In the QNNP Trace Foundation collaborated with the Lhasa QNNP Working Commission Office to implement an integrated project with four focus areas: education, capacity development, rural health-care, and natural resource management. The project introduced participatory development techniques to rural Tibetan communities and governments, and adapted them to allow local people to determine their own development directions. The provision of learning opportunities and participation in locally-formed user groups were key elements in building local capacity and striving for sustainable development. The project promoted full participation in the process of decision-making as the core of poverty reduction.

Activities in education and capacity development attempt to improve the availability and quality of education and increase local participation, while rural health service activities improve delivery of health-care in remote areas through community-managed treatment and prevention projects. The project raised awareness of natural resource management as a cornerstone of rural community development. With a focus is on training, cooperation at the community level, and seeking environmentally-friendly alternatives to economic activity.

In Hualong County of Qinghai Province's Haidong Region, Trace Foundation staff are working with local officials and community leaders to develop an integrated rural development project among the Tibetan villages of Jinyuan County.

Small-scale projects, carried out in partnership with local people, focus on education, health care and income-generation. Activities include training in Maternal Child Health care, renovation of local schools and improvement of drinking-water supply. In 2002, 634 women from the 14 villages of Jinyuan Township took part in a series of workshops run by local doctors and project staff that covered basic Maternal Child Health issues.

Recent Grants in Rural Community Development

Sichuan Natural Resource Conservation and Development Training Center (SCTC)
Forestry College, Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province

For training QNNP staff and QNNP county leaders in participatory, community-based techniques of natural resource management. In September 2000, SCTC staff conducted a workshop in Dingjie County on participatory, community-based techniques of natural resource management for county-level officials from the QNNP counties. In addition, after familiarization visits to all four QNNP counties, SCTC designed and conducted a six-week training program for ten people involved in natural resource management in the four QNNP counties. The training was held at SCTC campus during the winter of 2000-2001.

Amount of Support: $23,719

Dingjie County Middle School
Dingjie (Tingkye) County, Rikaze (Shigatse) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For the purchase of examination preparation materials. The school prepared all materials, provided teachers, and implemented examination preparation classes.

Amount of Support: $611

Dingjie Education Bureau
Dingjie (Tingkye) )County, Rikaze (Shigatse) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For academic, computer, and English-language training for five individuals from Dingjie County.

Amount of Support: $2,557

Dingjie Education Bureau
Dingjie (Tingkye) County, Rikaze (Shigatse) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For high school preparation courses and student awards. The Education Bureau provided classrooms and qualified teachers, implemented the preparation classes, selected materials, and arranged school repair and upkeep.

Amount of Support: $1,316

Dingjie Education Bureau
Dingjie (Tingkye) County, Rikaze (Shigatse) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For poverty alleviation and conservation training to 20 individuals from Dingjie County over a four-year period. Project managed and administered by the Education Bureau.

Amount of Support: $63,198

Dingjie County Qomolangma National Nature Preserve Management Bureau
Dingjie (Tingkye) County, Rikaze (Shigatse) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For administrative costs and a poverty alleviation project consisting of a series of small village-run shops and businesses. Township officials monitored accounts.

Amount of Support: $5,359

Dingjie Health Bureau
Dingjie (Tingkye) County, Rikaze (Shigatse) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For a health center project aimed at providing primary health-care services. Individual members pay membership fees; the township organized staffing and operation; and the Health Bureau arranged health workers for clinic doctor training and provided an annual medicine or cash contribution.

Amount of Support: $8,069

Villages in Minhe County
Minhe (Kamalog) County, Haidong (Tsoshar) Prefecture, Qinghai (Tsongon) Province

For construction of water boxes by villages in Zhongchuan and Qingye Townships and Maying District; and water cisterns by villages in Zhongchuan Township. Villagers provided all labor necessary for construction; and in the case of water cisterns also contributed $27.24 per family to hire skilled laborers.

Amounts of Support: $2,591 and $7,234

Jingyuan Township Government
Jingyuan Township, Hualong County, Haidong Region, Qinghai Province

For preparation of materials for a workshop on maternal and child health care, including brochure, video compact disk, a workshop teaching aid materials, a medical survey form and miscellaneous expenses for workshop preparation and implementation.

Amount of Support: $6,301

Jingyuan Township Government
Jingyuan Township, Hualong County, Haidong Region, Qinghai Province

For building repairs and purchase of sports equipment at Jingyuan Central Primary School and for building construction and renovation at village primary schools in Dabma, Zongjo Worje, Thuwatsang and Thagkar Gya villages. Local government ensured that all schools were staffed with qualified teachers. Jingyuan Township
Government was responsible for building maintenance and formed a Township Education Work Team to encourage school attendance. Each village also formed a project management team to manage village participation in the project.

Amount of Support: US$21,201

Jingyuan Township Government
Jingyuan Township, Hualong County, Haidong Region, Qinghai Province

To construct a greenhouse at Jingyuan Central Primary School and repair and upgrade greenhouses at village primary schools in Thagkar Gya, Upper Korba and Lower Korba villages. The Township Primary School formed a committee to manage participation in the project.

Amount of Support: US$2,694