HTF in pandemic
by William Liu, 2020
Usually, around this time of the year, I would be packing my backups, ready to hop onto a plane flight to Chengdu, from which I would go on a 5 day road trip high up into the Tibetan rural mountains. Then, I would spend a week up there, playing ball with the children, unpacking the new supplies for their local classrooms, and engaging in interesting conservations about Tibetan history with the village temple’s tulku.
Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus outbreak that has horrifically affected the entire global community, such a trip was simply unfeasible, due to both safety concerns and logistical barriers posed between countries during the pandemic. It’s disappointing to not be able to interact with this community, between which I have developed a close bond; not only did the trip provide me an escape from the hectic urban life, but it always provided me insight into life and different cultures.
However, despite not having the opportunity for a physical visit, I still can keep in virtual contact with the tulkus and children, hearing about their updates and daily life during this COVID-19 pandemic. I was extremely gladdened to hear that the virus actually is not a serious situation in their region of Tibet (although this was expected due to their remoteness). They are still able to carry on with work.
The children are still able to go to school physically, working hard and enjoying many of the school supplies brought over there thanks to all of your donations. Daily life is largely undisrupted, and that knowledge helps lift my emotions in these times, knowing that my friends thousands of miles away are still safe and happy.
I will definitely return next year. After all, this journey has become an annual tradition for me. Hopefully, as I move onto college next year, I can continue to raise awareness about the Tibetan plight with poverty and educational barriers, through both my new communities and this website.
I cannot to wait to see the faces of those children again, or talk with the tulkus while touring their exquisite temples filled with ancient manuscripts, or even see how my project last year of setting up internet connectivity for educational purposes progressed in person. As I continue to keep in contact with the Tibetan community near Hope Primary School, I will definitely keep all of you updated about their current situation!
