Economic development in Kham means giving Tibetans the keys to preserving and advancing their own culture. We look for activities that do not degrade Tibet's natural environment and that take advantage of the natural talents and inclinations of the local people. Our current efforts:

• We're helping families build greenhouses to grow vegetables for home consumption and for the market.

• We are promoting and developing Tibetan handicrafts.

• Volunteer English teachers teach young people useful job skills.  Our program places volunteers in Shangrila County, in Yunnan Province.

• We are seeking to promote ecologically and culturally sensitive tourism in Kham through mentoring and business development programs, a tourism survey, and publicized the trekking and adventure travel potential of the region.

See also: this article about micro-credit lending in Tibetan areas.