Partnership with LHA
Project Profile
The Omprakash Foundation was first inspired by the model of the Louisiana-Himalaya Association (LHA). Based in Dharamsala (Mcleod Ganj), in the state of Himachal Pradesh in north India, LHA has become one of the biggest and most influential service organizations for Tibetan refugees living in that area. LHA employs seven local Tibetans and accepts volunteers from around the world to offer free English, Spanish, French, Tibetan language classes, computer training courses, vocational training courses, photography and blogging 
classes, health services and education, and environmental services and education to Tibetan refugees and the local Indian and Himalayan community. LHA can also arrange for professionals with a particular skill set to present workshops or seminars to the local community, or match their skills with the right community organization. Through our partnership with LHA, we hope to monitor and respond to the needs being articulated by the various Tibetan and Indian communities with which LHA is involved. To learn more about LHA, please visit www.lhasocialwork.org. To learn more about LHA’s American branch, visit www.lhainfo.org. To get involved, contact willy@omprakash.org.
Partnership History
LHA has been an Omprakash partner since January, 2005.
-In June, 2005, we donated $507 to pay the year’s rent for the LHA medical-treatment room in Dharamsala.
-In July, 2005, we paid $292 to ship eighty pounds of donated paperback books from the USA to the LHA library in Dharamsala.
-In June, 2008, we donated $25,000 to help LHA buy a new headquarters building in Dharamsala. This new building contains a library that will be open to the entire community, and also gives LHA more space to conduct its language and computer classes. What’s even better is that this new 
building is partially solar-powered and will make LHA entirely self-sufficient and sustainable for years to come: the building will hold several locally-owned businesses, and the income from these businesses will cover all of LHA’s yearly expenses.
-LHA received around 500 boxes of books during our 2008 book-distribution project, and helped us distribute these books to needy organizations around Dharamsala.
Learn more about the 2008 India Book Distribution>>
Need for Volunteers
LHA accepts volunteers year-round and can always use more help with its various educational programs.
For Volunteer opportunities in and around New Orleans please contact us at lha.neworleans@gmail.com
For any ideas that you may have on how you may be able to help out, from wherever you are in the world, also contact us at this same email address. Our friends from all around the planet play a big part in fund raising activities that greatly contribute to LHA’s ability to continue its service projects. Thank You.
In India
For those of you wishing to do some Volunteer Service in India please check out the Lha Charitable Trust website www.lhaindia.org. Lha Charitable Trust has two Volunteer Options to choose from and many different time frames. The first option is free of any costs to you. The second option is for those of you who wish to receive supported services in planning your trip, escort service upon arrival in India and a support system during your stay in Dharamsala up to your flight home. Either option is an incredible opportunity. The Tibetan staff and other volunteers from around the world will assure you the finest possible volunteer experience.
If you have any further questions about India after checking out Lha Charitable Trust please do feel free to contact us at any point of your planning or volunteer service.
Need for Material Resources
-LHA is constantly collecting clothing, books, and basic medical supplies to distribute to needy members of the Dharamsala community.
Below, please find a recent newsletter from Neil Guidry, LHA’s founder:
Hello friends, With my two-finger typing skills I’ve managed to put together a little history of the Louisiana Himalaya Association “LHA” for our 10-year anniversary! This short blurb goes over some of our highlights and how we got to be where we are today. If you get bored just skip to the last paragraph about the new building! LHA has been serving the Tibetan refugees in India since 1997 and each year has shown growth and refinement of services provided. The organization had its beginnings in one tiny room in a Tibetan monastery and a corner table in a small restaurant in Dharamsala. After a couple years of grassroots social work and community organizing, LHA’s potential was recognized by a small group of wonderful friends who stepped into the picture and made things a bit more official. A beautiful brochure was created and non-profit 501c3 status was obtained. Soon more volunteers and supporters joined and in 2000 we moved into the first LHA building. With the donation of two laptops the first computer classes were underway, alongside the ESL language classrooms that held four classes per day with 10 students per class. The building also housed a crafts shop that generated money for the salaries of two full-time Tibetan staff. One of the staff members organized volunteers to teach English and computer skills while the other staffed the craft shop and a new medical project. After being properly trained by medical volunteers the Tibetan staff member would go out daily with a medical kit and assist the many Leprosy victims that beg along the streets. By 2002 the small building could no longer support the level of activity. With the help of some generous supporters, an annex building was opened with eight new computers and two new full-time Tibetan staff positions. The year 2002 was also the beginning of a new alliance with Tulane University. LHA was asked by the Tulane School of Social Work to lead a group of MSW students on an international Social Work expedition to Dharamsala, to work alongside LHA with the Tibetan refugee community. After the success of this first student group, Centenary College and Loyola University requested similar programs. We now assist four university groups each summer. After outgrowing the first building and annex by 2004, LHA moved into the current building owned by the Tibetan handicraft coop. Until recently, the building has been excellent for expanding the services provided and for accommodating the growing number of volunteers and Tibetan refugees seeking assistance, but we are now busting at the seams once again! In this past year alone over 400 volunteers from 37 different countries served through the volunteer coordination program. All seven English classes per day are full, with students often sitting in the hallway. The Computer School now offers four classes daily – also full. Some of the other services we now provide are: the collection and distribution of donated clothing; medical, dental and eye assistance and referral; massage therapy courses; inexpensive internet phone service; cooking classes; French, Spanish and Tibetan language classes; a Community Newspaper and a Library. In 2005 the now seven full-time Tibetan staff members established the Lha Charitable Trust, which is now a non-profit social service organization officially recognized by the government of India. Lha is a Tibetan word meaning protector spirit. The establishment of Lha was a major step toward self-sufficiency for the Tibetans we have been working with. Total self-sufficiency for the community served was one of the main goals of the founders of LHA. LHA and Lha were one organization but are now like two sisters in the same family! Lha Charitable Trust now has their own Board of Directors consisting solely of members of the Tibetan community; the staff members have learned to run a business and make all their own business decisions. A third sister now working closely with LHA and Lha is the Om Prakash foundation, which was established by three previous LHA volunteers. Om Prakash now coordinates volunteers and supports numerous social service projects around the globe. Since moving into the current Dharamsala building in 2004, Lha’s annual rent has been $9100. The rent has been successfully raised and paid for each year by the LHA New Orleans team and all our supporters. Since the 2004 move the Lha full time Tibetan staff have successfully managed their finances and the operations of the organization in Dharamsala. They have raised enough money each month to pay salaries, utilities, phone and any other necessary repairs or maintenance. While still offering all classes and services free of charge to hundreds of Tibetan refugees each month, the Lha staff have identified and developed services for the tourist population that generate enough funds for the organization to successfully and self-sufficiently operate (except for the rent). They offer tourists an array of services including Tibetan language and cooking classes, Yoga, massage and translating services. Besides earning enough for the monthly bills they have managed to accumulate some savings, which they are very happy to be offering toward the purchase of the new building. Once the new building is purchased the Tibetan staff of Lha Charitable Trust will be totally self-sufficient! Thanks for being patient with my lengthy thoughts back over the past 10 years. What an incredible journey it’s been. I hope some of you can help us out with this next step. We’ve made a deposit and have a purchase agreement signed for a new building. The total cost will be$175K. 50K is due as a downpayment when we move in on June 1, 2008. The good news is that we only need 11K by June 08 as the ball has already started rolling with 39K pledged for this year’s goal. Then we will need 30k per year for the following four years to clear the balance. More good news is that10K per year has already been pledged for the following four years!!! Please pass this info on to any others you feel may be able to donate or may be interested in getting involved. Once again, thank you so much for all the support and encouragement and a Happy 10 Year Anniversary to LHA! :0) Neil
