In 1991, after being asked to sponsor a Tibetan child, we began co-operating with the people who managed a refugee camp located in the State of Maharashtra, in central India. The surrounding territory is mostly jungle, and at first sight the situation looked disastrous: survival depended entirely on growing rice, drinking water was supplied only by shallow artesian wells; during the monsoon season there were problems associated with pollution, and thereby (mostly intestinal) diseases, with high infant death rates. Another major, virtually endemic problem was tuberculosis, with a prevalence higher than in India.
We raised funds in order to stop a situation that looked unresolvable, trying to reduce the prevalence of malaria and tuberculosis. In 1992 we started taking steps towards the construction of two drinking water reservoirs, and in 1993 we managed to provide water to each house. This has markedly improved the quality of life, while reducing the prevalence of the diseases related to water pollution.
In 1994, school facilities were built, which could be used as a canteen during the monsoon season. In the same year, sponsors' contributions allowed the kindergartens to be provided with wooden floors (children sit on the ground during their lessons) and fixtures.
In 1995 each house was sanitated.
Today the Gondia camp is still located in a depressed area, but it has undergone a major transformation since the first time we visited it. Much still remains to be done, and projects aren't in short supply.
We didn't work for that camp alone, though: in 1996-97 we raised the funds needed to build two dispensaries at the refugee camp located in Arunachal Pradesh, where life is particularly hard due to the camp's geographical location and to the associated mobility problems.
In the subsequent years we bought the water pups requested by the manager of one of the camps in Karnataka, we paid for the surgery for a girl who had suffered major injuries after a difficult childbirth, for a child who had suffered severe burn injuries and for a child who suffered from kidney stones.
We also sent a container with 800 kg of donations consisting of clothing, medicines and school materials; our Association also sponsored a girl from Dharamsala who had turned to us to attend post-graduate school, and we take care of elders and handicapped children who can't find a sponsor. Since 1991 we've had over 400 children adopted. We could do all this thanks to the support of many people who trust us and believe it is right to help this People, which no longer has a fatherland and which, much like the Jews, has suffered from a diaspora. All of the members of our Association, Gruppo Sostegno Famiglie Profughi Tibetani (the Tibetan Refugee Family Support Group) are volunteers; our efforts are aimed at contacting the people who may be interested in sponsoring a person, at providing all the required information, at setting up and maintaining an updated database, at helping to solve possible problems between the sponsor and the sponsored person (e.g. if no reply is received after a few letters), at solving possible money transfer problems, at keeping in touch with the camp managers in India, at deciding which of the many suggested projects ought to receive our support and at raising funds for the approved projects.
We are glad to welcome new friends in our Association. If you so wish, please go to the ADOPT A CHILD page to support us with your contribution, and you will become part of our team.

The Chairman

ARTICLE 1 - An Association named "Gruppo Sostegno Famiglie Profughi Tibetani" (Tibetan Refugee Family Group Assistance Association) is hereby set up and domiciled in Turin, Italy.
ARTICLE 2 - The Association has a non-profit, non-political nature, and is open to all interested people, without any distinction based on culture, religion or nationality.
ARTICLE 3 - The Association aims at establishing relationships with the Tibetan refugee camps located in India, with the co-operation of the representatives of the Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala, in order to pursue social solidarity goals. The Association endeavours to take up support initiatives to improve the living conditions of needy people living in the refugee camps, with a particular focus on medical and educational problems.
In order to pursue such goals, the Association may:
1) stimulate and support individual sponsorships by putting in direct contact with each other the sponsor and the Tibetan family, with money being transferred without any intermediaries;
2) arrange activities aimed at raising funds and, if necessary, at collecting materials and medicines to be sent to the refugee camps;
3) establish co-operations with other Italian associations having similar goals;
4) organise conferences, events, shows, audio-visual projections, art exhibitions and whatever else may be necessary to fulfil its statutory goals.
ARTICLE 4 - The people who have taken part in the Articles of Association are founding members.
The supporting members are the individuals whose applications are accepted by the Managing Board, and who, upon such acceptance, pay the personal registration fee defined by the Managing Board. Supporting members can become founding members provided they are unanimously accepted as such by the founding and supporting members. The membership has an unlimited duration, subject to escape and exclusion cases. The members take part in the Association's activities within the boundaries imposed by their possibilities. The positions within the Association and the services supplied to it are provided by its members free of charge.
Joining the Association entails neither funding nor further expenditure obligations beyond the registration fee.
ARTICLE 5 - Membership in the Association is lost through death or resignation, as well as following a decision by the Gathering of the Members in case of behaviour in contrast with the spirit and the goals of the Association.
ARTICLE 6 - The founding members may hold ordinary or extraordinary Gatherings. Ordinary Gatherings are convened at least once a year before the close of the Association's financial year.
Extraordinary Gatherings can be convened by the Managing Board whenever necessary, or upon a written request signed by over 30% (thirty percent) of the standing members.
Participation to the Gatherings is open to all members who have paid their yearly Association fee. Participation by proxy is allowed, but no member can represent more than another member.
ARTICLE 7 - The Gatherings are chaired by the Chairman or, in his/her absence, by the Deputy Chairman.
The Gatherings are lawfully established upon first summoning provided the majority of the members is present, taking into account any proxy. Upon second summoning, one hour after the first summoning the Gatherings are lawfully established irrespective of the number of members attending.
ARTICLE 8 - Extraordinary Gatherings take decisions about:
1) any institutional and regulatory matters related to the Association;
2) any changes to the Articles of Association;
3) the dissolution or liquidation of the Association, provided these are approved by at least three quarters of the founding and supporting members.
Ordinary Gatherings:
1) approve the budget report and the final balance report;
2) discuss and approve the activity programs;
3) appoint the members of the Managing Board;
4) take decisions about the replacement of any Managing Board member vacating his/her position through resignation, expulsion or death;
5) take decisions about the admission of support and founding members;
6) take decisions about the expulsion of support and founding members.
ARTICLE 9 - The Managing Board is made up by between three and seven members appointed by the ordinary Gathering. Board members stay in office for three years, can be re-appointed and receive no allowance.
The Managing Board:
1) implements the decisions taken by the Gatherings;
2) appoints possible collaborators for the Association's activities, possibly among non-members;
3) convenes the members' Gatherings;
4) prepares the budget and the final balance report, which must show all the assets, as well as any contributions and legacies received;
5) manages the Association, taking care of collecting and executing all payments, and is given all the ordinary and extraordinary management powers.
ARTICLE 10 - The Managing Board is convened by the Chairman or upon request by at least two of its members. The Board decisions are taken by majority of the attending members. In case of tied decisions, the Chairman vote shall prevail.
ARTICLE 11 - If the Gathering that has appointed the Board didn't already do so, the Managing Board picks among its members a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman, a General Secretary and a Treasurer, appointing them by the majority of the attending members.
ARTICLE 12 - The Chairman is the legal representative of the Association, has the authority to sign contracts and any mail which may be binding in any way for the Association, represents the Association in court and is answerable for the administrative actions made under the name and on behalf of the Association. In case of absence or impediment of the Chairman, his/her functions are transferred to the Deputy Chairman.
ARTICLE 13 - The General Secretary co-operates with the Chairman, sets up and maintains the member list and the archives, liases with the members, prepares the minutes of the Gatherings and of the Managing Board meetings and takes care of all the books of the Association.
ARTICLE 14 - The Treasurer collects the incoming sums, pays the expenditures and takes care of any action entailing an increase or a decrease of the Association's patrimony. He/she has the authority to open bank accounts, to issue and cash checks, and to collect from any public or private institution any contributions and sums paid out on any grounds, with unrestrained signature independent of the Chairman's.
ARTICLE 15 - The Association obtains the economic resources it needs to operate and carry out its activities from:
1) members' fees and contributions;
2) inheritances, donations and legacies;
3) subsidies granted by members and third parties;
4) any income arising from promotional events aimed at raising funds, such as parties, galas and public events.
The Association's patrimony, under whatever form, may only be allocated to the goals and objectives foreseen by the Articles.
ARTICLE 16 - In case the Association is dissolved, the assets remaining after liquidation shall be donated to other associations with similar goals.
ARTICLE 17 - For all the items not covered by these Articles, reference is made to the laws in force. The Chairman is authorised to make the changes which may be required in case of juridical recognition.