Location
Karze Tibetan Autonomous (TAR) Prefecture in West Shichuan in China is the home to more than 800,000 Khampa Tibetan people and their ancient culture. Most people live outside the cities as nomads, raising herds of yaks, sheep and goats. The levels of literacy and basic education among this population are extremely low. Most people have access to only very basic medical care, if any. Families are the only social security people have. As a result of difficult living conditions at the altitude of 4000m and the lack of health care many people die young and leave their children behind with nobody to take care of them. It is estimated than more than 1,000 orphans in the area still live in conditions of extreme poverty.
Shechen Charity Orphan School is located in the heart of the rural nomadic region at the altitude of 4000m above sea level. The closest big city is Chengdu, 800 km away. The journey takes at least two days of driving across dangerous mountain passes. Food supplies have to be brought from Karze, 200 km away and wood has to be carried from Derge across the 5050m high Chola pass.
Winters are freezing cold, with temperatures inside a house often falling bellow zero. Animals and people have to struggle for survival.
