Sponsor a child at US $60 per month

Sponsor a child

Who are the children?

The Tibetan Children’s Village accepts mainly children who are in the greatest need among the Tibetan refugees who are orphaned or have a relative but are unable to keep the child due to difficult circumstances.

Any child that makes it to India from Tibet (usually as an escapee) is also taken into our care, as most of them are unable to get a basic education in Tibet.

Can I choose a child myself?

Rather not as children available for sponsorship are in equal need of help. However, sponsors can specify the gender and age of the child they wish to support.

Case history

You will receive a brief bio-data of a child with a reference number at the school. This number must be quoted in all your correspondence, as Tibetan names are common. If you have further queries about the child, please do not hesitate to contact their school or write to us.

How to begin?

It would be nice to write a letter to the school quoting the child's name and admission number, accepting the proposed child for sponsorship. You can tell about yourself and send photos if you wish. The dealing sponsorship secretary at the respective school will translate your letter if your child is unable to read it.

Which costs are covered by my sponsorship contribution?

Basically, everything, including food, shelter (utility), clothes, toiletry needs, medical care, education, administrative fees, etc. We try to make the sponsorship program financially viable for the organization and meaningful for the sponsored child.

Can I correspond with my sponsored child by post and e-mail?

Yes, but with the help of the Sponsorship Secretary. Although English may be a new language, you will receive a sample of what progress is being made in the form of drawings, letters, words, or even a simple letter from time to time. Sponsored children are not obliged to write directly to their sponsors as sometimes false information could lead to misunderstanding and loss of credibility.

What happens with my sponsorship when my sponsored child leaves?

You will receive a Departure Notice from the Sponsorship Secretary stating their reasons for leaving the School. In such cases, you will also be requested to take up a new sponsorship if this is possible or support the facility in general.

When does my sponsorship come to an end?

Basically, you can end your sponsorship at any time without giving any reasons. However, we would appreciate being informed in advance about the termination. Sponsorship also ends if your sponsored child:

• Leaves TCV permanently (e.g., returns to biological family)

• Completes education at school/college/vocational training

• Starts to work

Sponsorship contribution

It is possible to pay according to your convenience but it would be helpful to know how you propose to make the payment. Cheques can take several weeks/months to clear through your bank. All payments have to be made directly to the head office:

Head office Tibetan Children's Villages
Account Name:- Tibetan Children's Village  
Account Number:- 06051170000044  
Bank Name:- HDFC Bank Ltd, Dharamsala, India 
Swift Code:  HDFCINBBXXX / HDFCINBB605

You can also donate using our Online Donation System.

For every payment, you will receive an official receipt from the Head Office.

Can I visit my sponsored child at the village?

Yes, by all means, but pay due respect to the family's daily routine with duties big and small. Though the visit can bring joy and variety to everyday life, it is necessary to maintain a normal and harmonious daily routing. Therefore, the visit should not be too long so that other children do not feel envious. In order to avoid resentment of children, it is advisable to include other members of the family if you plan to do anything special outside of the home premises.

Can I invite my sponsored child to my country?

As a policy of TCV, no children will be permitted to visit their sponsor in a foreign country until they graduate school and are capable of making their own decisions. It is normally hard for the child to come back to life at the Children's Village after visiting a country with a different culture and a high standard of living.

Can my sponsored child complete further education in my country?

Generally not, because higher studies and training are available within India and much cheaper than in a foreign country. However, under special circumstances, further education is possible abroad, especially for specialized fields of study, provided the student is able to get admission and expenses covered. In such cases, information must be sent well in advance to prepare travel documents.

When do children have to leave the village?

Since TCV is home to most of the children under its care, it is difficult to give a specific age because of the different education levels, different interests, and personal development. There is no set rule as to when they must leave. Generally speaking, children leave when they:

• Finish school

• Choose a vocational training course over school graduation

• Reunite with their biological family

• Legally adult and choose to leave

Can I send gift packages to my sponsored child?

Yes, but small, well-packed packages through recommended mode as the postal system is unreliable, and parcels are often lost or damaged. In addition, sometimes we have to pay quite high customs duty, which often exceeds the value of the parcel. Therefore, sending parcels is actually not the best option; instead, adding a gift amount to the sponsorship payment is more beneficial so that it can be spent on something useful.

What gifts can I bring my sponsored child?

Bring only small gifts such as clothing items like trousers, jackets, shoes or stationery, balls, felt tips, etc., preferably for all members of your sponsored child's family. It is also possible to buy all these items in India.

What is TCV’s attitude towards adoption?

As a policy, no child living in any of the Tibetan Children's Villages or schools is given up for adoption. It believes that the Children's Villages are home and family for the children under its care, wherein they grow up learning one's own culture, beliefs, and values befitting to that of a Tibetan, its identity and cause, and the very purpose of having a Sponsorship Program emphasizes this.

What does it mean to sponsor a child or help TCV?

• Every cent of your money goes towards the child and gives meaning to it

• You get lifetime satisfaction from having a new family member or someone to love in a faraway country.

• Your money goes to save a people and its culture from total destruction.

• It will promote love and universal responsibility.

You will receive:

• Personal drawing/letter from the child

• Yearly Progress Report on the child, if you so wish.

• Photograph of the child

• Biannual newsletter Metok with information about the different branches

Thank you for your interest and concern for the welfare of the Tibetan children under our care. you can rest assured that your help will be most deeply appreciated and put to very good use. if you have any queries or face problems, please do not hesitate to let us know.