About Lha Charitable Trust

Lha Charitable Trust, an institute for social work and education, has decided to promote and broadcast the extensive and valuable teachings and writings of His Eminence Professor Samdhong Rinpoche’s website under the umbrella project of Preservation and Promotion of Tibetan Language, Culture and Tradition. It was launch on 5^th November 2014 on his 75 birthday celebration at the Central University for Tibetan Studies in Sarnath,Varanasi, India.

Lha Charitable Trust is a grass-roots, 12AA & 80G non-profit and one of the largest Tibetan social work organizations based in Dharamsala, India. We aim to provide vital resources for Tibetan refugees, the local Indian population, and people from the Himalayan regions. Founded in 1997 and registered as a charitable trust by the Indian Government in 2005, Lha has continuously provided vital resources to those in need for over 18 years.

In 2014 Lha was awarded second place in the category of “Best Practices of Social Media Usage” in the South Asia-wide 3rd eNGO Challenge Award.

In 2015 Lha was awarded first place in the category of “Best use of Website and Internet tools” in the South Asia-wide 4th eNGO Challenge Award. The Award recognizes the best non-government organizational practices of using information and communication technologies.

Lha plays a crucial role in facilitating the transition of Tibetan refugees from their homeland to the Indian community by providing long-term rehabilitation and education resources. Each year programs and projects are adjusted to meet the conditions and needs of the region, yet the commitment remains constant: to help the Tibetan people thrive and prosper in their new home and to preserve their profoundly unique culture. Additionally, Lha offers volunteers and students the opportunity to engage in meaningful community service and social work and also seeks to generate an atmosphere of harmony and cooperation within the community by tending to the needs of the impoverished and underprivileged.

Lha is unique in the range and quality of services it offers. These include free Tibetan, English, French, German and Chinese classes, cultural exchange programs, IT classes, vocational training, health and environmental awareness education, a wide array of volunteer opportunities, distribution of clothes and medicine, a community kitchen, Clean water and many other programs and activities. Through these rehabilitation resources and educational services Lha facilitates an easy transition for the Tibetan refugee community to India.

On a daily basis Lha serves over 250 people, hosts between 15 and 25 volunteers and provides up to 19 different services including on average 50-60 meals per day for people who need it.

Lha offers you the opportunity to share your knowledge and skills with the Tibetan refugee, local Indian and Himalayan communities and gain hands-on experience working with a non-profit, social work organization. Whilst taking part as a volunteer at Lha you will be immersed in the fascinating culture of the people you are serving, develop friendships, learn about issues facing the Tibetan refugee community and create positive change in the lives of many people. Every day approximately 15 to 25 and every year 600 individuals from all over the world volunteer their time and energy to Lha. We provide a wide array of long and short-term as well as prearranged and drop-in volunteer opportunities at no cost to both individuals and groups.

Lha provides a variety of programs and services including: language classes, medicine and clothing distribution, computer skills courses, vocational training, health and environmental education, cultural exchanges, free books, and various other services. Since 2008, Lha has offered as many as 19 classes daily.

Language Classes (Tibetan, English, French, German, and Chinese)

Computer Skills Classes and IT Workshops

Massage Therapy Vocational Training

Photography Training

Clear Vision and Dental health project

Free Book Distribution

Community Newspaper-‘Contact Magazine’

Environmental Awareness Initiatives

HIV/AIDS Awareness Initiatives

Free clothing and medicine distribution

Volunteer opportunities and coordination

Cultural Exchange-Foreign and Lha Students