http://tibetcollection.com

Gu-Chu-Sum has supplied Tibet Collection with traditional handmade prayer flags for almost 20 years. Purchases of their prayer flags through Tibet Collection have consistently helped to support their Important humanitarian mission.

WHAT IS "GU-CHU-SUM"?

The Gu-Chu-Sum (9-10-3) Movement of Tibet was established in 1991 in
Dharamsala, India, by ex-political prisoners of the Tibetan freedom movement. It was first organized by monks, nuns and lay people with a heartfelt wish to help Tibetans remaining in prisons in Tibet, and to provide support to ex-political prisoners who had journeyed to India to escape Chinese-occupied Tibet.

Gu-Chu-Sum was named according to the months and dates of three significant
demonstrations led by monks from the three main monasteries in Lhasa. 'Gu' is for September 27, 1987, 'Chu' is for October 1, 1987 and 'Sum' is for March 5, 1988. Many of those who were imprisoned and tortured either died or were disabled. Currently, more than 1,200 prisoners of conscience are suffering torture, cold and starvation in Chinese prisons in Tibet.

To begin to raise funds and help rehabilitate recent arrivals from Tibet, a tailoring workshop was established by Gu-Chu-Sum in 1991. Tibet Collection was one of their first customers, buying garment accessories and prayer flags. Gu-Chu-Sum tailors also attended tailoring training programs being run by Tibet Collection at the time. Today, Gu-Chu-Sum runs a significant garment production center in Dharamsala. A restaurant was also established in Dharamsala to provide training in food preparation and service as well as employment opportunities to members.

Gu-Chu-Sum routinely publishes new issues of Tibetan Envoy, a journal focusing on the current human rights situation in Tibet. Gu-Chu-Sum organizes many public events for both the Tibetan exile community in India and native Indians to promote awareness and action on behalf of political prisoners in Tibet. Recently, they were one of the leading organizations involved in demonstrations against the passage of the Olympic torch through New Delhi.

Today, Gu-Chu-Sum effectively helps to provide housing, employment, medical care, education, job training and economic assistance to ex-political prisoners. Their goal is to meet immediate needs while fostering ultimate self-sufficiency and self-reliance.

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