About Siddhartha
Siddhartha's logo
Siddhartha aims to help children in need around the world, with a focus on Himalayan children. In particular, Siddhartha aims to support the most deprived of Tibetan refugee children, and to offer them an education in the context of their own traditions. This allows them to retain their cultural identity, and continue the transmission of their culture which is threatened with extinction in Tibet. When possible, assistance is also given to Tibetans children in Tibet – either through the construction of schools or study scholarships.
Today, due to the continued oppression in Tibet by the communist occupation, many Tibetan parents make the difficult decision to flee Tibet with their family or to help their children escape in the hope that they may have a better future and be able to live according to their sacred tradition. Risking their lives on the hazardous journey across the Himalayas, those who survive take refuge in the neighboring countries of India, Bhutan or Nepal.
For the majority of the Himalayan population, and in particular for the Tibetan refugees, life conditions are very difficult. The impoverished families often turn towards the monasteries, which offer a chance for their children to live in decent conditions and to receive an education in keeping with their cultural traditions. However, the institutions that take care of the children cannot provide all their needs by themselves. Monasteries, in particular, depend on external assistance for survival. Traditionally in Tibet, families would provide regular support to the monasteries and temples by providing food and donations. However, in these difficult times, where Tibetan refugees struggle to meet their basic needs, Tibetan monasteries in exile greatly depend on international aid. In this framework, Siddhartha raises funds for the financial support of monasteries and schools that welcome children in India, Bhutan, and Nepal, as well as patients, elderly persons, and destitute families that are brought to their attention.
Siddhartha is based in Dordogne, France (see Songtsen: location) and operates as a division of ACEC, a registered non-profit association under French law.
Siddhartha's objectives
1. Caring for Tibetan and other children most in need, particularly those who are orphaned or abandoned, or whose families cannot take care of them
2. Provision of shelter, food, clothing and medical care
3. Access to primary and secondary education in a traditional setting, so that children have the option of choosing a craft or profession, or to go on to higher monastic studies
4. Resources to maintain and develop school / child care staff and facilities
5. Construction and maintenance of schools and dormitory buildings
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