In 2017, we renewed Wool-Aid support for young monks and elders at the Kyegu Monastery in Gamrau, India.

These young monks are boys of Tibetan background who are living at a branch of the Kyegu Monastery in India, about 9 hours drive north of Delhi, that was founded in 1965 by Tibetan refugees who fled Kyegu.

There are now 32 young monks ages 7 to 17 living there (up from 19 a few years ago), plus 6 elders. Winter weather in Gamrau is severe, and this group has always struggled to stay warm.

We supported them this winter with:

45 sweaters
80 pairs of socks
47 hats
40 pairs of mittens
43 blankets (40″ × 60″ or so)

Colors appropriate for the young monks in Gamrau are maroon, red, brown, and gold. Blankets can be in other colors, and even multi-colored.

These young monks are happy with their new, warm blankets and clothing. They will be much warmer thanks to Wool-Aid!

In 2017, Wool-Aid shipped wonderful woolly warmth to children served by five different recipient organizations:

• Kyegu Monastery in Gamrau, India: 255 items
• Tibetan Nuns Project: 605 items
• Syria Relief: 1799 items
• Ladakh (India) children’s school and young nuns/monks: 2145 items
• Duo Duo Monastery (Tibet): 199 items

This totals 5003 items shipped out in 2017. Our large winter shipments have rolled over into 2018 for those organizations that can receive and distribute our items throughout the winter, including Syria Relief and the Duo Duo Monastery.

In 2016, Wool-Aid is supporting children in several countries around the world, partnering with a wonderful group of recipient organizations who have staff and volunteers on the ground in each location, working to get our aid to the children who need it most.

Your lovingly crafted hats, socks, sweaters, vests, mittens, and blankets will be sent to help …

… children in Nepal who are living in temporary or substandard housing after the devastating earthquake earlier this year. Warm clothing is distributed to children of all ages by a monastery in Kathmandu.

… young monks in Nepal and India who have come to their monastery to study and train, often sent by their families as a way to keep them fed. The children range in age from four to sixteen. Appropriate colors for clothing for the young monks are red, maroon, brown, tan, and gold.

… children in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, through the Dulaan Project. Many of these children live in orphanages; others are homeless and living on the streets. Wool-Aid clothing is sent in a wide range of sizes to support these children and keep them warm.

… children within Syria who have been displaced by the conflict in their own country. Wool-Aid is focused on children 9 to 12 years old, sending warm woolen hats, mittens, and vests to keep them warm. Wool-Aid items for other age groups, including clothing and blankets for infants and toddlers, will also be sent for distribution. We are working with Syria Relief, which provides care and support to these vulnerable children in hopes of curbing mass migration to refugee camps outside their own country.

… children in Afghanistan who live in orphanages in and around Kabul, or in refugee camps there. Wool-Aid is sending warm woolen clothing and blankets to keep them warm. All of our focus items are needed in Afghanistan, especially for children 5 to 12 years old. We are working with the Lamia Afghan Foundation, which has airlifted millions of tons of relief aid to people in Afghanistan since 2010.