An American NGO in Tibet
Excerpts from a new book, Compassion Mandala, by the organization's founder:
KhamAid was a US NGO (non-government organization) started by Pamela Logan in 1997 that operated development and humanitarian assistance programs on the Tibetan plateau. Nearly all of KhamAid’s program activities were located within Ganzi (Kandze, Garze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in Sichuan Province.
During its 14 years of operation, KhamAid:
- Sponsored 170 children to complete middle school, high school, and/or college;
- Trained of 79 village midwives of whom 45 were still working in the health care profession in 2009, resulting in more than 400 infant deaths prevented;
- Provided vocational training for 99 people in construction trades resulting in substantial and documented increased income;
- Distributed 1,090 wheelchairs to needy disabled people;
- Repaired three historic structures;
- Cleaned and conserved three sets of historic Buddhist wall paintings;
- Developed a writing system and elementary textbook for the Minyak language and trained 8 teachers in how to use the textbook;
- Published or purchased nearly 60,000 Tibetan language children’s books for distribution to rural schools;
- Renovated dilapidated staff living quarters and student dormitories at eight schools;
- Built a stone arch bridge at Egu township to support economic recovery after a devastating earthquake;
- Provided relief and assistance to victims of earthquakes in 2001, 2008, and 2010;
- Gave classes in the traditional skills of weaving, tailoring, and boot-making;
- Documented previously-unknown historic sites in the Minyak region;
- Brought foreign volunteers to teach English at four high schools and colleges;
- Gave grants and assistance to rural schools and health clinics;
- Built greenhouses at 13 schools; and
- Supported tourism business development.