poverty.

History

On March 27, 1980, the Tibetan doctor and Lama Akong Tulku Rinpoche, Lea Wyler and her father Veit Wyler, the club Rokpa International founded with headquarters in Zurich. The activities of Rokpa began with the support of Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal. 1982 declared the finance of the canton Zurich International Rokpa for tax- free, the other Swiss cantons, followed later. In 1985, the branch in England, founded in 1986 in Germany and Belgium and 1988 in Holland.

In 1990 the first projects in Tibet could be realized. In Kathmandu, the Rokpa soup kitchen was opened, which is conducted annually since then with the help of volunteers from all over the world during the winter months. Two hot meals there every day distributed to people in need. Lea Wyler took the first seven street children to live with him. Your stay in boarding schools is funded by donors. In Calcutta she met Mother Teresa, they encouraged in their task. 1990 branches were established in France, Austria, India and Spain. In 1991, a clothing depot was established in Kathmandu, which is also open in the winter. Here homeless and destitute people are provided with warm clothes. This deposit exists today (as of 2010 ). There also arms are free medical care during the winter months of doctors and nurses from different countries. In the same year Rokpa branches in Canada, USA, Italy and South Africa were established; a year later in Zimbabwe. 1993 built and supported by Rokpa orphanage school was opened in the eastern Tibetan Yushu, which was later expanded to include a clinic and a training center in Tibetan medicine. A Women's Workshop was opened, were trained in the women in sewing.

In 1993, Lea Wyler in Zurich the Order of St. John. In Nepal, a branch was opened in the same year; two years later in Poland. 1996 Rokpa Children's Home was opened. It offers 35 children a home in a familiar context and allows them a local school. The women in the Women's Workshop were professional. They were supported and their children continue to be formed by Rokpa. With the sale of manufactured goods was begun. All proceeds go back to the workshop. Rokpa shops have been set up in Scotland and at the Samye Ling Rokpa headquarters in Zurich in Tibetan Boudha. In 1997, a branch was established in Ireland. A year later, worked ten women in the sewing workshop in Kathmandu. In 1999, the Rokpa Switzerland - founded - as a national organization and branch of Rokpa International. The Rokpa Store received in 2000, the Fair Trade seal and Lea Wyler Award Zurich with the Jonas Furrer- price.

2002, a Finnish branch was established. 2003, the foundation stone was laid for the new Rokpa children 's home in Kathmandu / Nepal. Akong Tulku Rinpoche received in the same year the Beacon Award and a year later the Yunan - price. Overall Rokpa and Akong Rinpoche received over 50 awards for her charitable work. 2004 got Rokpa International as an umbrella organization and Rokpa Switzerland the ZEWO. For the 25th anniversary consecrated Rokpa 2005, the new Rokpa children 's home in Kathmandu / Nepal. The BBC filmed a Lifeline film in Nepal about the activities of the charity. 2006 met Akong Tulku Rinpoche Jia Qingling, a Chinese government official. 2007 Rokpa organized a benefit concert in Zurich Advent. 2008 Rokpa Switzerland conducted a charity gala, which CHF 180,000 earned. 2009, a new guest house with 14 studios and apartments has been opened in Boudha / Kathmandu. With this project, the permanent financing of Rokpa children's house to be saved. In April 2010, was largely destroyed by an earthquake in Yushu Tibetan highlands of the Rokpa orphanage. Despite the 30 - year anniversary Rokpa decided to concentrate on his help the earthquake victims and to minimize the planned anniversary activities.

Organization

Rokpa International is represented in 20 countries with subsidiaries: Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Nepal, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Zimbabwe, Spain, Basque Country, Spain, South Africa, United States.

Each country has an official representation of countries and partly through branches that coordinate activities in their country and remit the collected donations to the headquarters of Rokpa International.

On an annual International General Assembly ( AGM) at Samye Ling in Scotland, refund the country representatives report on their activities and discuss future relief efforts will be decided on by the Board of Rokpa International. For the monitoring of projects Rokpa President Akong Tulku Rinpoche and Rokpa Vice President Lea Wyler are responsible. You spend annually up to six months in the project areas to monitor the status and progress of local projects. They are supported in this work by the local / regional Rokpa representatives and volunteers from the donations countries.

The international headquarters of Rokpa International in Zurich at the former childhood home of Rokpa Vice President Lea Wyler.

Workspaces

The work of Rokpa focuses on the following topics

• Education and care for street children and orphans
• Promotion of girls and women
• Promotion of Tibetan Medicine
• Medical care
• AIDS programs
• Nursing Homes
• Soup kitchens
• Emergency
• Preservation of the cultural
• Conservation

Financing

The board members of Rokpa International volunteers. Every year, countless hours of volunteer work to be done by the many volunteers.

According to Rokpa flow almost 90 percent of the donations directly to projects. Since 2004 Rokpa International carries the ZEWO. This Swiss label distinguishes nonprofits that are regularly reviewed on the conscientious handling of donations, lead a transparent account and have functioning internal and external control structures.

Rokpa Ambassador

Several celebrities appear as Rokpa ambassador. Among other things, these are Charles Dance (Actor, Writer, Director ), Marc Forster ( film director ), Sandra Studer ( TV presenter ) and Andreas Vollenweider ( harpist ).