Our philosophy of assistance

Grassroots

TRAS advocates a grassroots approach to assisting Himalayan communities in need. Local partner organizations in Tibet, Nepal, and northern India have full responsibility for identifying the health care and education needs in their communities, for proposing and developing projects to meet those needs, and for implementing the projects using local resources and staff.

TRAS therefore does not suggest or impose project ideas or methodologies on its partners, and provides guidance only when called upon.

Through its grassroots approach to development, TRAS projects have been able to evolve with changing times and needs of Himalayan communities, and promote their sustainable future in culturally appropriate ways.

Volunteerism

TRAS is run on a volunteer basis by a board of directors, consisting largely of doctors and teachers. Most of the directors have had first-hand experience in the region.