The History of Arasmas |
| The seeds of Arasmas first sprouted when the founder
participated in an International Human Rights program as a law student in
Northern India, in 1999. While
working at The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Dharamsala,
an NGO that provides information about Tibet, its residents and refugees to
the various human rights-oriented branches of the United Nations, she met Tamdin Youtsa Kyab. Tamdin
had been in India since 1995, when he arrived alone on foot in pursuit
of a home where he could practice Buddhism. By 1999, Tamdin was fluent in Chinese, Tibetan and Hindi – and
wanted nothing more than to study International Human Rights. Humbled by his story and inspired to help him in any way she could,
the founder gave him what few books and resources she had and returned to
the States where she shared his story via email with family and friends.
With contributions ranging from twenty to a thousand dollars that trickled in over the next three years (but altogether amounting to no more than $5,000), Tamdin completed two years of rigorous English language and pre-law training at the British High Council in Delhi. The founder visited him in late 2001 right before he left India for Belgium, where he currently resides as a member of a working class Tibetan community. He is no longer an Arasmas funds recipient (as he is currently between academic programs), but he has not lost sight of his dream and would never have made it as far as he has – and been the inspiration he is for members of his community – without the help he received from Arasmas donors. Since 2001, Arasmas has evolved into a legitimate, federally recognized non-profit organization. The organization has funded the education of five different students. (To learn more about them, visit the Our Students page.) All Arasmas funds recipients must endure a rigorous application process, complete with referrals, transcripts and personal statements before being considered. Since Tamdin’s success story was published in the local Dharamsala paper in early 2002, the interest has been overwhelming. Arasmas students are a highly qualified and worthy select few. Arasmas is the word samsara (the painful and endless cycle of reincarnation until the being achieves enlightenment) spelled backwards. Our goal is help students break a cycle of poverty and need by enabling them to pursue their educational goals. We strive to fund as many qualified students as possible at any given time and continue to evolve the organization into a thriving support for refugees’ educational dreams.
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Chronology of Events |
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Arasmas |