Eastern Sierra Friends of Machik
In 2005 Bishop educator Barbara Kelley traveled to Chungba Primary School in Litang County, Ganzi Prefecture of China, a vast region of about one million Tibetans.
On her return from a summer of teaching she brought together a group of supporters for the students, a group now known as The Eastern Sierra Friends of Machik. Members of this group have assisted in telling the story of the children of Chungba and their education needs, and have provided essential financial assistance for the students and for teacher education.
The first class that entered the Chungba Primary School when it opened in 2002 is now graduating from Chungba Middle School in June 2011. These record-breaking students are now facing uncertainty regarding their educational future.
There is no high school in Litang County, and these students are from a community that has very little income generation. Their families are subsistence farmers and herders. These children need and want to be sent to where they can receive their high school education, and the financial situation of the families makes this a daunting, if not hopeless, prospect.
On October 23, 2010, the Eastern Sierra Friends of Machik held a benefit in Bishop, California and raised $7,096.60 for Machik. Supporters have also pledged to make additional contributions, which brings the grand total to $9,796.60 over the next three years! Many thanks to the Eastern Sierra Friends of Machik for hosting this wonderful event and for supporting the Chungba students and their goals of becoming productive citizens in challenging times.
For more information please contact Derrick Vocelka at [email protected].
On her return from a summer of teaching she brought together a group of supporters for the students, a group now known as The Eastern Sierra Friends of Machik. Members of this group have assisted in telling the story of the children of Chungba and their education needs, and have provided essential financial assistance for the students and for teacher education.
The first class that entered the Chungba Primary School when it opened in 2002 is now graduating from Chungba Middle School in June 2011. These record-breaking students are now facing uncertainty regarding their educational future.
There is no high school in Litang County, and these students are from a community that has very little income generation. Their families are subsistence farmers and herders. These children need and want to be sent to where they can receive their high school education, and the financial situation of the families makes this a daunting, if not hopeless, prospect.
On October 23, 2010, the Eastern Sierra Friends of Machik held a benefit in Bishop, California and raised $7,096.60 for Machik. Supporters have also pledged to make additional contributions, which brings the grand total to $9,796.60 over the next three years! Many thanks to the Eastern Sierra Friends of Machik for hosting this wonderful event and for supporting the Chungba students and their goals of becoming productive citizens in challenging times.
For more information please contact Derrick Vocelka at [email protected].