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Category:
Organizations >
Animal Rescue > Animal Welfare
The seeds for Tibetan Volunteers For Animals (TVA) were sown in the year 2000 by Rapsel Tsariwa. Whilst visiting Nepal in 1999, Rapsel witnessed hundreds of innocent animals being killed for sacrifices in Hindu temples and for human consumption. This experience evoked in him a strong compassion for animals.
Upon his return to the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies at Varanasi he began to work and care for stray dogs in the campus. His service was not restricted to dogs but was extended to all the animals, as well as homeless people who lived in the nearby area. Later, some of his friends joined hands with him and started a treatment program for stray animals, treating them for worms and wounds. They encouraged their fellow students to contribute money for the treatment and care of these animals and many students came forward with contributions.
Slowly their service became recognized by others and when a wounded dog entered their hostel students would call out to Rapsel and he and his friends would come to help. They thereby became known as Dogs' Docs .
From this time on there was no looking back. So far under the able and continued guidance of Rapsel, TVA has distributed two pro-vegetarian booklets, produced and distributed a video documentary on animal rights and conducted several photo exhibitions.
Rapsel has traveled to numerous Tibetan Settlements, schools and monasteries in India conducting campaigns and giving presentations to tens of thousands of people.
The core mission of Tibetan Volunteers for Animals is to spread the message that animals have equal rights to live like humans and encourage Tibetans to sign a life-long commitment to give up the eating of meat. Over 14,000 signatures have been collected so far, the majority of which were presented to H.H. the Dalai Lama on his 70th birthday on July 6th, 2004.
So far the activities of Tibetan Volunteers for Animals have been largely funded by donations from the private office of H.H. the Dalai Lama, as well as private individuals. Dzogchen Monastery in Kollegal graciously donated the funds for TVA's first publication The Remedy For Cold Heart. The second printing of 20,000 was underwritten by His Holiness' Private Office as was printing of The Voice For The Voiceless.
Tibetan Volunteers for Animals' main aims and objectives are:
a) To foster the understanding that all sentient beings on Earth have an equal right of life from the smallest of ants to the largest of animals like the elephant or whale.
b) To educate Tibetan youth about Vegetarianism.
c) To encourage Tibetans to become Vegetarian.
d) To contribute to the protection of the environment and assist in the production of world peace.
We earnestly hope that with your gracious support we will live up to our dreams and objectives. We would like to thank all the individuals, organizations and institutes for their support and encouragement and request them to continue their generosity in the coming years.
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This page was last modified on 10/19/2005.
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