No. 2 / June 2015 / Volume 35

Annual Report 2014

ROKPA TIMES

CONTENTS

Editorial 2

Thanks 3

Tibetan regions of China 4 – 5

Nepal 6 – 7

South Africa/Zimbabwe 8

Donation matrix 9

Financial year figures 10 – 11

Origin and use of donations 12

How you can help 14

What your donation is used for 15

Masthead

Editor: ROKPA Communications All photographs and texts: © ROKPA INTERNATIONAL Print run: 5,500 copies

ROKPA INTERNATIONAL has been ZEWO certified since 2004.

Dear ROKPA Friends,

Many years ago when I presented my idea to open a soup kitchen in

Kathmandu to the Swiss authorities and a well-known NGO in Bern, I was

met with laughter and labelled as naive. I said to myself, “This just makes

me all the more determined”. Following Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche’s clear

instructions, I brought the ROKPA soup kitchen into being over the following

months. Today the project is a success story. In the cold winter months,

local cooks and volunteers from across the world serve up to 800 meals a

day to Kathmandu’s poorest people, its homeless, its lepers and its street

children.

In 2014 we faced a huge challenge. The sudden death of my beloved and

longstanding ROKPA partner and co-founder Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche

rocked me to the core and left a painful void at ROKPA. Doors which had

previously been open to us as a matter of course were suddenly closed.

However, the past has shown that facing up to resistance just makes us

stronger and leads to new achievements. This also proved to be the case in

2014. Rather than simply looking back at a year full of changes and uphea-

val, we have actually grown as a result of the setbacks. We have pushed on

with developments. In short, we have set our course for the future. What we

have begun will grow with us in the years to come and we relish the associa-

ted challenges and opportunities.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish to thank all those donors who have

stood by us during this difficult year. You have supported us generously and

as a result have made it possible for us to treat those people in need with

respect and give them back some of their human dignity.

Thank you for being there during this stormy year and for having supported

us in so many ways. Our projects are only possible thanks to the help of

committed people and generous donations. We are eternally grateful for this.

Things are now really looking up for our organisation - thanks to you!

Yours truly,

Lea Wyler Co-Founder and Vice-president of ROKPA

Editorial

ROKPA rocks! For 35 years.

Celebrate 35 years of ROKPA with us on Friday

18th September 2015 at the Restaurant Lake Side.

An unforgettable evening awaits. Meet our stars,

big and small, in a convivial atmosphere – former

street children from Nepal as well as ROKPA

ambassadors, Andreas Vollenweider, Sandra Studer

and Marc Sway. Be enchanted, inspired and

moved. Free entry. We request a contribution of 50

francs per person towards costs.

For further information and registration, please

contact info@rokpa.org by 14th August 2015.

We’re looking forward to seeing you and your

families!

ROKPA has been in existence for 35 years. This is only possible

thanks to a loyal and constantly growing community of donors. Just

as ROKPA’s Co-Founder, Lea Wyler, has been there from the start,

many of our very first donors are still active and make an extremely

important contribution to ROKPA’s ongoing work in the world’s

poorest regions. The same can be said of ROKPA’s numerous

indispensable and loyal volunteers, who have been working for

decades to improve the living standards of the poverty stricken.

Change and renewal are the life-blood of any aid organisation. New

projects are regularly starting up, whilst existing successful ones

reach their conclusion. Colleagues come and go. It is also our

responsibility to constantly recruit new volunteers and donors to

ROKPA.

We thank all those who support ROKPA, whether through short or

long-term help. We need all of you, so that ROKPA can continue to

alleviate suffering and improve the futures of thousands of children

and young people for the next 35 years, following the motto

“Helping where help is needed”.

Many heartfelt thanks!

Hours of voluntary work 2014

voluntary work at head office

unpaid work on

management board

unpaid work in ROKPA’s

country offices

unpaid overtime by permanent and

part-time employees

voluntary work in the soup kitchen

in Nepal

Total

hours people

3,781

2,235

12,832

1,075

5,700

25,623

46

8

112

8

14

188

46 % donors active for more than 10 years

10 % donors active for 5 - 10 years

36 % donors active for 2 - 5 years

8 % new donors in 2014

Reading example:

46% of ROKPA Switzerland’s income comes from donors who have

been on our database for more than ten years.

Origin of donations – ROKPA Switzerland

Thank you!

3

Projects in the Tibetan regions of ChinaSupporting people in the Tibetan regions of China, particularly in the areas of education and medical care, continues to be the focus of ROKPA’s work.

Education – Example project: Luchu orphanage and

primary school

Luchu is one of seven districts in the autonomous region of Gannan

in the Chinese province of Gansu. The district has an area of 5,300

km² and a population of around 35,000 (As a comparison, the

sparsely populated Swiss Canton of Valais is the same size but has a

population of 289,000).

In the current academic year 2014 / 2015, a total of 863 children

aged between 6 and 17 attend the primary school. 80 pupils are

sponsored by ROKPA. Of these, 5 are orphans, 8 have lost one of

their parents and the rest come from very poor families. The 41 boys

and 39 girls all live in the school. ROKPA provides them with

financial support to pay for food, school equipment and clothes, as

well as medical care. In addition, ROKPA pays their travel costs

when they travel to see their families during the holidays.

Medicine – Example project: Preservation of traditional Tibetan

medicine in Nangchen

The medical project in Nangchen, established in 2008, is one of

ROKPA’s most ambitious projects. The aim of the project is to protect

and cultivate Tibetan medicinal herbs which are threatened by

extinction. In 2014 we were able to produce medicines for the first

time: a medicine for indigestion and a herbal tea cold remedy. The

two medicines were given free of charge to the local population and

the first reports seem very positive. The ultimate aim is commercial

distribution. However, at the time of our visit, authorisation for this

had not yet been issued.

Culture – Example project: Nutrition at Dolma Lhakang monastery

The Dolma Lhakang monastery sits at about 4,500 metres above

sea level. The winters are long and harsh, with the thermometer

dropping to minus 30 degrees in the coldest months of January and

February. Despite these inhospitable conditions, 103 monks and

122 nuns currently live here. For the Tibetan nomads in this area,

attending the monastery school is the only way to get an education,

as there are no state-funded schools anywhere nearby. ROKPA

assists here, by contributing to the food costs of the nuns and

monks.

4

Project Expenditures 2014 in Tibetan Areas of China

The number of projects and the project expenditures have remained

stable when compared with the previous year. Two thirds of the

funds provided were used to provide children and adolescents with

vocational training.

9,8 %

Preservation of culture

14,6 %

Healthcare

5,1 %

Others

70,5 %

Education

No. of projects in 2014: 99

Total direct beneficiaries in 2014: 9,431

5

Projects in NepalIn Nepal, ROKPA’s main focus continues to be on the two main projects involving the Children’s Home and the Soup Kitchen. In addition, the social business projects are also increasing in importance: the Wo-mens’ Workshop, the Guest House, and Organic Farming. These projects create jobs and, for the most part, fund themselves.

Children’s Home in Boudhanath, Kathmandu

57 children and adolescents currently fill the ROKPA Children’s

Home. Its occupants range from children who have just reached

schooling age to young adults studying for their master’s degrees

– all living under a single roof. In 2014, six new children were

taken into the Home, while two former occupants left the home:

Bharat, 23 years old, has been working in a restaurant in Malaysia

since August 2014 upon obtaining his Diploma in Hotel Manage-

ment and Sönam, 29 years old, has been working as a Physiothe-

rapist in Kathmandu for a while now was able to move into his

own apartment from the Children’s Home last year. The Children’s

Home has been under Bijay’s management for a few years now,

and he himself is a former first-generation ward of the Children’s

Home.

Soup Kitchen in Boudhanath, Kathmandu

Each winter, over 40,000 meals are given out to needy people in the

Soup Kitchen. Among these persons there are a large number of

street children who would otherwise have to beg for food. In the

morning, each person receives a small breakfast, then lentil soup

with potatoes and vegetables for lunch with a serving of rice. The

amount of food consumed each winter is impressive: 4.5 metric tons

of rice, 2.5 metric tons each of potatoes and vegetables, and 500

kilograms of lentils. Together with local cooks, over a dozen

volunteers are responsible for preparing and distributing the meals.

In the accompanying medical tent, needy people can have their

wounds tended to or have simple illnesses treated. In emergencies,

an admission to a hospital is organized and financed.

Organic Farming

On a piece of land which lies a short distance away from Kathman-

du, ROKPA has been carrying out organic farming for a number of

years now. The vegetables and grain harvested are used primarily to

ensure that the children in the ROKPA Children’s Home are able to

eat in a healthy manner. For example, 150 kilograms of basmati rice

were harvested in 2014. As is the case all over Nepal, rice is a

staple of every meal in the Children’s Home, which is why this

amount only lasts for about 2 weeks. Over the course of the year,

the farm also yields a great number of fruit and vegetables. During

their vacations and on Saturdays, the older children also travel to our

farm to till the land and plant the produce which they later prepare

and eat themselves in the Children’s Home.

6

Project Expenditures 2014 in Nepal

We have good news to report about our social business projects in

Nepal: In 2014, the Guest House generated its highest profit so far.

This means that the planned cross-financing of the Children’s Home

has become a reality. The Women’s Workshop is also more or less

self-sufficient.

The item “Others” includes the purchase of land in Nepal in 2012.

Back then, the financing was provided through ROKPA INTERNATI-

ONAL. With the upcoming realization of the new building, the

ownership of the land was transferred to ROKPA in Nepal. We will

be giving a detailed report on the project involving the new building

in the next issue of the ROKPA Times.

No. of Projects in 2014: 7

Total Direct Beneficiaries in 2014: 1,077

16,6 %

Children’s home

80,5 %

Other

(75,3 % land purchase

in Nepal)

2,8 %

Soup kitchen / Medical Tent

0,1 %

Women’s Workshop

7

Projects in Zimbabwe and South AfricaIn ROKPA’s two African target countries, the number of projects has been reduced. In South Africa, we are concentrating on our Soup Kitchen, which has now become an institution that many needy people rely on. In Zimbabwe, our focus is on helping children with disabilities and their families who would otherwise not receive any aid.

Soup Kitchen in South Africa

Each Tuesday evening, ROKPA volunteers in the north of Johan-

nesburg distribute food to around 80 to 100 hungry people, most

of them homeless. Due to extreme poverty, two additional Soup

Kitchens were opened in other city districts in 2014. These Soup

Kitchens have followed our example, but are organized and

financed by the initiators themselves, who are part of the local

church.

Self-sufficiency in Zimbabwe

The target group for this project are households with disabled or

sick children. Such families face particular hardship, as the child is

often dependent on intensive care, and the parents have almost no

time left to work and earn a living.

The goal of the project is to ensure that they have enough to eat

and to improve their quality of life. The parents are helped with

setting up a garden – this increases the amount and variety of food

that they consume over the course of a year. In 2014, 155 families

benefited from this program.

Drop-in Center in Zimbabwe

The Drop-in Center is open to all in need. In 2014, we had a total of

481 visitors. Most of them are dependent on medical aid or food.

However, it is also important that someone is there to listen to them

and take their concerns seriously. For the provision of healthcare, we

have made an agreement with a local doctor who comes to the

center three times a week. We are also able to procure medicines at

a reduced rate. The living conditions of many people in Zimbabwe

are so precarious that absorbing the costs for a single treatment and

the free dispensation of medicines can save a family from poverty

and losing their home.

No. of projects in 2014: 5

Total direct beneficiaries in 2014: 1,172

8

ROKPA Donation Collage 2014

With 125 francs / 135 US$ / 87 £, you can provide a Tibetan orphan with a year‘s worth of schooling by paying for a portion of his or her school supplies, food and board.

A Medical Clinic in the Tibetan highlands costs 215 francs / 230 US$ / 150 £ to operate each week.

ROKPA‘s share of food aid for a nun in a convent amounts to 470 francs / 500 US$ / 327 £ each year.

By donating 400 francs / 430 US$ / 278 £ for school fees, you can provide a young street child with one year of schooling.

The cost of providing Healthcare for all the children in the Children‘s Home is 149 francs / 160 US$ / 104 £ each month.

45 francs / 48 US$ / 31 £ are needed so that each child in the Children‘s Home has enough food to eat for a month.

The school fees for a child with a disability, including transportation, medicine and therapy, is 426 francs / 456 US$ / 296 £ per trimester.

In order to enable 10 persons to consult a doctor – including the dispensation of medicines – 303 francs / 325 US$ / 211 £ are needed.

One day in the Johannesburg Soup Kitchen including the distributi-on of food to about 100 persons costs 87 francs / 93 US$ / 61 £.

1 2 3

1

4

7

2

5

8

3

6

9

4 5 6

7 8 9

You will find more donation examples on our website www.rokpa.org/en/ under “What we do”.

EDUCATION

MEDICINE & HEALTHCARE

FOOD

TIBETAN AREAS OF CHINA

DO

NA

TIO

N C

ATE

GO

RY

NEPAL AFRICADONATION GOALS

9

Balance Sheet ROKPA INTERNATIONAL (consolidated)

Assets 31.12.2014 31.12.2013

CHF % CHF %

Current assets 3,395,023 100,0 2,678,749 82,6Cash in hand 3,330,735 98,1 2,518,597 77,7Accounts Receivable Trade 299 0,0 – 0,0Additional Receivables 11,587 0,3 670 0,0Accrued Assets 52,402 1,5 159,482 4,9

Fixed assets – 0,0 562,811 17,4Nepal Land – 0,0 562,811 17,4

Total assets 3,395,023 100,00 3,241,560 100,0

Liabilities

Short-term Current Liabilities 41,986 1,2 92,387 2,9Additional Current Liabilities 8,856 0,2 54,074 1,7Accrued Liabilities 33,130 1,0 38,313 1,2

Funds with a specific purpose 2,096,786 61,8 2,304,657 71,1Nepal Fund 1,480,206 43,6 1,718,505 53,0Tibetan Areas of China Fund 415,652 12,2 452,685 14,0India Fund (1 project supervised) 63,938 1,9 68,772 2,1Africa Fund 22,680 0,7 35,921 1,1Children’s Fund 22,436 0,7 28,339 0,9Women’s Fund 5,372 0,2 0 0,0Fund for Food, Education of Girls, Women 86,502 2,5 435 0,0

Organisation Capital 1,256,251 37,0 844,516 26,0Total Equity 1,256,251 37,0 844,516 26,0

Total Liabilities 3,395,023 100,00 3,241,560 100,0

You can review the complete annual expenses report at www.rokpa.org.

10

Income Statement ROKPA INTERNATIONAL(consolidated)

Income 2014 2013

CHF % CHF %Donations Donations Tibetan areas of China 816,074 31,2 1,307,012 35,0Donations Nepal 301,654 11,5 432,194 11,6Donations India 38,403 1,5 29,427 0,8Donations Africa 15,519 0,6 20,095 0,5General Donations 1,365,228 52,1 1,917,373 51,3

Total Donations 2,536,879 96,9 3,706,100 99,2

Sales Income Shop / Markets / Cards 13,111 0,5 10,669 0,4Sales Income Events 0 0,0 841 0,0Interest Income 273 0,0 922 0,0Profit from Currency Exchange 68,633 2,6 11,808 0,3Various Income 240 0,0 4,434 0,1

Total Income 2,619,136 100,0 3,734,774 100,0

Expenses

Project ExpensesProjects / Sponsorships Tibetan Areas of China 941,290 35,9 1,132,318 30,3Projects / Sponsorships Nepal 747,091 28,5 305,667 8,2Projects / Sponsorships India 36,000 1,4 30,930 0,8Projects / Sponsorships Africa 40,150 1,5 38,373 1,0Travel Cost / Expenditure Project Mgmt. 23,969 0,9 22,208 0,6

Total Project Expenses 1,788,500 68,2 1,529,496 40,9

Shop / EventsExpenditure Shop / Markets / Cards 1,810 0,1 3,566 0,1Expense Events 430 0,0 0 0,0

Total Shop / Events 2,240 0,1 3,566 0,1

AdministrationRent 53,982 2,1 57,459 1,6Wages incl. Social Security Contributions 443,230 16,9 462,611 12,4Communication 54,790 2,1 49,965 1,3Administration 49,273 1,9 89,849 2,4

Total Administration 601,275 23,0 659,884 17,7

Other Expenses Loss from Currency Exchange 19,597 0,8 12,082 0,3Other Expenditure 3,659 0,1 7,747 0,2

Total Other Expenditure 23,256 0,8 19,829 0,5

Total Expenses 2,415,271 92,2 2,212,775 59,2

Result before Fund Capital Changes 203,864 7,8 1,521,999 40,8Fund Capital Changes 207,871 7,9 –23,090 –0,6

Annual Profit before Change in Organisation Capital 411,735 15,7 1,498,909 40,1Allocations/Utilisation: Allocation of Unrestricted Capital –411,735 –15,7 –1,498,909 –40,1

J 0 0

11

2014: Important figures of the financial yearDonations

In 2014, ROKPA earned 2,536,879 CHF, which was 31.5% less

than last year which ended with the best results since the founding

of ROKPA. This was mainly caused by the absence of large dona-

tions.

Expenses covered by donations

Expenses for projects in 2014: 1,788,500 CHF (last year:

1,529,496 CHF).

Expenses for projects increased slightly due to the land purchase in

Nepal.

55,3 % Private Sponsors

2,8 % Companies

6,9 % Churches

1,3 % Public Sector

33,7 % Foundations

81 % Project Expenses

10 % Administration

9 % Fundraising

Number of donors 2014: 1,980 (ROKPA Switzerland)

Number of projects 2014: 111

Origin of donations, ROKPA Switzerland Use of donated funds

12

ROKPA officeROKPA INTERNATIONAL is based in Zurich. ROKPA Switzerland functions as the country representative and is part of the umbrella organisation. It is responsi-ble for fundraising in Switzerland.Headquarter emplo-yees and volunteers work for both organisations. From here, all ROKPA projects are initiated and monitored.

Employees Jeannette Alison, Corinna Biasiutti (Main Secretary), Brigitte Böhle

(until April 2014), Daniela Fadel (since Juni 2014), Gabriele Lenk,

Caterina Meier-Pfister (since December 2014), Romano Renner

(since July 2014), Pia Schneider (until January 2014), Thomas

Stettler, Franz Thoma (until August 2014)

Volunteers Amrita Prasad, Romano Renner, Tereza Konate, Robert Diener,

Margrit Unholz, Ivo Loretz, Bea Schmutz, Esther Reichenbach,

Elisabeth Weiss, Manuel Bassi, Gisela Weisner, Lumire Huguenin,

Joseph Sundararaj, Laura Munzel, Käthi Ruckstuhl, Margrit Stahel,

Maya Helbling, Georgios Mazarakis, Lotti Kobler, Andreas Wytten-

bach

Translations Bettina Grieser Johns, Katrin Klein, Sian Edwards, Susanne Reiche,

David Tonge, Hanna Hündorf, Ina Hohmann, Yael Katz, Elaine

Knoerich, Karin Stutz, Veronika Striessnig

Executive Board ROKPA INTERNATIONAL Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche (President)

Lea Wyler (Vice-President)

Gerry Leumann

Catherine Brown

Pim Willems

Andrea Widmer

Executive Board ROKPA Switzerland Gerry Leumann (President)

Lea Wyler (Vice-President)

Andreas Vollenweider

Gelong Thubten

Patronage ROKPA Switzerland Robert Schenker (President), Dr. iur. Thomas Bär, Walter Bosch,

Christine Egerszegi, Josef Estermann, Kurt E. Feller, Marc Forster,

Dr. med. Felix Gutzwiller, Peter Hasler, Trix Heberlein, Philipp Keel,

Cyrill Koller, Dr. Remo Largo, Charles Lewinsky, Dr. iur. Ellen Ringier,

Roger Schawinski, Emil Steinberger, Niccel Steinberger,

Franz Steinegger, Sandra Studer, Andreas Vollenweider,

Dr. iur. Christian Wenger

■ Has your address changed or is about to change?

Please let us know your new address as soon as possible and

you will thus help us avoid additional expenses.

Thank you very much!

13

Do you find our projects useful and would like to support us? There are a number of possible ways to help us support the poorest of the poor.

Donations for urgent ROKPA projects

Unrestricted donations for urgent ROKPA projects allow us flexibility

and to help exactly where it is currently needed the most.

Sponsorship of specific projects

With a sponsorship of a specific project you can support a specific

cause that you find most worthy.

Legacy

Many donors who support people in need want to continue their

good deeds after they‘ve passed away. A legacy, where part of the

inheritance goes to ROKPA, provides the best opportunity to do that.

Donations for special events

Fundraising at special events such as birthdays or anniversaries

provides another way to support us. We will be happy to send you

more information, brochures and payment slips.

Volunteer work

We are always looking for volunteers to support us at our head-

quarters in Zurich and sometimes also for assignments in the

countries where we have our projects. Current jobs can be found

on our website.

Shopping and donating

Do you do a lot of your shopping online? Why not start to combine it

with a donation to ROKPA without any additional cost to you?

Find more information at www.buynhelp.ch.

Tell others about ROKPA

Do you have a large number of friends or meet a lot of different

people at work? We will be happy to send you more copies of our

ROKPA Times to pass on. For fans of social media: Follow us on

Facebook and share our comments.

Company donations

Many corporations know about employee donation programs. Maybe

your employer can match your donation to ROKPA?

In memory of a loved one

Continue to commemorate the deceased with a donation to our

ROKPA projects.

Donated items

Does your company sell or give away office materials, IT or soft-

ware? We can always use these items and are happy to accept your

donations.

More information on various types of donations can be found under www.rokpa.org, ‘How I can help’. We are also happy to assist you

via email at info@rokpa.org or by phone under +41 44 262 68 88. We are looking forward to hear from you!

How you can help

14

Capacity building – with your donationAs a sponsor, you can get easily confused by the myriad of different aid organisations. You want to make sure that your donation is used for sustainable causes. How ROKPA works with your donation – a summary:

Every person should get a chance – sponsor and recipient at

eye level The goal of every ROKPA project is the same: to give all recipients a

chance to live a dignified life. They should have the opportunity to

provide for themselves and their families without constant worry

about their next meal. For us it is normal to have the necessary tools

to lead a fulfilled life: education, one or more advanced trainings,

more or less secure jobs in a fair work environment and a salary that

is often more than enough to pay for basic necessities. Enough, for

example, to help others who are less fortunate.

Providing for the future with education Children and teenagers are the weakest part of the chain in societies

and, at the same time, hold the highest potential. ROKPA therefore

focuses its efforts on the education of young people. With a targeted

selection of educational institutions to support, ROKPA focuses on

two goals: to increase people‘s chance to find a secure self sustaina-

ble job with which they can support themselves and their families,

and the education of children and teenagers to help them become

responsible adults who don’t only look out for themselves but also

care for the wellbeing of others.

Create self-sustaining projects Another way in which we ensure that your donations are sustainable

is the development of social business projects. This strategy is

specifically applied to the ROKPA projects in Nepal. The idea behind

it: We finance the development of businesses that become self

sustaining over time and won’t need additional financing. We have

achieved this goal in the cases of both the ROKPA Guest House and

the ROKPA Women‘s Workshop. The Guest House has developed so

well that it generates profit which is being used to finance other

ROKPA projects, especially the ROKPA Children’s Home.

Building capacity The main goal of all our projects is to empower the dependents so

they become independent and are able to help themselves later on.

Your donation is a long-term investment in people and their living

environments.

Thank you very much.

15

Thanks to ROKPA, many children and young people in Tibet and Nepal – at present

nearly 10,000 – receive an education every year. This is only possible with your help.

With your financial support we can provide effective support to the poorest of the poor.

Please help us to give them a better chance of leading a dignified life.

Giving a better chance for life

ROKPA Helping wherehelp is needed:sustainably,for over 35 years.

ROKPA INTERNATIONAL | Böcklinstrasse 27 | 8032 Zurich | Switzerland

Phone +41 44 2626888 | info@rokpa.org | www.rokpa.org | facebook.com/ROKPA.org

In Switzerland, donations to ROKPA are exempt from tax. ROKPA has been ZEWO certified since 2004.

You can make a donation to this account:

455090-11-1, Credit Suisse, CH-8070 Zurich, Switzerland

IBAN CH73 0483 5045 5090 1100 1, clearing number 4835, BIC CRESCHZZ80A

SMS donation

of up to CHF 99.–

ROKPA XX

(amount, numbers only)

to 488.

Example for donation

of CHF 20.–:

ROKPA 20 to 488