Tong-Len's community garden in Charan was looking rather neglected after some hungry goats had broken down the fencing and feasted on the plants. Today, men, women and children from the camp joined together with Tong-Len volunteers to help fix up the garden and restore it to its former beauty.

Tong-Len was delighted when Angel, a talented children's entertainer from Spain offered to put on a show for the children of Charan. Around fifty children came down to the tent school to watch the performance and join in the games. None of them had ever experienced anything like it before and the event was a huge success.

On the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Edinburgh Tong-Len UK held a special Tibetan dinner at the home of Ruth Watson, one of Tong-Len UK's trustees. Delicious Tibetan momos and thentuk were prepared by Reka Gawa and her friends who were in town for His Holiness's public address. The event raised £300 for the charity.

Winter can be very cold in Dharamsala, with overnight temperatures dropping below zero and Tong-Len staff and volunteers are frequently asked for warm clothing and blankets. Not wanting to give to some and not others, Tong-Len decided to use the money raised by Healing Mandala Clinic (18655 rupees) matched with a similar sum from its own funds to buy a warm double blanket for every single family in the Charan. Volunteers from the Mandala Healing Clinic joined Tong-Len to distribute the blankets, one to every family tent - 139 in all. Tong-Len now estimates that around 500 people are living within the slum camp.

Former Indian Prime Minister Nehru's birthday is celebrated across India as a special day for children. Tong-Len marked the occasion with a party in its tuition tent in the Charan slum camp. Approximately seventy children from across the camp came to join in the festivities. They were joined by parents and volunteers. The afternoon began with a short talk on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, followed by a programme of entertainment performed by the children from our support hostel. The children sang, danced, and acted out a comedy play about school. The afternoon continued with dancing performances from some of children who had been attending the tent school. Asha, a young girl, who is profoundly deaf, and has been sponsored to attend a special unit at a local government school, astounded the audience with her rhythmic dance moves. Lunch and refreshments were provided for all the children.

The twenty children in our support hostel celebrated Divali, the Hindu festival of lights today. Volunteers working in our afternoon tent school came to join in the fun. They were greeted by the children bearing flower garlands and each volunteer was given a hand-made card. Everyone joined together to make decorations for the hostel and then headed out for some fun and games in a local park. In the evening all the children and some of their parents gathered together for a special Puja (prayer), and candle lighting ceremony. Afterwards the children, staff, and volunteers formed a candlelit procession to Dayanand School, where all were entertained by a dramatic fireworks display. The evening ended with a Bollywood-style dance party.

Tong-Len's first article in McLeod Ganj's local community paper made front page news. To read the article online click here.

As part of a programme of events to commemorate His Holiness the Dalai Lama's seventieth birthday, doctors from the Tibetan Delek Hospital in Dharamsala agreed to provide free medical consultation to the displaced communities of Charan. Tong-Len's tuition tent was converted into a clinic for the day. Everyone who needed medical attention was able to see a doctor and all prescriptions were given free of charge. The costs of the day were split between the Tibetan Delek Hospital and Tong-Len. The day was a big success. Tong-Len would like to build up its emergency medical fund to enable more collaborative work of this nature.

Members of Tong-Len UK showed their support for the global 'Make Poverty History' campaign by joining in the official Peace March through the streets of Edinburgh. Around 225,000 people took part. Tong-Len UK organised its AGM for the 5th of July to coincide with this event.

Dharamsala played host to a mini Olympics on Monday the 23rd of May. All the primary school children dressed up as athletes and competed in sporting events. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day. The photograph shows eight of the girls from the hostel. Ranjeeta takes the gold, Pinki the silver, and it is a photo finish for the Bronze.

Kavita age 5, Suraj age 7, and Jyoti age 5 (pictured right) moved into the hostel on the 19th of April and started school shortly afterwards. The two 5 year olds are being sponsored by the primary school children of Fox Covert Roman Catholic School in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh children their families and the staff at the school are enthusiastic supporters of this interfaith project.

Tong-Len continued to offer basic education classes in Hindi and English to the residents of Charan homeless camp throughout the winter months. However, the harsh weather and subsequent flooding badly damaged the flimsy temporary shelter used for this purpose. A new classroom was desperately needed, and through the generous donation of a supporter we have been able to purchase a larger and more substantial tent.

We also have a new teacher, Shankar Bhopta, pictured with the children in the new more conducive school-like environment. Shankar has very rapidly established an excellent rapport with his pupils. We continue to be grateful to the volunteers from various parts of the globe who come to help in this important aspect of Tong-Len's work. We are also indebted to the teachers of Fox Covert RC primary school in Edinburgh for their promise to support Shankar through a sponsorship scheme.

During March, six more children joined the ten children already resident in the hostel. Their names are Savita, Sarika, Renu, Ranjeeta, Sunny, and Vijay. The photo shows all sixteen children, and was taken on a picnic outing.

The new children are settling well in their new environment. The hostel teachers are preparing them for formal schooling, which we expect to start at the beginning of the next term. The hostel staff and volunteers are also ensuring that there are ample opportunities for play which has helped them to develop friendships with the other children.