Introduction of Nihon Kham Kikin
		Place of Activities in Chattring Prefecture「Eastern Tibet Kham」incorporated into Gansu,Sichuan Province/ China
	Our society started to work inside Eastern Tibet (China) in July 2000 under the Japanese name , Nihon Kham Kikin.We are now working inside Chattring and Derong Prefecture. It is a 4 hours flight to Kumming and from there another 1 hours flight to Gyalthang,the door to Kham,Eastern Tibet.From there Derong and Chattring can be reached by bus or car. Kham has been incorporated into Chinese provinces in 1950. The men from Kham are being called Khampa and are famous for their tall and sturdy stature and strong character. Kham is a beautiful wild place with lot`s of mountains and forests,medicinal herbs,matsutake mushrooms etc. The first place of our work was in Chattring Prefecture,which is 2800m above sealevel.In summer the temperature isn`t going over 25'C,therefore inside homes or on shadowy places it`s cool.In September it`sstill warm and roses,cosmos,dalia etc are blooming in gardens,When going up the mountains edelweiss and bluepoppy can be found. Autumn starts in october and all the trees are turning red and yellow.Int the early morning and evening it`squite cold therefore leatherwere,downjacket are being recommanded. In november it becomes winter and snow is falling. From november to april constructionworks cannot continue because of the cold and frozen surface. Until recently plenty of trees had been cut to be transported to China proper,but these days it`s forbidden to cut any tree without special permission form the government. Even badly needed timber for building private houses fall under this law,therefore it`s very difficult to build even ones own new home.A special permit has to be obtained from the government to get the needed timber.But thanksto this law the mountaislopes are becoming green again There are three special mountains in Chattring, natural spas and one hotel with a pool,using water from a spa,which are being well frequented by the local Tibetans. Until 2000 it was forbidden for foreigners to visit this part of Kham. These days a few westerners are visiting and staying in Chattring on their way to Lithang.But there is nobody who speaks English in this place,only Tibetan and Chinese .therefore foreigners who know neither Tibetan nor Chinese have to use their hands to make themselve understood or have to take a guide with them from an other place. Most of the Tibetans here are farmers.Between April and September one or two familymembers take their yaks,cows,sheeps,pigs and hens up to the mountains to let them grass and get fat in a natural environment.In October all the animals ,except the yaks ,are being brought back home.As farmers don`t have much cash,all healthy familymembers go up the mountains to look for matsutake mushrooms in July and August,which they sell.All the matsutake are being exported to Japan. thanks to this income,the farmers can buy eatables they cannot grow themself. Most of the farmers who are over 20 are illiterate,but from September 2004 on every child has to attend school for 9 years,which will become quite a burden to poor parents.The first 6 years are free,but still the parents have to pay for schoolbooks,stationaries etc and when the child enters junior highschool,they will not only have to pay schoolfees but also feesfor the dormitory,books,stationaries etc. Therefore it will become more and more inportant for our society to find sponsors for needy junior higschool students in Chattring andDerong prefecture,so they can continue with their studies without that their parents have to borrow money they won`t be able to give back anymore. About our work、 local volunteers and the local population In Lhasa there are plenty of foreign NGO`s who are helping the local people but in Chattring there is not one foreign organsiation except ours,therefore the local people and government are very greatful for our work and are very co-operative. The local TV station is broadcasting every year about our work in their newsprogram and our work has even been introduced in the Sichuan newspaper.While working in their own profession,our 4 local volunteerstaff are working free of charge for our society. A farmer`s life Young farmer women have to get up at around 3 AM to go and fetch fire wood far away from home to come back before noon.The grandmothers (between 30 and 40) ae looking after their grandchildren and do the cooking.Other young familymembers have to go and fetch water,as no home has running water in the countryside. In the afternoon some famiymembers are looking after the fields.Young healthy men are doing some part-time job in roadmaking, housebuilding etc. to get some badly needed cash.