Despite all the adversities, the Asia Germany Association, based in Stockdorf, continues to write its success story: A total of 81,000 euros have been invested in training sponsorships and medical equipment.
Stockdorf -
Dr. Wolfgang Schweiger from Gauting founded the Asia association two decades ago. At that time he was traveling the world as an emergency doctor. To this day he is chairman of the association. But despite all the joy about generous donations, he has to announce in the current member's letter that the aid projects in the Tibetan regions of China had to end in August this year. The regulations and controls on the part of the authorities have become stronger and stronger. It is no longer possible to continue the work, regrets the 53-year-old Gautinger. All the more so since it all began in Nepal. Because when he founded the non-governmental organization (NGO) together with his wife, the cellist Gisela Auspurg, and her father 20 years ago, the doctor was also on duty in Nepal.At the same time, Asia Germany has given a large number of Tibetan children and young people an excellent education over the past two decades.
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The training sponsorships in Tibet had to be given up.
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“Despite all the adversities,” writes Schweiger, 2020 was a successful year for Asia Germany. The association received donations totaling almost 81,000 euros. Nevertheless, the pandemic had a massive impact on the work of the association. Immense hardship prevails in the target countries. "We received shocking reports from Nepal, which was hit with full force by the Indian Delta mutant," said the pulmonologist and senior doctor of palliative medicine at the district clinic. Through the contacts of the well-connected 53-year-old, Asia was able to send life-saving oxygen concentrators worth 37,000 euros to Nepal, even though the European market for them was almost empty. Asia also sent ten ventilators worth 15,000 euros to Nepal - thanks to the logistics company FedEx, as there were hardly any flight connections.In Bhutan, the development association again co-financed greenhouses in order to help alleviate poverty through organic farming. Despite a military coup and civil war-like conditions, Asia continues to be present in Myanmar to support agricultural projects to support the population.
After the political end of sponsorships in the Tibetan regions of China, Asia is currently looking for sponsors to train young Tibetans in exile in Nepal and India, Schweiger said in an interview with Starnberg Mercury.
Because their need has also increased sharply due to the pandemic without tourism.
For the same reason, the benefit concert planned for the anniversary of the Stockdorf Association with the well-known cellist Wen-Sinn Yang and the Association for Culture in Seefeld Castle had to be postponed.
“Unfortunately,” regrets Schweiger.
The 53-year-old does not give up courage.
He relies on sponsors for his friends' association Asia Germany.
CHRISTINE CLESS-WESLE
Donation account:
Kreissparkasse München Starnberg Ebersberg, IBAN DE44 7025 0150 0010 5312 26, BIC: BYLADEM1KMS