The Tibetan Village Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating poverty in Tibet through healthcare, education and other sustainable development projects which enable Tibetans to live self-sufficient lives. One of the Tibetan founders now works at The Sustainable Village and helps plan our work in Tibet. We're funding phase one of the Tibetan Village Project by training two Tibetans in photovoltaic installation and maintenance and supplying solar lighting systems in Tibet.

Typically, a portable PV system costs a villager the equivalent of six months’ income. Fortunately, many of the villages that the Tibetan Village Project supports have been able to purchase PV systems to provide them with their lighting needs but none of them have the skills to maintain these costly but much needed systems.


Today, 80% of rural Tibetans who don't have proper lighting use diesel to fuel their lamps despite the fact that diesel fumes are a serious health hazard. Says one villager, "My phlegm is black every morning from burning diesel.” Diesel is also expensive and simply unaffordable for many. By contrast, solar power is cost efficient, poses no health or fire hazard, and does not lead to injuries caused by tripping over diesel-fueled lamps at night. To donate or volunteer, please see www.tibetanvillageproject.org