These beautiful children show exceptional grace and courage in the face of unbelievable hardship due to the Chinese oppression of their homeland. All of these children come from an exiled people who fled Tibet when the communist Chinese invaded their country in 1950 and began a violent and merciless persecution of a peace-loving people in 1959.  Some of these children and their families are among the fortunate ones who were able to escape and find refuge in neighboring countries; however, they are faced with the reality of poverty, living in refugee settlements. During this time of exile, they and their countrymen try as best they can to maintain their Tibetan language, culture, religion, and way of life.  Perhaps one day these little ones will be able to return to Tibet, free from communist oppression.

Ani Dolma

Ani Pemba

Ani Thupten Paldon is my first granddaughter from the Keydong Thukche Choeling Nunnery in Kathmandu, Nepal. She's now 20 years old and was born in exile in an area that even today the Communist Chinese are trying to claim for themselves. In 2009, this precious little girl left her parents and one older and one younger sister to enter a Buddhist convent where she would receive an education and have a future that she could never have had in her exile home.

Ani Tsering Bhuti is my granddaughter and is now 21 years old, an orphan who at the age of 4 escaped from Tibet. She said it was "very scary." During the 2012 Christmas season she wrote to say she couldn't remember what it was like to have a father, so she asked if I would be her "dad." What a wonderful Christmas gift!  She is now my first daughter ("bu-mo") who has a very happy and proud dad who loves her very much. Tsering has one older and one younger sister; a cousin is also a nun in the same nunnery.

My 2nd granddaughter, Ani Ngawang Dolker, is now 22 years old and was born in Tibet where her parents, one older and one younger sister, and one younger brother still live.  She endured a horrendous journey to freedom, hiding in a sack in the bottom of a vegetable cart while escaping the violent military invasion of Tibet by the communist Chinese.

Ani Thupten Ngagdon is my granddaughter. She is an excellent student. The word that best describes this young lady is "elegant;" her poise and bearing are absolutely phenomenal for a 24 year old.  She is from Tawang, India, and has 1 younger brother and 2 older sisters. When she was told by Ani Zedhen that I wished to adopt her, she said in a happy and excited voice, "Ani Zedhen is kidding!"  Apparently, many of these deserving young nuns pass years without a sponsor.  So, I am extremely honored that she agreed to be my granddaughter.

Little Ani Jampa Sangmo, my granddaughter, is now 18 years old and is so affectionate. While doing a walking tour outside the nunnery, she insisted on holding my hand - not to keep her safe, but she wanted to keep me safe and make sure I didn't get lost, so I call her  my "protector." She comes from Tawang, India. Her father is unemployed, her mother does farming, and she has one older brother.  She says she is very happy to become a nun and really wants to study.

My beautiful sister, Maureen, accompanied me to the Keydong Thukche Choeling nunnery in January 2013. The little ones immediately fell in love with her and call her "mo-mo," Tibetan for "Grandma."

You too can sponsor one or more of these deserving little nuns!  The nunnery asks only $300 per year, however, it would be nice to include a little extra so that your sponsored nun can get some needed school supplies and an occasional treat.  It's best to contact the Nunnery directly and they will send you  the bio-data and photo of one of these children. 

On 28th October 1991, the U.S. Congress, under a Foreign Authorization Act, passed the resolution wherein they recognized "Tibet, including those areas incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai, an  "Occupied Country" under the established principal of international law." The resolution further stated that Tibet's true representative is the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile as recognized by the Tibetan people.