No. 3 / November 2018 / Volume 38

With ROKPA to independence

INHALT

Editorial 2

Eine Begegnung die mein Leben verändert hat 3

NEPAL: Gemeinsame Ziele

als Schlüssel zum Erfolg 4

NEPAL: Aufbruch in ein eigenständiges Leben /

Der Schulleiter der ROKPA Hotelfachausbildung

stellt sich vor 5

NEPAL: Bildung für ein unabhängiges Leben 6

TIBETISCHE GEBIETE CHINAS:

ROKPAs Hilfe trägt Früchte 7

SIMBABWE: Mit neuen Fähigkeiten zu

mehr Selbständigkeit 8

SÜDAFRIKA: Storchenbündel für

die Unabhängigkeit von Frauen 9

ROKPA NEWS 10

Nachruf / Spendende über ROKPA 11

Vorstand ROKPA INTERNATIONAL

Lea Wyler, Präsidentin und Mitgründerin / Peter Fanconi, Vize-Präsident / Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche / Dorje Tarap / Gelong Thubten / Andreas Vollenweider

Impressum

Redaktion: Corinna Biasiutti / Diana Dodd / Sanjaya Lal Shrestha / Bijay Shrestha / Thomas Stettler / Lea Wyler / Tina Zaugg Lektorat: Liane Brand (www.lianebrand.ch) Grafik: Renée Reust Titelbild: © Robert Bösch Foto Rückseite: © Lea Wyler Fotos: © Corinna Biasiutti, Robert Bösch, Loïc Chantriaux, Diana Dodd, Melanie Ewing, Sarah Graham, Suzanne Louw, Marlis Lüscher, Gabriel Peisker, Evelyne Plüss, Françoise Prudhomme, Robert Rapp, ROKPA INTERNATIONAL, ROKPA Support Network Zimbabwe, Bijay Shrestha, Pabitra Timilsina, Lea Wyler Text: © ROKPA INTERNATIONAL Auflage: 7’200 Exemplare

Lea Wyler with Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche.

Dear friends of ROKPA,

“We are still like brothers and sisters.” This is how the Tibetan

doctor Droni describes her former classmates. They are all

orphans and half-orphans who were educated at the ROKPA

Tibetan Medical School and found a new family. This was 25

years ago. I am deeply touched by how their lives have been

turned into a positive direction since then. What’s more, these

trained doctors, in turn, help people in need – in some cases

without being paid. This is applied help for self-help, this is

sustainable and exactly what ROKPA for almost 40 years has

been standing for!

This winter I will be travelling to visit our projects in South

Africa and Zimbabwe as well as to evaluate new ones. Poverty in

these countries is still rampant. With your financial help and

support we will be able to continue to make a difference – may-

be even more so than before! Our work in Nepal also progresses,

where in new projects 40 disadvantaged youths and women are

currently undergoing professional training at the ROKPA Voca-

tional Training Center giving them the necessary skills for the

working world.

I was very saddened by the fact that for the time being we are

unable to continue our projects in the Tibetan areas of China. In

the meantime, however, I recognize that it is not about geogra-

phy but about the people, about the children! It is my personal

duty, passion even, to help the forgotten children of this world,

wherever and whoever they are, regardless of where they come

from. Let us take action where others look away. Let us reach

out where others pull back. THIS is what ROKPA stands for and

THIS is – without a shadow of a doubt – the spirit and purpose

of this new situation for ROKPA. One door has been closed and

many new doors are now being opened! We now must open our

hearts even wider and with your support do what we always did:

help where help is needed!

I am thrilled that you are willing to join us on this path and

would like to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Yours,

Lea Wyler

Co-Founder and President ROKPA INTERNATIONAL

Editorial

Pho

to:

© L

ea W

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CONTENTS

Editorial 2

The encounter that changed my life 3

NEPAL: Common goals are the key to success 4

NEPAL: Starting an independent life /

The School Administrator of the ROKPA Hospitality

Vocational Training introduces himself 5

NEPAL: Education for an independent life 6

TIBETAN AREAS OF CHINA:

ROKPA’s aid bears fruit 7

ZIMBABWE: Gaining independence by

learning new skills 8

SOUTH AFRICA: “Stork bundles” for

independent women 9

ROKPA NEWS 10

Obituary / Donors on ROKPA 11

Executive Board ROKPA INTERNATIONAL

Lea Wyler, President and Co-Founder / Peter Fanconi, Vice President / Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche / Dorje Tarap / Gelong Thubten / Andreas Vollenweider

Imprint

Editorial team: Corinna Biasiutti / Diana Dodd / Sanjaya Lal Shrestha / Bijay Shrestha / Thomas Stettler / Lea Wyler / Tina Zaugg Copy editing: Liane Brand (www.lianebrand.ch) / Claire Twigger English translation: Henriette Levy / Elizabeth Postle Graphic design: Renée Reust / Sandra Hopfensitz Cover picture: © Robert Bösch Photo on the back: © Lea Wyler Photos: © Corinna Biasiutti, Robert Bösch, Loïc Chantriaux, Diana Dodd, Melanie Ewing, Sarah Graham, Suzanne Louw, Marlis Lüscher, Gabriel Peisker, Evelyne Plüss, Françoise Prudhomme, Robert Rapp, ROKPA INTERNATIONAL, ROKPA Support Network Zimbabwe, Bijay Shrestha, Pabitra Timilsina, Lea Wyler Text: © ROKPA INTERNATIONAL Print run: 7’200 copies (German edition)

Printed on Recycling Paper, produced accordingto the rules of “The blue Angel”.

3

ROKPA INTERNATIONAL

The encounter that changed my life

Dear friends,

Namaste! My name is Bijay Shreshta. I am the official

Co-Manager of ROKPA Nepal. Unofficially, I am the big brother

of the ROKPA Children’s Home. While writing these lines, I am

sitting in the common room and help the children with their

homework. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by their chit-chat

and pranks. However, I’m filled with satisfaction to be able to

help the kids and I have a lot of affection for each of them.

My father left the family home for another woman before I was

born. My mother passed away when I was 5 years old. At this

tender age I was living on the streets for one year, begging,

learning and surviving. I slept on the sidewalks by the Stupa

– sometimes with my stomach full and sometimes empty. I

experienced compassion from friends and strangers and I was

beaten up from time to time. Despite the hardship, I also

enjoyed life now and then.

One day I will never forget was the day when a woman took

my hand and my life changed forever. The woman’s name is

Lea Wyler, whom we lovingly call “mummy”. She stepped into

my life the moment I needed help the most. She taught me

how to brush my teeth, how to tie my shoes, she took me to

school for the first time and taught me a lot of other things.

But the most important thing was that she opened her heart

(and her wallet) for strangers like me, that she loved us and

still does.

Her single act of charity changed my life and the lives of many

others forever. Together with 6 other children, she sent me to

school and the rest is history.

I lived in the Children’s Home up to 2005. My home was

there, I found brothers, sisters, friends and above all a mother

who loved us unconditionally. She showed us the right path

and taught us to appreciate what we have, to have compas-

sion for others and to help where we can. I moved out after my

university degree and started an independent life. Every

holiday I would go back to the Children’s Home and help

whenever I could – it is the only home I ever knew.

Then in 2010, Mummy Lea offered me the chance to work in

the Children’s Home and in other projects that ROKPA carries

out in Nepal. It’s been 28 years since I came to ROKPA and

it’s been a good journey so far.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone, our

President, the members of the Executive Board, and the

employees of ROKPA in Zurich, the volunteers, friends,

families and donors for their support. Without your help and

contribution, I and hundreds of other children would not be

where we are today.

Every contribution is important and has a direct impact on

people’s lives. I am the living proof of this!

With my very best regards,

Bijay Shrestha

Co-Manager ROKPA Nepal

Pho

to:

© S

arah

Gra

ham

Bijay, a former ROKPA Child and today

Co-Manager of ROKPA Nepal,

feels connected to each and every one

of his protégés.

NEPAL

4

Common goals are the key to success

ROKPA: Victor and Loïc, how should we picture a normal working

day as advisor to the ROKPA Hospitality Vocational Training?

Victor: Every day is slightly different. This makes our work so

interesting. We have a wide range of duties and we make varied

experiences.

Loïc: Exactly. There is no such thing as a typical working day.

We adjust to the needs “on the job”. For example, I support

teachers in preparing their lessons, I teach and I oversee

administrative work. I agree with Victor: we gain an immense

amount of experience working for this project.

ROKPA: What are the biggest challenges?

Victor: During my assignment our biggest challenge was to get

the Hospitality Vocational Training up and running without

disrupting the existing organisation.

Loïc: Sometimes it is tricky to learn how things work here.

Nepalese culture is different to ours. Personally, my biggest

challenge was to find the right tempo: not to move forward too

quickly and not to do too many things in order not to inundate

the employees with too many tasks. To take care of the day-to-

day business in itself is already a huge task.

ROKPA: What is the most important thing you want to pass on

to students and teachers? What do you learn from them?

Victor: I wanted to convey appreciation as it helps students to

study successfully. Later I realised that because of their culture,

Nepalese people are already appreciative. Each day I learnt from

them.

Loïc: I would like teachers and students to learn how to work to

perfection so that they will be able to deal with everything that

lies ahead. I learn patience and diplomacy from them. We have

to move forward slowly but surely and not push them – we

wouldn’t want to do this anyway as they are so nice.

ROKPA: Victor, what are the most important lessons you learnt

from your assignment? What advice would you give to Loïc?

Victor: Common and tangible goals are needed to create a good

team. Enjoy and have fun, Loïc!

Pho

tos:

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orin

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, Lo

ïc C

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In May this year, the first training courses started at the ROKPA

Hospitality Vocational Training in Kathmandu. Local employees

take care of the day-to-day business, supported by volunteers of

the Swiss Hospitality Association EHLsmile who assist and give

advice. Victor Jaton was one of the two advisors who accompa-

nied this project during the first 6 months. He was then

replaced by Loïc Chantriaux. In the following interview with

ROKPA, these two hospitality experts give us some insight into

their daily routine working for the vocational training project.

Participants of the “food production” course working on new dishes

for the ROKPA Restaurant, supported by Loïc Chantriaux (r.).

Victor Jaton (c.) and Camille Briffod (r.), EHLsmile volunteers who

helped develop the project.

NEPAL

5

Starting an independent life

Anisha is 18 years old and is taking the one-year training course

in “Service”. She grew up in a village near Kathmandu where

she lived with her family. When she was a child, Anisha scalded

herself with hot water and she’s still suffering from the wounds

sustained in this incident. She lost her mother during the 2015

earthquake – an even more cruel stroke of fate. Fortunately,

Anisha was supported by CWIN, a Nepalese organization for

children’s rights. CWIN registered Anisha for the ROKPA

Hospitality Training. Anisha likes to read and with this training

wants to secure her own future.

Kalpana is 24 years old and is taking the six-month training

course as a seamstress. Her mother died when she was 7 years

old. This was a crushing blow for her as she felt especially loved

by her mother. She has two brothers who do not look after her.

Today, Kalpana lives in a home for people with disabilities and

she is happy to be able to train at the ROKPA Women’s Work-

shop. She already has previous experience as a seamstress and

wants to learn more in order to be fit for the job market.

32 deprived young people are presently being trained in hospi-

tality services at the new ROKPA Vocational Training Center.

There are three certificate programmes: “Food Production”,

“Service” and “Room Management”. A further 10 destitute

women are being trained as seamstresses. Anisha and Kalpana

are two of the students. Despite some cruel strokes of fate and

their physical impairment, these young women have decided to

take their destiny into their own hands. Education lays the

foundation for an independent life.

Pho

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The School Administrator of the ROKPA Hospitality Vocational Training introduces himself

My name is Sanjaya Lal Shresta and I am the School

Administrator of the ROKPA Hospitality Vocational Training.

I started my career at reception and in communication. In the

following years, I worked my way up to a managing position.

I decided to work for ROKPA because I want to work for a

good cause and support young people.

My work day starts with a smile from my students. I person-

ally greet each and every one of them because think it is

important that our students feel accepted. As I am responsi-

ble for the operation of our Hospitality Training as well as for

the ROKPA Guest House, I have a tight schedule: I prepare

the timetables, I support our teachers and I also teach.

Furthermore, I deal with requests regarding the Guest House,

I am responsible for the school administration and coordinate

with our partner organisations such as the GATE College.

Our students are from financially vulnerable families. I take

all the time necessary to assist them with personal as well as

academic matters. I want these young people to be successful

so that they can help their families to have a decent life too.

Sanjaya Lal Shrestha (l.) teaching.

Working despite physical impairment:

Kalpana (l.) training as a seamstress at the

ROKPA Vocational Training Center.

6

NEPAL

28 year-old Pabitra and her younger sister

Sharmila, 5 years her junior, grew up in a

village in the Kathmandu Valley. Her family

was poor and had very few possessions

except some pots for cooking. However,

there was very little to fill these pots. Food

was scarce and got even scarcer with every

new child. The family already had 7 girls

when a boy arrived. The father had

desperately wanted to have a boy.

Both parents worked in the fields. But the

father was an alcoholic and spent almost

all the money on alcohol. Hoping to find a

better income, the family moved to

Kathmandu. The mother worked on a

construction site where she had to carry

heavy loads. She went to work at sunrise

and returned in the night. The father also

worked as a porter, but he couldn’t give up

drinking.

Soon the children had to work to supple-

ment the family income. At the age of 7,

Sharmila already worked as a housemaid.

She was scolded, threatened and beaten

– until she fled.

Pabitra worked as a housemaid too. When

her mother learned that Pabitra hadn’t

been sent to school as promised, she took

her back home. Despite being poor, the

year ago. As there had not been enough

money to pay for the flight, they had had

to wait 7 years to hug each other again.

At first, returning home was a cultural

shock for Pabitra. In the meantime, she

has adjusted and feels very much at home

in Nepal. Today the young woman works as

a project manager with an IT company.

Together with two of her younger siblings,

she lives with her mother. Thanks to her

good income Pabitra is able to finance the

household chiefly. She is happy to be with

her family again.

mother didn’t want her children to grow up

uneducated like herself. Whenever she was

able to raise money, she sent her children

to school.

But then the father fell ill with liver cancer.

In order to be able to pay for the hospital

and medication, their mother borrowed

money from neighbours. Pabitra usually

took care of her father when her mother

was working. Before he died, the father

gave the following advice to his daughter:

“Study well, be a successful girl and try to

serve your family”. Pabitra took his advice

to heart. Hoping to find help, the girl went

to the ROKPA Soup Kitchen with an X-ray

picture of her father in her hands. She had

been there before with her family warming

up with a hot meal during the cold winter.

Pabitra told Lea Wyler, the Co-Founder of

ROKPA, what had happened. Moved by her

story, Lea Wyler took Pabitra and her sister

Sharmila to the ROKPA Children’s Home.

Their mother received financial support

from ROKPA for herself and for the other

children.

Pabitra was an excellent student. When

she was 19 she obtained a visa to go to

Great Britain and studied Business

Management in London. After having

successfully completed her studies in

2014, she worked as an accountant in

London.

Sharmila is also a successful student. She

is presently studying for a Bachelor’s

Degree in Public Health and is working

part-time as a waitress at the ROKPA

Guest House. Sometimes Sharmila feels

the dual burden, especially during long

working days. However, she is very happy

that her big sister came back to Nepal a

Pho

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© R

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, R

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Education for an independent life

Pabitra (l.) and Sharmila in the

ROKPA Children’s Home in 2004.

Pabitra successfully completed her

studies in Business Management in 2014.

Sharmila studies Public Health and

works part-time as waitress in the

ROKPA Restaurant.

77

TIBETISCHE GEBIETE CHINAS

In 1993 the first ROKPA subsidised class at the ROKPA Tibetan Medical School in

Yushu was made up of orphans and half-orphans. Back then they were dependent on

help. 25 years later, 47 of the former students are now practising doctors who help

others.

In July 2018 there was a reunion to mark 25 years since they began their studies.

As their first English teacher – I spent 6 months volunteering at the school in 1995 –

I was invited too. “As we are now practicing doctors across the County, there aren’t

many opportunities to meet,” Droni told me. “But we have a social media group and

use this to stay in touch – we are still like brothers and sisters.”

As I now visit the school along with the 48 graduates, it is extremely moving to witness

how radically conditions have changed. Nothing is left of the old mud huts with broken

windows, intermittent electricity and no running water. Now the facilities are compara-

tively modern. After the devastating earthquake in Yushu in 2010, the Chinese govern-

ment completely rebuilt the town and it is now full of modern buildings. And yet there

are still many orphans with the same shy, appreciative, curious expressions on their

faces – only now they’re wearing better clothes. There are currently 476 boarding

students at the school, all of them orphans or half-orphans from destitute backgrounds.

There are new places every year for up to 90 students from the 45 villages and towns

of Yushu Prefecture.

In the meantime, many of the former students have become parents themselves to

children who are now the same age as they themselves were when they joined the

ROKPA School. It is obvious that the wonderful help they received back then is now

being passed on and is benefiting others. They don’t only care for their patients but

also support their extended families and others who didn’t have the same opportunities

as themselves.

Report by Diana Dodd

Pho

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© D

iana

Dod

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ea W

yler

ROKPA’s aid bears fruit Solidarity with

Tsündru

Tsündru is the only one of her class

who isn’t now practising as a doctor.

8 years ago she had a terrible

accident and only just survived –

she is now a paraplegic and has

had to be operated on many times.

The surgery was made possible by

generous ROKPA Donors.

Tsündru too is still close to her

former classmates and attended

the reunion. Every year the class

pool money for her medical

expenses – this year they managed

to collect 1500 Swiss francs.

Tsündru (front) with her mother

and two brothers.

These orphans in Yushu saw Akong

Rinpoche as their father and protector.

25 years on, they still consider themselves

brothers and sisters, who now themselves

are able to provide help where it is needed.

TIBETAN AREAS OF CHINA

8

SIMBABWE

Gaining independence by learning new skillsSince its beginnings in 2000, the ROKPA

Support Network in Zimbabwe has

focused on supporting the weakest and

the neediest: children with disabilities

and their parents, orphans and their

carers, as well as the chronically ill. They

support as many of these people as

possible using the self-help approach, for

example by offering assistance in their

daily life with HIV, or by advising and

training them how to build up a small

business or how to grow low-cost but

nourishing vegetables and spices.

One of these projects is the ROKPA Day

Care Center in Chitungwiza. Here, around

35 children, some with very severe

disabilities, are looked after every day

during the week. The children receive

treatment relevant to their needs (physio-

therapy, activity therapy, speech therapy)

as well as medical support, food, toys

and equipment for creative activities. A

specialist therapist visits the Center at

least once a week.

Under the direction of a coordinator, the

Center is run by the parents of the children.

The parents receive a basic introduction

to the therapies used, which enables them

to continue supporting their children at

home. The project ensures that both

parents and carers have enough time to

earn an income whilst the children can

develop skills in a secure environment

which will help to make them more

independent.

The Sewing Project is one of the initiatives

being put into practice at the ROKPA

Chitungwiza Center to promote the develop-

ment of entrepreneurial skills. The project

aims to achieve at least three things: the

participants gain new craft skills, they

can earn an income, and they are able to

satisfy local demand for clothes and other

textile items.

In the Sewing Project participants

transform old jeans into uniforms and

other products that are designed by the

participants. ROKPA supports the mostly

young people in their work and encourag-

es the continued development of their

skills as well as their product range.

Pho

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Sup

port

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Lea

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ROKPA Projects in Chitungwiza,

a poor suburb of Harare:

young people learn a craft.

Children with disabilities receive the

personalised care they need.

ZIMBABWE

SÜDAFRIKA

99

In a poor district of Cape Town new mothers are provided with

“stork bundles”, sandwiches and food vouchers from ROKPA.

In this way, the women are able to concentrate on the welfare

of their newborn babies rather than having to struggle for each

meal.

“The baby’s clothes are passed on from family to family” reports

Zan, a “Circle of Nourishment” volunteer who distributes food

and stork bundles. “In the most extreme cases this will prevent a

baby from dying of cold in a draughty tin hut.” The mothers are

aware that these packages are a temporary measure which

should help them to find ways to improve their own situation.

The aim of this project is to help them towards independence.

Carrie, aged 34, is expecting her second child. She suffered

domestic violence at the hands of her partner for years and was

completely reliant on him. After a particularly bad fight, he left

the heavily pregnant Carrie with nothing to live on. She explains

that she would often go to bed hungry herself, but always made

sure that her five-year-old child was fed by a neighbour. Carrie

says that she cannot continue to ask for help from neighbours

who are themselves struggling to make ends meet.

When we gave Carrie food vouchers she cried tears of joy, saying

that she had never expected to receive help in this way. Two

weeks later she was given more vouchers which will help her to

eat healthily during her pregnancy. Her child will soon be born

– and then she’ll receive a stork bundle too.

“Stork bundles” for independent women

Pho

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© S

uzan

ne L

ouw

, Le

a W

yler

The “Circle of Nourishment” Project

Project activities include:

• Preparing and distributing nourishing sandwiches and fruit.

• Giving new mothers a stork bundle comprising sanitary and

hygiene products and a basic kit of clothing for their

newborn.

• Handing out food vouchers.

• Providing moral support for the women, many of whom

have to deal with sad and difficult circumstances.

In collaboration with a maternity hospital in Cape Town,

ROKPA comes into contact with between 250 and 300

destitute mothers and their newborn babies each week.

Many of the mothers are very young and have to fend for

themselves.

A stork bundle

contains disposable

nappies and clothes

for newborn babies,

which the new

mothers are very

grateful to receive.

SOUTH AFRICA

ROKPA NEWS

10

New ROKPA Executive Board member

Season’s Greetings The entire ROKPA Team would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and all

the very best for the New Year. We hope to be able to count on your continued

support in 2019.

ROKPA welcomes two new employees at our Headquarters in Zurich

In January 2018 Melanie Ewing took over from Romano

Renner as the Head of Finance for ROKPA. She was born

in Scotland and studied Accounting and German in

England. She did further training at the consultancy firm

Ernst & Young. Her curiosity brought her to Switzerland,

where she has lived since 2004. Ever since then it has

been her dream to bring her experience to a charitable

setting, so she’s excited to be working at ROKPA. She

appreciates ROKPA’s method of providing aid in a

goal-orientated and unbureaucratic way and also values the close collaboration

within the ROKPA Team.

In July 2018 Evelyne Plüss began her role of Donor

Relations Manager on the departure of Caterina Mei-

er-Pfister. After studying Political Science she did an

internship in the area of migration at the Federal

Department of Foreign Affairs, after which she worked

for an international organisation in Bolivia and then as a

youth development project manager for a Swiss founda-

tion. She lived in Kenya for the past five years where

she worked for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and also as

coordinator for South Sudan with a German NGO. Now back in Switzerland she is

pleased to be able to support the ROKPA Team in this exciting position.

Earnings from Wal-Ro dolls have topped 100’000 Swiss francs

Marlis Lüscher (center) and her hardwork-

ing team have been making Waldorf dolls

exclusively for ROKPA (hence the name

Wal-Ro dolls) since 2010.

The group of 15 women based in the

Valais mountains dedicate thousands of

hours each year tirelessly working on

these unique dolls. Now, thanks to loyal

and new customers, they have hit the

mark of 100’000 Swiss francs.

We at ROKPA are thrilled and would like

to extend our heartfelt thanks to all

involved for their invaluable contribution.

Pho

tos:

© R

ober

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ösch

, M

elan

ie E

win

g, M

arlis

Lüs

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, G

abri

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er,

Evel

yne

Plü

ss

■ Are you looking for Christmas

gifts? Visit the Wal-Ro online shop

at www.rokpa.org/walro

All proceeds from the sale of Wal-Ro

items go via ROKPA to disadvanta-

ged children in the Himalaya region.

This year the executive committee at ROKPA INTERNA-

TIONAL grew to six when we welcomed a new board

member. Dorje Tarap was born in the Tibetan areas of

China, grew up in Scotland and Nepal and now lives in

Switzerland. He comes to us with invaluable knowledge

of the Himalaya region and of the cultural values of the

people there. In addition he has a degree in Bioinformat-

ics and has worked in the healthcare industry for over 15

years. ROKPA is excited about working with him and

wishes him a great start.

ROKPA TEAM

11

ObituaryROKPA is sad to have to say goodbye to two long-term companions in the same year.

We are deeply grateful to Françoise Prudhomme and Röbi Rapp

for their tireless commitment in service of the poorest people. We will miss them.

Françoise Prudhomme co-found-

ed ROKPA France and ran the

French Representation successful-

ly for many years on a voluntary

basis. Françoise was an excep-

tional character who touched the

hearts of many people with her

warmth, dependability and

sincerity. Although her life was

marked by illness she never let herself become demoral-

ised. Her positive, relaxed and cheerful manner remains an

example to us all.

Robert „Röbi“ Rapp volunteered on

a 50 percent workload for ROKPA

for many years. He was responsible

for recording donations received,

which he did painstakingly by hand.

Röbi was a very conscientious and

kind person who cared deeply for

people in need. With his long-term

partner Ernst Ostertag, Röbi was a

pioneer for the rights of same-sex couples in Switzerland:

together they campaigned tirelessly for the legal recognition of

civil partnerships.

Donors on ROKPA: this is what makes ROKPA unique for me

Pho

tos:

© F

ranç

oise

Pru

dhom

me,

Rob

ert

Rap

p

I really like how small the organisation

is. It gives you the feeling of being part

of a large family. The results of ROKPA’s

project work are presented clearly in the

ROKPA Times and on the website. That

makes me feel sure that my donations

really make a difference.

Jolanda Kocher, Uster

I’m impressed at how personally involved

Lea Wyler is and how she has managed

to directly help so many needy people.

Elisabeth Tornay, Zürich

For me, aid in the Himalaya region is of

central importance. I’m pleased that

ROKPA is also active in South Africa and

Zimbabwe, but the fact that ROKPA

supports the Himalaya region is the main

reason why I have continued to donate

over many years.

Boris Brönimann, Horgen

I think it’s brilliant that ROKPA keeps

administrative costs as low as possible so

that the bulk of donations reaches those

who need it most.

Barbara Hediger, Hunzenschwil

The personal commitment of the

Co-Founder, the employees and the many

volunteers is obvious.

Susanne Bernet, Bremgarten

www.yoga-bremgarten.ch

I met Lea Wyler in Kathmandu in 1990

and have been part of the ROKPA Family

ever since. I find it particularly inspiring

how many volunteers are involved.

Thomas Fries, Riehen

In the questionnaire we distributed in June we asked our donors, among other things, what they thought

made ROKPA special. Here we are pleased to include a selection of the many exciting answers we received.

Thank you all for your positive feedback! It encourages and inspires our whole team. Please tell others

about us and order ROKPA information leaflets which you can pass on. THANK YOU!

ROKPA

ROKPA INTERNATIONAL | Böcklinstrasse 27 | 8032 Zurich | Switzerland | Phone +41 44 2626888

info@rokpa.org | www.rokpa.org | facebook.com/ROKPA.org

In Switzerland all donations to ROKPA are tax-free.

Every year hundreds of children and young people get an education in Nepal, Zimbabwe

and South Africa, supported by ROKPA. With its Medical and Food Projects, ROKPA is

making tangible improvements to the living conditions of many poverty-stricken people.

This is only possible with your help!

Thanks to your donations we can have a positive influence on innumerable lives:

• Orphans are housed and sent to school

• Young people from poor families can go to university or college

• Destitute people receive medical care

• Children and adults are provided with the essentials in our Soup Kitchens

• Girls and women are strengthened

With your financial support we can make a difference to the lives of the poorest of

the poor. Help us to give them a chance to live a dignified life.

We are deeply grateful for your generous support!

For a better chance in life

Pho

to:

© L

ea W

yler

How you can donate:

Credit Suisse (Schweiz) AG:

IBAN: CH73 0483 5045 5090 1100 1

BIC/SWIFT: CRESCHZZ80A

Or find the account information for your

country on www.rokpa.org

Project No. 8150:

For ROKPA Medical Projects

Project No. 8100:

For ROKPA Education Projects

Project No. 8000:

For urgent ROKPA Projects

SMS donation

up to CHF 99.–

GO ROKPA XX

(amount, number only) to

target number 488.

Example for CHF 20.–:

GO ROKPA 20 to 488

Kalpana is the single mother of Sajan (l.) and Sachita (r.). The money she earns as a housekeeper is barely enough to keep them alive.

When they came to the ROKPA Children’s Home, Sajan was gravely ill and massively underweight and Sachita was suffering from a

gastro-intestinal complaint. Thanks to support provided by ROKPA they are now much better and they live in the Children’s Home.

Helping where help is needed:sustainably, for over 35 years.