Too many things happen in the course of a day, or just an afternoon, here that I've learned not to try to give you a comprehensive view of events. Today in particular, I'd like to tell you about just one thing: the work of one of my most inspiring friends here: Heather Zimmerman of Maine, USA.

Heather has been a volunteer English teacher here in McLeodganj since last September, and she kindly helped me learn the ropes when I took over the Intermediate English class at Lha (a Tibetan NGO). But she is especially devoted to helping with the work of Tong-Len, a Tibetan-run aid organization. Tong-Len is an expression of the Tibetan people's gratitude for the generosity of the people of India, who have given them a new home. The organization is directed by a Tibetan monk, Jamyang, under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With the help of volunteers like Heather, Tong-Len works to improve the lives of Indian people displaced within their own country, particularly the residents of a slum in the town of Charan, in the valley below McLeodganj.

The more I learn about Tong-Len's work from Heather and other volunteers, the more impressed I've become with the organization. The overall objective is to help people to raise themselves up from the poverty of the slum. I'm especially excited about the student hostels that the organization has been building. In these hostels, children from slum families are able to live and study in safe, calm, supportive settings, close to their families, where they receive the guidance and help they need to successfully attend the local school. The idea is that if one child from a family can gain an education and bring themselves up from poverty, they eventually can raise their family out of poverty as well.

Tong-Len's first student hostel has been so successful that they are now completing a second hostel, which will be ready for occupation by new students in early July. The one problem is that there isn't quite enough money--about 1,000 USD per child per year--to host all the children that the hostel can hold.

Heather, who works with other Tong-Len volunteers each day to bathe, feed, and train the younger children in the slum, decided to organize a fundraiser to help garner the remaining money needed for the 12 new students who are not yet funded. To publicize her fund drive, from early this morning until late tomorrow, she is making 12 round trips on foot (running and walking) between McLeodganj and Charan (a one-way distance of 6 miles and 2,000 vertical feet). Each round trip represents one of the children who can come to live in the new hostel if enough money can be collected.

I encourage you to consider donating to Tong-Len to support these children, because I've come to believe that Tong-Len is one of the most effective and compassionate organizations fighting poverty that I've ever encountered. You can learn more about Heather's fundraiser from her blog. You can learn more about Tong-Len and make an online donation at its website.

Go, Heather!