Sponsorships for people at „Metta Nepal Elderly Caring Home“ in Kathmandu:
Currently there are 34 residents living at this institution aimed to cover the different needs of people, who are mostly 60 years and up, suffering from various chronic diseases. Some of them are Tibetan, who came to Nepal as refugees. Others are from different Himalayan regions. The caring home combines assisted living and nursing care facilities.
The resident population consists of individuals with a variety of requirements: destitute elderly people, disabled, homeless and others, who were marginalized and ignored by society.
Through their work for Hope & Challenge Geshe Sonam Wangchen and his team repeatedly visit needy people at home and detect those who are no longer able to care for themselves.
Oftentimes they also spot them in the street, the neighborhood or are alerted by relatives and friends who are familiar with the wonderful commitment of Hope and Challenge.
In order to support these people in their everyday lives and make their old age a little easier we offer sponsorship for them. The very first sponsorship was established in September of 2021. Currently we are maintaining sponsorships for 8 residents.
Required budget per resident/month: 25 Euros
Out of this amount 15 Euros are applied to necessary medical treatment and are managed by the administration. An additional 10 Euros are used to cover resident’s personal requirements, such as extra food/goodies, clothing and other items of daily need, and is payed out to them directly.
There is the option to take on a complete sponsorship with a monthly amount of 25 Euros as well as a partial sponsorship of 10 Euros.
Also single donations to maintain the home and secure the care of those residents still without sponsorship would help a great deal and can be payed directly into our association’s account or online via our fund raising project at:
http://www.betterplace.org/p99709
Some of the inhabitants are suffering from incontinence Therefore diapers, gloves and masks are needed on a daily basis.
Per month 30 packages (300 pieces) of diapers, 10 packages glovesand 5 packages masks are needed, which cost about 180 Euros. For covering these expenses we need donations.
If you would like to take on a sponsorship or if you have any questions please send us an E-mail:
info@tibet-tshoesem.de *****
These residents are in need of sponsorship:
Jeet Bahadur Tamang
Jeet Bahadur Tamang ist 65 Jahre alt und wurde in Lamjung, Zentral-Nepal, als jüngster Sohn von fünf Geschwistern einer Bauernfamilie geboren. Als Kind konnte er nur bis zur 2. Klasse zur Schule gehen, denn seine Eltern waren zu arm und so mussten die Kinder bei der Ernährung der Familie mithelfen. Im Alter von 15 Jahren schickten ihn seine Eltern in ein kleines Dorf in Mustang, wo er als Hirte arbeitete und dann den Großteil seines Lebens damit verbrachte, für den Grundbesitzer das Vieh zu hüten.
Nikotin- und Alkoholmissbrauch erschwerten ihm mit der Zeit das Leben und er heiratete nie. Jeet Bahadurs Geschwister sind bereits alle verstorben und seine Nichten und Neffen haben ihre eigenen Familien und kümmern sich leider nicht um ihn. Da Jeet Bahadur nicht mehr so arbeiten kann wie in jungen Jahren, bat der Grundbesitzer Geshe Sonam Wangchen darum ihn im Pflegeheim aufzunehmen um Jeet einen friedlichen und schönen Ort für seinen Lebensabend zu ermöglichen. Jeet Bahadur ist sehr froh und dankbar, dass er nun im Heim leben kann.
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Gyamtso Gurung
Gyamtso Gurung wurde in einem sehr entlegenen Dorf im nördlichen Mustang – nördlich des Annapurna-Massivs in großer Höhe – an der Grenze zu Tibet geboren. Er ist 83 Jahre alt. Aufgrund der Armut seiner Familie konnte er nie zur Schule gehen und wurde im jungen Alter von 15 Jahren bereits verheiratet. Mit seiner Frau hatte er fünf Kinder. Leider verstarb sie im Frühjahr 2023. Nach dem Tod seiner Frau zog er zu einer Tochter. Sie war die einzige, die ihn aufnehmen konnte, denn die anderen haben selbst Kinder und sind zu arm, um ihren Vater zu unterstützen. Leider war Gyamtsos Schwiegersohn mit der Entscheidung nicht einverstanden und er begann Gyamtso zu misshandeln und allen in der Familie das Zusammenleben zu erschweren. Nachbarn, die die schlimme Situation mitverfolgten, wandten sich an Geshe Sonam Wangchen und baten ihn um Hilfe. Seit Mitte November lebt Gyamtso im Pflegeheim, wo er nun sicher ist und gut versorgt wird.
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Thupten
Der 55-jährige Thupten wurde als Sohn einer tibetischen Flüchtlingsfamilie im nepalesischen Gunsa (Taplejung) geboren. Das Dorf Gunsa liegt auf einer Höhe von fast 3.500 m in der nordöstlichsten Ecke Nepals an der Grenze zu Tibet. Seine Eltern waren Viehzüchter und seine beiden Geschwister leben als Mönch und Nonne in Klöstern. Um in eine Schule gehen zu können, schickten Thuptens Eltern ihn in eine tibetische Schule in Indien und nach der 8. Klasse entschied er sich zur Indischen Armee zu gehen. Zu Beginn seiner Ausbildung bei der Armee hatte Thupten einen Unfall, bei dem er sein Gehör verlor. Ein Jahr lang wurde er medizinisch behandelt, verbrachte ein weiteres Jahr als Gärtner auf dem Armeegelände und kehrte dann zu seiner Familie nach Nordost-Nepal zurück, wo er heiratete. Thupten zog zu seiner Frau, mit der er ein Kind bekam und um das er sich kümmerte, während seine Frau Geld verdiente um die Familie zu versorgen. Leider ging die Ehe auseinander und so kehrte Thupten zu seiner Mutter zurück, um die er sich kümmerte bis sie im Juli 2023 verstarb. Nun blieb Thupten alleine und ohne jede Versorgung zurück. Da er wegen seiner Gehörlosigkeit keine Arbeit findet und völlig mittellos ist, haben Thuptens Bruder und er selbst Kontakt zu Hope & Challenge aufgenommen und um Hilfe gebeten. Seit dem Herbst 2023 lebt Thupten im Heim und unterstützt dort die Mitarbeiter wo immer er kann.
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Run Maya u. Icheya Bahadur Khaling Rai
Run Maya (65) und ihr Ehemann Icheya Bahadur (63) wurden beide in Solukhumbu geboren. Run Mayas Eltern waren Bauern und sie konnte bis zur 7. Klasse zur Schule gehen. Icheyas Eltern waren Bauarbeiter. Beide starben als Icheya noch sehr klein war. Als jüngstes von fünf Geschwistern wurde er von den anderen aufgezogen. Aufgrund der Armut der Familie konnte Icheya nur bis zur 5. Klasse in die Schule gehen und nahm dann verschiedene Arbeiten an wie Viehhüten und das Ernten auf Feldern von Nachbarn.
Run Maya und Icheya Bahadur lernten sich als Kinder kennen und im jungen Alter von 15 und 17 heirateten sie und bekamen zwei Kinder, einen Sohn und eine Tochter. Zunächst war das Familienleben in Ordnung, sie verdienten etwas Geld. Vor vier Jahren allerdings musste Run Maya an der Wirbelsäule operiert werden und hat seitdem Probleme mit den Beinen. Das Paar zog zu Tochter und Schwiegersohn und die Probleme verschlimmerten sich. Der Schwiegersohn trank und wurde dann seiner Frau und seinem Schwiegervater gegenüber gewalttätig. Letztendlich stellte ein Mönch den Kontakt zu Geshe Sonam Wangchen her und seit kurzem lebt das Paar im Pflegeheim, da sie sich alleine nicht mehr versorgen können.
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Lhamo und Bal Bahadur Tamang
Bal Bahadur (80) und seine Frau Lhamo (79) leben seit Juli 2023 im Pflegeheim. Beide stammen aus sehr armen Familien. Bal Bahadur wurde in Kavre, in der Mitte Nepals geboren und konnte nie zur Schule gehen. Als Junge bereits fing er an auf Baustellen zu arbeiten und erlernte so die Zimmerei. Er heiratete früh eine Frau aus seinem Dorf, doch sie verstarb noch sehr jung. Auf der Suche nach immer wieder neuer Arbeit, kam Bal Bahadur dann nach Bhutan, wo er als Tagelöhner ein wenig Geld verdiente. Dort traf er Lhamo und die beiden verliebten sich.
Lhamo wurde in Sindhupalchok geboren. Ihre Eltern verstarben, als Lhamo noch ein Kind war und so begann sie für Verwandte zu arbeiten. Mit 16 wurde sie verheiratet und nach sieben Fehlgeburten brachte sie eine Tochter zur Welt. Die Familie und ihr Ehemann waren darüber aber so enttäuscht, dass die Ehe geschieden wurde und Lhamo sich wieder alleine versorgen musste. Auch sie kam auf der Suche nach Arbeit nach Bhutan. Als sie dort Bal Bahadur traf, arbeitete sie als Tagelöhnerin auf Baustellen, auf denen er ebenfalls tätig war. Für einige Jahre konnten die beiden gerade genug verdienen um davon leben zu können. Doch mit zunehmendem Alter, in dem solch harte körperliche Arbeit nicht mehr möglich ist, blieben sie völlig mittellos zurück und gingen wieder nach Nepal zurück, wo ein Verwandter Bal Bahadurs den Kontakt zum Pflegeheim herstellte. Die beiden sind froh nun dort mit anderen zusammen leben zu können.
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Karma Sangmo Gurung
Karma Sangmo ist 69 Jahre alt. Sie wuchs in einer sehr entlegenen Region im nepalesischen Mustang auf, nördlich des Annapurna-Massivs, auf großer Höhe an der tibetischen Grenze. Sie wurde gehörlos geboren und da ihre zudem auch sehr arm ist, hatte sie nie die Chance zu heiraten. In ihrer Jugend arbeitete Karma auf den Feldern in der Gegend, sammelte Feuerholz und Gras als Viehfutter der Nachbar, um ein wenig Geld zu verdienen. Während der letzten sechs Jahre lebte Karma bei einer älteren Verwandten, die heute 89 Jahre alt ist. Als diese Verwandte dieses Jahr zu ihren eigenen Kindern gezogen war, blieb Karma alleine zurück. Ein Nachbar fuhr zu Geshe Sonam Wangchen nach Kathmandu und bat darum Karma im Pflegeheim aufzunehmen, wo sich schon gut eingelebt hat.
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Tsering Dhargye Lama
Tsering Dhargye is 50 years old and comes from the remote mountainous Dolpo region of Nepal. He never had the chance to attend school and worked in the fields since he was a boy. As a result of child marriage still being common practice in Tsering Dhargye’s village his family married him off quite early and with his young wife he had one son who went on to become a monk.
Unfortunately poverty and their hard life led him into alcohol addiction. Family life became more difficult for everyone involved and eventually the couple separated. Tsering Dhargye’s alcohol abuse further increased to the point of permanently damaging his spinal cord. He moved into the caring facility in March of 2023. There he is well provided for.
Leider hatte er vor Kurzem einen kleinen Unfall, bei dem er sich ein Bein brach. Dieses wurde behandelt und ist verheilt, doch am 18. September musste Tsering Dhargye wieder ins Krankenhaus, da bei ihm eine Vergrößerung eines Wirbelsäulenbandes festgestellt wurde. Diese musste operativ entfernt werden. Die dringende OP fand am 20.09.23 statt und ist zwar gut verlaufen, doch die Ärzte sind mit dem Verheilen der Wunde nicht zufrieden. Daher befindet sich Tsering Dhargye noch immer unter strikter Beobachtung. Wegen der hohen Krankenhauskosten hat uns Hope & Challenge um Hilfe gebeten. Bisher sind Kosten von 1.800 Euro angefallen und wir haben eine Spendenhilfsaktion gestartet.
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Bom Bahadur
62 year old Bom Bahadur comes from Taplejung in the far East of Nepal. A few years ago his wife died; the couple had no children. Bom used to work at a carpet factory but suffered a stroke and ended up paralyzed. After some time of therapy he was able to slowly move again and is now capable of walking with a cane. Since Bom has no relatives, who might care for him, he has lived at the retirement home since the end of 2022.
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Tseten Norgyal
Tseten Norgyal (picture 2: with our staff member Nyima) is 46 years old and was born in Shillong, the capital of the North Indian state of Meghalaya. Tseten received a school education, alas since he was enrolled late he was only able to finish 8th grade at CST
Kalimpong (Central School for Tibetans). Afterward he ran a small business, without much success, though. As a result of financial problems Tseten began to drink and developed an alcohol addiction. He spent time at different rehab institutions and finally at the one under the patronage of Geshe Sonam Wangchen where he stayed for 3 years. A few years ago his father died, his mother lives at an elderly home in Tinchulli. Tseten has to be treated with antidepressants and has lived at the caring home since the end of 2022.
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Pasang Gurung
The 88 year old widow Pasang Gurung is originally from Mustang and has 2 sons. One of them is disabled, the other one a monk. The latter has to fulfill his monastic tasks, beginning at dawn, including the attendance of Pujas and many others. Therefore he has inadequate capacities to tend to his care dependent mother. In addition women are not allowed to stay at the monastery. This is why Pasang’s son appealed to Geshe Sonam Wangchen by the end of last year to have his mother admitted at the elderly caring home. Her mental condition is unstable, she frequently talks to herself and is unable to look after herself. Here she has now found a new home.
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Mingur Tsering
Mingur is 73 years old and moved to the retirement home on August 8th 2022. He was born in the North Tibetan region of Amdo and came to Nepal without a family 35 years ago. His wife is deceased already. He worked at a guest house in Jorpati for 4 years and was then accused of having stolen things there, thus lost his employment. Later on he fell ill and has recently completed treatment at a rehabilitation clinic. Picture 3 with Hari Lama shows him at a hospital check-up on August 17th. Mingur’s health condition is improving but he is still quite weak.
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Sonam Wangdue
Sonam Wangdue was born in Tibet. He is 70 years old and was never married. For one year and a half he has been paralyzed on his left side and is unable to care for himself. He used to live in Swayambhu and was addicted to alcohol. Since he has no family in Nepal Geshe Sonam Wangchen decided to admit Sonam to the caring home facility. The staff are caring touchingly for him, changing diapers, assisting with the meals and looking after him around the clock.
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Kunga Lama
Kunga Lama is 74 years old. He was born in Tehorkampa in Tibet, never had a wife and became a monk at a young age already. He resettled in Nepal before 1985, living in Narayanthan. Back then he earned his money by performing Buddhist rituals in people’s households on demand. With age this task became increasingly difficult for him and since recently he is living at the nursing home.
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Hari Lama
Hari Lama is 55 years old. He was born in the northeast Indian state Meghalaya. Hari’s mother died when when he was only four. His father was addicted to alcohol; however did his best to raise his son and did hard labor. Hari became a cab driver but in 2011 he had a serious accident. Since then he doesn’t have full use of his leg any longer and suffers from back and joint pain. He eventually lost his job and since Hari never married he was taken in by his boss. Three years ago Hari came to Nepal where he lived with relatives in the district of Ramechhap for a while.
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Dawa Norbu Lama
65 year old Dawa is physically fit. He does not smoke nor drink but suffers from hallucinations unfortunately. Several times he ran away from the caring home and was later admitted at the rehab center which Hope & Challenge is also running. Since his condition
deteriorated further there he was moved back to the caring home where he is a little more stable now but the hallucinations persist. He would be unable to care for himself on his own.
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Bishal Lama
Bishal is 36 years old. He was born in Kathmandu Boudha and raised by a single mother who sold butter lamps in order to support her son and herself. Unfortunately she died six years ago. Bishal was able to attend a public school until 9th grade but at the age of 15 he fell ill and has since had a walking disability .
When Bishal’s mother died he became homeless. A friend of Geshe Sonam Wangchen visited Nepal a while ago and saw Bishal out in the street where he lived. He informed Gesha la and pleaded to admit him to the caring home.
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Karma Bhuti
Karma Bhuti, who is now 55 years old, grew up with her father and his second wife in the remote Dolpo region. Just like her father Karma could never attend school and had to work from an early age in order to survive. At the age of 30 she had her first child, three more followed and due to the family’s difficult financial situation they, too, could never get an education. All of the children are married now and still live in Dolpo.
Two years ago Karma’s eyesight worsened. Her neighbors got worried and through them a friend of the caring home staff learned about Karma’s increasing problems and helped to transfer her to Kathmandu for an examination. Alas the condition is incurable. Now she has blurred vision. During the months of medical tests Karma lived with an acquaintance who supported her during that time and eventually asked Geshe Sonam Wangchen to admit Karma Bhuti to the caring home.
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Ani Kanchi
Ani Kanchi is 70 years old. She comes from the very remote Lapchi region in the northeast of Nepal. The religious Tibetan woman began her Buddhist practice during childhood already, never married and eventually became a nun. Since Ani Kanchi has no relatives left she lives at Metta home now where she prays a lot, continues her Buddhist practice and supports the other residents with all her heart. Everyone loves her cheerful and kind way.
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Ang Rithar
60 year old Ang Rithar was born deaf. She grew up in a very poor family in remote Rowaling (in the northeast of Nepal near the Tibetan border) and could never attend school. In her younger years she herded animals but then Ang Rithar fell ill and had to return home where she was left alone and completely destitute. Her parents had died and Ang Rithar never married. Kind neighbors provided her with essentials. This way she never needed to beg; however her situation deteriorated with the onset of the Covid Lockdown and Ang Rithar began to starve. One of Geshe Sonam Wangchen’s friends, who visited the village and learned of Ang Rithar’s situation pleaded to admit her to the elderly home, where she feels at home now.
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Pema Lama
Pema Lama is 63 years old. He was the only child of a very poor family from high-altitude Tsum valley in the Nepali Gurkha district. Since he was born deaf and due to the family’s extreme poverty he could never go to school and had to battle his way through from an early age in order to have anything to eat at all. In his youth he carried out heavy labor. Pema never married. A while ago distant relatives enabled him to have an eye surgery and took him to a hospital in Kathmandu. This is how the contact to Geshe Sonam Wangchen came about and Pema has been living at the elderly home since January of 2022. He is a very active resident and despite all hardship has never lost his zest for life.
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Mingmar Tsering
Mingmar Tsering is Doma Tsering’s son, who also is living in the home and who got a sponsorship since June 2023. Mingmar is 33 years old and was born in the vicinity of Swayambhunath. His father made a little money by performing Pujas in private houses. Since Mingmar was born with a disability he could not attend a school near his parent’s house but was sent to the Tibetan Ngoenga school for the mentally disabled in India, where he studied until 11th
grade. After his father died he had to return to his mother who fell ill and needed to be taken care of. Life became more and more difficult and eventually he could not manage to provide for his mother and himself anymore. On enquiry of a good friend Mingmar Tsering and his mother were admitted to the elderly home, where both feel at home now. Mingmar helps the staff there with various duties.
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Kimey Rangdol
Kimey comes from the high Doplo region in northwest Nepal near the Tibetan border. He is 59 years old and originates from a Ngakpa family. Kimey’s mother died at childbirth. So he grew up with his stepmother as his father, too, died at an early age. Because of the family’s extreme poverty Kimey had to work hard from childhood in order to feed himself. On top of this he never had the chance to attend any social events and as a result never married. His physical fitness debilitated throughout the years. Since January 2023 Kimey has got a partial sponsorship for 10 Euros per month, which he is very happy about. We hope that soon he will find additional support.
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Tashi Bhuti Lama
Tashi Bhuti is 70 years old and was born to a farmer family in Nubri valley in the Northern Gorkha district. Her father died before she was even born and her mother followed soon after. Being an orphan she had to toil in the fields of neighbors and the houses of relatives. When she was a little older she met a merchant nemed Phur Passang and the two got married. They moved to his homeland Manang in the Annapurna region. There Tashi Bhuti experienced love and care for the first time in her life. The couple had two sons, who later got married.
Throughout the years Tashi Bhuti and her husband were ailing more and more frequently until the couple were no longer able to support themselves. After both of them had been admitted to the elderly home Tashi Bhuti’s condition deteriorated and she had to go to the hospital where problems concerning the uterus, liver and stomach were diagnosed. In January of 2022 Tashi Bhuti’s husband Phur Pasang returned to his home village.
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Sangpo Tashi
83 year old Sangpo is the son of a nomad family from Kham in Tibet. He left his homeland and fled to Nepal when he was already more than 60 years old. He moved to the Tibetan settlement in Jorpati and married Ang Phurba. The couple had one daughter and three sons. As they could hardly manage financially the two elder sons were sent to a monastery. The younger ones were able to attend school within the Tibetan community. All four children got married later on and started their own families.
Sangpo’s wife was the one supporting the entire family with her income but in 2009 she got very ill and remained hemiplegic. Currently she is living with her daughter while the oldest son has taken on the care for his parents. However with his small salary he is unable to provide sufficiently for several households. That’s why he asked Geshe Sonam Wangchen to accept his beloved father at the elderly home which Sangpo was quite happy about. He has been living there since March of 2020.
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Ngawang Mangthoe
Ngawang Mangthoe is 64 years old. He comes from a nomad family and was born in Dhingri, Tibet. Ngawang never had the chance to go to school and became a farmer. At the age of 25 he got married. The couple has three grown children. His wife Dickyi still works at a cotton-factory. Because of his alcohol addiction he became increasingly forgetful, developed aggressive behavior and other physical problems. When he could no longer cope within society his family asked to admit him to the caring institution. Ngawang succeeded in alcohol withdrawal, does no longer drink and does his best to integrate into the group of seniors at Metta elderly caring home. He requires regular medication to treat diabetes and also to lower his blood pressure.
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Sonam Choephel
Sonam Choephel is 62 years old, was never married and has no children. Sonam was born in North Indian Dehradun. He was able to attend a TCV school and achieve a bachelor degree at Central University of Tibetan Study in Varanasi. His parents died when Sonam was still young and after finishing his studies he came to Nepal to hold Tibetan and Buddhist teachings in remote regions like Manang, Mustang and also in monasteries in Pokhara.
Throughout his whole life Soman was focused on serving society and others while he never thought of marriage and starting his own family. His siblings live in Assam, India. A few years ago he suffered a paralysis of the legs. Today he requires a walking aid in order to get around because his legs are very weak. In addition he has been suffering from high blood pressure for a long time. At the monastery where he was teaching right before his impairment he was taken care of for a few years. They also ensured the necessary treatment. He has been living at Metta Nepal Elderly Caring Home for 2 years now.
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