The workarea of Gesarfund: Kham and Golok
The work of the Foundation covers the areas of Kham and Golok, in the south of the province of Qinghai. They are among the poorest areas in China. The population is 90% ethnic Tibetan, of whom 60% are nomadic yak, horse and goat herders; 25% are farmers, and 15% consists of monks and people working in construction, trade and services. The remote villages are populated mainly in the winter, when the nomads return to their traditional high-altitude pastures.
Economy
The economic situation of the area is so bad that many people leave the area to work elsewhere to and send money to their families. This situation also encourages young people to leave the area for good- a "brain drain" severely reducing chances of improving the economic situation.
Medical care
Medical care is concentrated in cities where less than 10% of the population lives. This care is insufficient to meet the needs of the population in inaccessible areas. The main health problems are related to chronic intestinal infections, tuberculosis, hepatitis, cataract, child care and chronic diseases related to life at high altitude. Maternal and child mortality rates are among the highest in the world.
Poverty and high mortality among women and young children go hand in hand. Few can afford medical care. And high mortality rates among women generate further social and economic problems.
Education
The few schools are usually boarding institutions, constructed out of very primitive materials , and in places where not all children can attend. Only 10% of the population can read and write their own Tibetan language.
Infrastructure
The strategy of the Chinese government is first to build infrastructure such as roads and communication systems. The idea is that infrastructure will lead to more trade and more development. In this way in 1986 a north-south connection was built to Yushu county. This has however brought little improvement in the lives of people living in more remote areas, in terms of health, education or economy. Improvements in living conditions are mainly restricted to the (few) cities. Approximately 60% of villages have no electricity. Most transport is still via horseback or trucks on poorly maintained dirt roads.