Letters from Kham Aid Foundation’s Sponsored Students

Here are letters written by students in Kandze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to people who were sponsoring their studies in middle school (grades 7-9) and high school or vocational school (grades 10-12). Names and locations are omitted to protect privacy. These letters and many others were saved in KhamAid’s archives because the sponsors moved or stopped answering emails, and we could not confirm their mailing addresses. If you think you might be one of these people, please use the contact page to get in touch and claim your precious letters!

Respected Uncle and Auntie

Lifting pen I want to first wish you to be healthy and your whole family to be happy. Tashi delek. Once again I want to thank you for your assistance which allows a child like me who wasn’t able to attend middle school and high school originally to get onto campus. During the past six years I have learned and understood a lot. And I have learned to face everything with a strong heart. I couldn’t had done that without you. I want to thank you sincerely! You have allowed me to get back to campus and to acquire knowledge and grow my social skills. Since I am still at school, I am really unable to repay your kindness. The only way is to update you with my grades (please see attached report card). In short I am doing well and I have earned the ‘honored individual’ award at school. I am determined to work even harder and repay your kindness with better grades. At the end I want to once again say thank you, really really thank you. May you be healthy, peaceful for your whole life. May everything work to your will, and may you be successful at work.

Sincerely,

[name omitted]

Jul 14 2008.

Dear [Name omitted],

Thank you for your last support which allows me to finish my high school. Because of your cares during the past few years I have learned a lot. Although I did not get desirable grades, I have learned many things not taught in books. Some skills could not be learned, some come naturally without learning.

We are total strangers, but you are still willing to reach out with helping hands. We haven’t seen each other, but you have moved me with familiar touches. I am no longer a small child, my thoughts are gradually extending, occasionally floating in the universe or human world. Sometimes I inexplicably think of those aunties and friends who have helped me. What are they doing? Are they working or playing. Human hearts do connect momentarily at times.

The Sichuan earthquake has affected the heart of every Chinese. There were so many moving stories and miracles performed by ordinary people. Unity and helping each other were common themes. Since the earthquake, we have learned more about life: fragile yet strong. Although we are tiny. still we are not weak.

Thank you, my dear friends. May you be always fortunate and happy.

Yours,

[name omitted]

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Thank you lettter

Dear [Name omitted],

Wish you well!

How is new year ? Are you happy and healthy? Wish you always be happy, healthy, and successful at work in the new year !

A year has passed without being noticed. Whether happy or sad, [the past] can only be left to yesterday, whilst the wings strengthened by struggle have become the foundation for tomorrow. Uncle, in the past year I have studied very hard and tried my best to help others. I have grown up a lot and become much more mature. Your assistance has allowed me to understand how fortunate it is to be helped at the most helpless moment. Although I am still not capable of offering a pair of wings like you to help others to fly, I think I can still send a warm card, write a line of sincere greeting. I believe I can still move and warm their hearts with such gestures, do you agree? Thank you uncle. You allow me to understand clearly that it is very fortunate and happy to assist others. From my point of view, what you have offered is not merely materialistic assistance, it has also allowed me once again to clearly understand what it means to help one to develop with respect, and during the development process inspire one to dedicate oneself [to give].

With [a choice of] thousands of words, as a poor student needing assistance, I can only say the same words as before — I am forever indebted and thank you so much to show me the light in this world.

Also, I am so sorry that I only write you each time after I have received your money. I am truly sorry.

At last, may you be successful in your work, happy and healthy.

Best regards

[Name omitted}

Mar 5, 2009

High 2009 grade 4th class

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Dear [Name omitted]

How are you!

I wish you and your family to be happy everyday, your wishes all are granted, and [you] succeed at work. Tashi delek.

I will start my practical training starting June this year. The candidate [work units] are town and county hospitals at 邛崃(Qiong Lai), 简阳(Jian Yang), 资阳(Zi Yang), as well as the 363 hospitals in Chengdu. I don’t know where I would end up. If there is a choice I prefer to go outside of towns and county seats, but I really don’t know where I will be assigned to. My health is getting much better now. I often take some prescribed Chinese medicines, but I have never stopped taking my western medicines. So I want to assure you that I am well.

I am really worried that this might be my last letter to you, since I will leave school to my place of practical training next semester. Will we still be in touch? If not I would be really sad and cannot bear to part with you. I would be indebted all my life for your help when I was at my most difficult and helpless moment. You held my hands with the warmest hands in the world. I will remember forever in my heart that you are my benefactors as well as my families. I wish you be happy with good fortune and healthy. My thankfulness to you can’t be expressed with words.

I have always kept in my heart in your care and help over the years. I feel ashamed whenever I recall this because I can only express my gratitudes with some thankful words on a piece of paper. But I still want to say: thank you, thank you very much, really really thank you so much!

Best regards

[Name omitted]

Mar 4 2008

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Dear [Name omitted],

How are you.

First let the white cloud in the blue sky bring my sincere blessings toward you. Wish you good health and your whole family happiness. Tashi delek.

How are you recently? How is work? I would like to briefly describe my situation to you.

There are five members in my family. Father, mother, younger sister, older brother, and myself. My parents are getting old, so our only source of income is from my older brother who works to support the education cost of my sister and me. My sister is an 8th grader, there are costs [for her] to purchase writing materials. Seeing the skinny and weak body of my brother and my parents’ consumed faces, I felt really guilty and almost dropped out out school. The news of your help was like a helping hand from an angel.

My whole family was thrilled by this news.

I told myself constantly that I could finally study with an ease of heart. However, ‘heaven never goes easy on one’, An unexpected and terrible disease fell upon me. My father took me to get treatment at many costly hospitals and spent close to 30 thousand yuan in total. I am getting better slowly. I am taking a leave of absence this semester to recover at home. I want to say ‘I am sorry’ to you. But I want to assure you that I will try my best [to catch up]. I will not disappoint you.

You are my born again parents. You brought me back from gate of hell and let me feel the warmth of sun. You are like a burning candle, consuming yourself to provide brightness for others. I want loudly express my thanks to you — really really thank you.

Yours

[Name omitted]

2009.10.16

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Thank you to Mr. Shiyin Siou for translation of these letter. More letter will be posted as time permits.