This campaign is closed

Life Stories of Elderly Tibetans in Nepal

Videotaping the oral histories of Tibetan elders and Buddhist masters living in exile in Nepal

Caret Left
Caret Right
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

Life Stories of Elderly Tibetans in Nepal

Life Stories of Elderly Tibetans in Nepal

Life Stories of Elderly Tibetans in Nepal

Life Stories of Elderly Tibetans in Nepal

Life Stories of Elderly Tibetans in Nepal

Videotaping the oral histories of Tibetan elders and Buddhist masters living in exile in Nepal

Videotaping the oral histories of Tibetan elders and Buddhist masters living in exile in Nepal

Videotaping the oral histories of Tibetan elders and Buddhist masters living in exile in Nepal

Videotaping the oral histories of Tibetan elders and Buddhist masters living in exile in Nepal

Tibet Oral History Project
Tibet Oral History Project
Tibet Oral History Project
Tibet Oral History Project
1 Campaign |
Moraga, United States
$1,552 USD 31 backers
11% of $13,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

A Golden Opportunity to Help Tibet

This is an amazing opportunity for you to help the Tibetan people by supporting the work of the Tibet Oral History Project. The elders of Tibet would love your support in documenting their true history, ancient culture and cherished Buddhist beliefs.

The Tibet Oral History Project is a non-profit organization based in the United States, which records the life experiences of Tibetan elders who were forced to flee their homeland following the Chinese invasion.

Very little time remains to document eyewitness accounts of Tibet’s oldest generation who once lived in a free, unoccupied Tibet.The elders’ accounts ensure that the wisdom, culture, and true history of Tibet will not be forgotten, but will instead be preserved for generations to come.

Interviewee Thupten Chonphel, age 72, told us, “If I had education, I should put my story in writing. However, I can neither write nor speak well, so it could not be done. Today you have given me a great opportunity to tell my life experiences and I am very grateful to you. I feel I have received a golden opportunity.

Please join this extraordinary undertaking to capture the memories of Tibet’s oldest generation living in exile in Nepal. Your contribution of any amount will make this crucial work possible while there is still time to preserve their stories!


Videotaping the Elders' Life Stories in Nepal

During the past eight years, operating with minimal staffing and an extremely small budget, Tibet Oral History Project (TOHP) videotaped the oral histories of 226 Tibetan elders living in exile in India and in the United States.

We have often been encouraged to document the stories of Tibet’s elders living in the Kathmandu area of Nepal and the chance has finally arrived! TOHP will travel to Nepal in early April and spend two weeks documenting the oral histories of some of the oldest Tibetans living in exile. This mission requires two teams each consisting of an interviewer, interpreter and videographer as well as a local outreach assistant and interview coordinator. The goal for each team will be able to complete approximately 25 interviews.

But such a complex and costly endeavor of videotaping 50 interviews in Nepal will only be possible with your support. The total cost for this mission is $26,000. We are trying to raise $13,000 on Indiegogo to fund one interview team and 25 elders' interviews.

Your donations through Indiegogo will fund:

  • Travel expenses for three team members
  • Room and board in Nepal for team members
  • Stipends to partially compensate the team for their time and hard work
  • Local transportation and computer/video equipment
  • Outreach assistant to locate and pre-interview the elders
  • Coordinator to schedule the interviews and organize the elders' transportation


Inspired by the Dalai Lama

During a meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Marcella Adamski was urged to interview the elders of Tibet before their stories were lost forever. Based on His Holiness’ advice, she founded the Tibet Oral History Project in 2003.

TOHP’s efforts are endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile along with many other Tibetan organizations. The oral histories include a representative sample of Tibetan society including nomads, farmers, housewives, traders, monks, and resistance fighters as well as revered Buddhist teachers and leaders, such as Venerable Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, former Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

I have been waiting my whole life to tell what happened in Tibet,” said a relieved Sonam Gogyal, age 82, after his interview.

Stories are Available Worldwide

This oral history collection is invaluable. At this critical time when Chinese oppression in Tibet is heightening, we feel it is essential to continue documenting Tibet’s unique culture. Because they found refuge close to their beloved Tibet, the seniors in Nepal will be able to describe family traditions, local customs, and spiritual practices undiluted by travel to distant refugee settlements.

All of TOHP’s interviews are made available through the U.S. Library of Congress, the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in India, and over twenty Tibetan refugee communities and universities worldwide. Interview transcripts and video clips of previous interviews can be found online at www.TibetOralHistory.org and on YouTube.


Other Ways You Can Help the Elders of Tibet

Spread the word about the Tibet Oral History Project far and wide!

  • Send your friends and family a link to this campaign: http://igg.me/at/tohp
  • Post the campaign on your Facebook page
  • Tweet about it on Twitter
  • Use the Indiegogo share tools on the left side of this page!

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
Need more information
Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

Choose your Perk

Elders' Gratitude

$30 USD
Fund transportation for three elders to and from their interviews and receive the elders’ gratitude for helping to make the experience easier for them.
7 claimed

DVD Sponsors

$60 USD
Fund the conversion of two elder's videotaped interviews onto DVD and we will post your name our Facebook page as a DVD sponsor.
1 claimed

Special Gift from Nepal

$125 USD
Fund the videotaping of one interview and receive a special gift from Nepal.
Estimated Shipping
May 2015
1 claimed

Photo of Tibet

$250 USD
Fund our interpreter from India to translate two interviews into English and receive a beautiful 8x10" photograph of Tibet taken by Martin Newman (http://www.martinnewmanphotography.com).
Estimated Shipping
May 2015
0 out of 25 of claimed

Sponsor an Elder's Interview

$520 USD
Fund the complete cost for one elders' oral history and your name (or an honoree or memoriam) will be included in the transcript delivered to the Library of Congress. We will also send you a copy of the transcript.
Estimated Shipping
April 2016
0 out of 50 of claimed

Large Photo of Tibet

$750 USD
Fund the location and pre-interviews of 30 elders and receive an exquisite, matted 12x18" photograph taken by Martin Newman (http://www.martinnewmanphotography.com).
Estimated Shipping
June 2015
0 out of 2 of claimed

Tibetan Thangka Painting

$1,450 USD
Sponsor one interpreter from Nepal to translate for two weeks and receive a traditional Tibetan "thangka" painting.
Estimated Shipping
June 2015
0 out of 1 of claimed

A Golden Opportunity

$2,500 USD
Sponsor one videographer from India for two weeks of work in Nepal and receive a traditional Tibetan "thangka" painting AND an exquisite matted, 12x18" photograph taken by Martin Newman (http://www.martinnewmanphotography.com).
Estimated Shipping
June 2015
0 out of 1 of claimed
Up Caret