| Dear friends: Odiyana Institute and Tibetan Aid Foundation, Inc, warmly invite you and your friends to our 4th Annual Fundraising Dinner on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Please join us in celebrating the meaningful work of the Odiyana Health and Education Project, established in 2022. We are excited to update you on the great progress that has been made due to your generous financial support. We look forward to sharing more about the project’s long-term vision, which meets the urgent needs of the people in the Arunachal and Assam regions of India. For more updates, please Click here. We invite your participation in this meritorious event by sending good thoughts, raising awareness about our ongoing work, and financially supporting our current project, the Odiyana Children’s School, by attending our dinner in person or online. When: Saturday, November 15th, 2025, from 5:30-8:30pm Where: Yoga Soup, 28 Parker Way. Santa Barbara, CA |
| Evening Program Highlights: 1. Opening Talk Tulku Orgyen Rinpoche will share insights on the project’s vision. 2. Project Updates & Slideshow Presentation Dorjee Tsewang, Project Coordinator, will present recent progress and upcoming plans. 3 Stories from the Field Personal reflections and experiences from members who recently visited the project site. 4. Silent Auction Featuring a selection of Dharma-related items and other meaningful offerings. 5. Live Music Performance Enjoy uplifting and inspiring music throughout the evening. 6. Tibetan & Bhutanese Circle Dancing Join in traditional dances celebrating community and joy. 7. Himalayan Cuisine A delicious variety of traditional Himalayan foods and beverages will be served. Please join us! The party is not the same without you! How to attend the dinner:In person:Tickets for the dinner are $45 per person. Proceeds will go entirely to the Odiyana Children’s School. To purchase tickets in advance, please Click here. Tickets will also be available at the door. Online:The whole event can be viewed online. If you can’t participate in person and still wish to be part of the event, we request that you to register for the event. Please Click here. Make a general donationIf you are unable to attend the dinner, but would still like to make a general donation for this project, you can do so. Please Click here. Donations can also be made by check. Please make checks out to Odiyana Institute and mail them to 1524 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Odiyana Institute is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. We will send out a tax-deductible receipt for all donations above $100. Whether you are able to donate money or in-kind support, please consider giving with an open and compassionate heart. Silent auctionWe are gathering dharma-related items, such as statues, thangkas, books and more, for our silent auction. If you have items that you are no longer using and would like to donate, please contact Sangay Wangmo at odiyanatsokday@gmail.com with a photo and description of the item. Wish ListIn this wish list we have broken down the different needs of the Odiyana Children’s school and Ati Jangchub Choeling Monastery. If you could sponsor individual items please Click Here. |
| Updates on Completion and Ongoing Works for You Progress on the TempleThe Odiyana Health and Education Project has three distinct parts: 1.Odiyana Clinic2.Odiyana Children’s School 3.Odiyana Temple Completion and Free Medical Health Camp1. Upon the completion of the Odiyana Clinic, a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on December 4, 2023. Since then, we have organized Free Medical Health Camps for the general public on December 5–6, 2023, and January 12–13, 2025, led by Tibetan doctors Phuntsok Wangdue and Tenzin Gonpo, together with Marillyn S. Stoner, RN, and four local assistant nurses. Free distribution of Tibetan medicines were made for all patients in real need. For details, please visit us at: https://odiyanacs.org/clinic/ 2. With the support of the State Government, the temple access road connecting to the main highway has been completed. 3. We’re also pleased to share that the Prayer Wheel House has been completed, with three large prayer wheels containing millions of sacred mantras. Ever since residents and visitors alike enjoy turning the Dharma Wheel while sitting and doing their Dharma practice. The Dharma Wheel House with its 20 + sitting capacity has been a sacred space particularly for elder community members. Ongoing Construction Works:As part of the Odiyana Children’s School project, construction of the students’ quarters commenced early last year. The three-story facility is designed to accommodate over 50 student residents and is expected to be completed next month, in November. Upon completion, students and teachers will relocate to the newly constructed residence. For more details please click here. 2. With the support of the State Government, construction of a retaining wall along the river is underway and scheduled for completion early next year. 3.Construction of the Odiyana Temple, Ati Jangchub Choeling, began on the auspicious day of November 15, 2023, and is currently in progress. Upon completion, the temple will serve as a gathering place for local Buddhist communities and visiting devotees like. Resident Monks Enjoying Breakfast Words of Appreciation for Volunteers: For the past two years, our sangha members have enthusiastically volunteered their time to teach English, math, arts, yoga, and various other skills to our students.We sincerely thank Kyndra Irwin, Nurha Des, Talia Pinnel, Norbu Kangchen, Tsering Wynne, Clair Woolson and Marilyn Stoner for their dedicated efforts.We hope that more volunteers will come forward this year and in the future to continue this wonderful work. Questions and volunteersIf you have any questions about the dinner or to volunteer, please contact Marilyn Stoner at nursestoner@gmail.com. Activities on the Land:1. Everyday: Young monks at the Odiyana Children’s school study reading, writing, art and rituals in Tibetan. They also engage in all other sorts of Dharma activities including prayers and meditation. Students follow a well established schedule, starting from 6 in the morning till 8PM led by the head teacher Loppon Pema Norbu from Namdrolling Monastery and our resident teachers: Lama Ngawang, Lama Jurmey and other visiting teachers. 2. Monthly: Since the first ceremony, held in February of 2022, monthly Dharma events such as Guru Rinpoche Day, Dakini Day, Eighth Day, New Moon Day and Full Moon days, which are led by Lama Rigdzin Phuntsok, are celebrated. Other visiting Lamas have also graced the land and engaged in Dharma activities. All these have been a great benefit for the local Buddhist communities and visitors alike. 3.Our project site has been a much visited and favorable place for many people in the region, including regional public leaders, and other local officials. Upcoming Events:1. In early January of 2026, Tulku Orgyen Rinpoche will visit the land along with Dharma practitioners from different countries and Dharma events will be held here and at the temple, Deden Tashi Choeling in Pemakod. During this time, free distribution of medicines and other health care will be provided to the general public at the Odiyana Clinic. 2.There will also be winter activities aimed at connecting with new generations in the Buddhist community. These include a Tibetan New Year celebration and other public events. Welcoming your Expertise:Members of the Odiyana Charitable Society in India welcome you to visit the land in order to share your knowledge and expertise. Perhaps you may be able to teach your language or skills to the young monks at Odiyana Children’s School or to other youth in the area. Maybe you have experience in healing work or other medical fields, or you are able to contribute medical supplies. Anything of this nature will be highly appreciated. Thank you for your support. Sincerely Yours,Dorjee TsewangProject Coordinator and Founder/President of Tibetan Aid Foundation. For more illustrative info about our project , please visit Little Norbu’s message |
Tibetan Aid Foundation, Inc 