Tong-Len Hostel
India
Completed 2011
The real practice of dharma is helping and serving others.' His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama.
Tong-Len is an independent NGO based in Dharmsala working with displaced Indian communities in the Kangra Valley, NW India to improve the living standard through a range of health and education programs. Tong-Len, a phrase meaning compassion-in-action, in a non-denominational charity that was established in 2004 by Tibetan refugee and monk Jamyang to return the gift of care experienced by refugee Tibetans in this area of India.
In 2008 Ceridwen and Ryan began work on this pro-bono project for supported accommodation for children from the Charan Chad slum community. In November 2011 attended the inauguration of the buildings by His Holiness, the 13th Dalai Lama - who is an active supporter of Tong-Len's Hostel program.
'We are the same human being' … His Holiness spoke about the unity of all people and his concern about the increasing gap between rich and poor. He said that giving care and building confidence in others and ourselves is a moral principal and - along with hard work - would help to reduce this gap.
The work of Tong-Len is focussed and successful. See www.tong-len.org for more information.
Video - His Holiness visiting Tong Len
Client: Tong Len Charitable Trust, www.tong-len.org
Photography: Jordy Davis
