Mission and Goals:

'We try to build bridges between cultures, and above all between people.'

M.O.S.T. was officially founded as a civic association in 2004 in Ostrava as a response to a growing interest in supporting Tibet among the Czech public. M.O.S.T. supports Tibet and Tibetan refugees in India as well as young Buddhist monks in the Indian Himalayas. The association raises awareness about Tibet by holding public education programs all year round. Every March, M.O.S. T. holds a 'Festival ProTibet' that is the highlight of the season and the group's signature event. The association is registered in Ostrava and we have a branch office in Olomouc. We have part-time staff in both cities and corps of volunteers in Prague, Opava, Pardubice and Brno. Since 2009, the M.O.S.T. NGO has been receiving support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under its bilateral development programs.

Since 2006, M.O.S.T. projects have raised and donated a total of over 2 million CZK.


Principal Projects and Activities:

In Indian Himalayas:

'Distant Godparenthood', Indian Himalayas
'Distant Godparenthood' has been our largest project since 2007. Over 200 children and elderly are currently receiving sponsor support and the number is growing. Donations go to the Buddhist monastery schools in Tikse and Diskit in Ladakh, the Ki monastery in the Spiti valley and to the women's monastery in Dehradun. The children's village Tibetan Homes Foundation in Mussoorie by Dehradun and other Tibetan children's villages in Ladakh are also receiving our support. Donations are used to purchase food, clothing, medicines and to cover accommodation and education expenses.

Building a monastic school for nuns in Kaza, Sakya school
Location: the town of Kaza, Spiti valley, Indian Himalayas, state Himachal Pradesh
Since 2006, we have been partnering with the Sapan Foundation in this extensive project. The school is going to become an important center of culture and community life for the entire valley. It will serve as more than just a school - there will be a health clinic, a library and a museum.

Our partners also include: Amnesty International CR, Lungta NGO, NGO Potala, Palacky University Olomouc, the Brontosaurus Movement, Students For a Free Tibet, Tibetan Homes Foundation, FairTrade and others.


In the Czech Republic:

Festival pro Tibet, Czech Republic
Since 2002, we have been holding our annual 'Festival ProTibet'. It takes place in several locations at the same time. Every March, it is held in Prague, Ostrava, Olomouc, Pardubice, and other cities. The Festival raises awareness about people in Tibet and Indian Himalayas and their lives, about the human rights abuses in the area and about M.O.S.T.'s international development projects in the form of lectures, exhibitions, concerts, readings and film projections. Among the festival guests we have been able to welcome Tibetan refugees, Buddhist monks, and celebrities such as the actress Květa Fialová or the director Viliam Poltikovič. Politicians Kateřina Jacques and Pavel Bém, the Prague Mayor, have also accepted our invitations in the past.

Sand Mandala, Czech Republic, 2006
In 2006, in cooperation with NGO Lungta, we invited six Buddhist monks from the Tikse monastery in Ladakh to create sand mandalas in Prague and in Ostrava. The event raised donations totaling CZK 46,000 for Buddhist monastery schools in Ladakh.

Sand Mandala, Czech Republic, 2009
Eight Buddhist Monks from a monastery in Lhodak Gaden Dhonnyiling monastery, India, created a sand mandala in Ostrava. They were able to take back CZK 70,000 in donations for the construction of a new monastery school.

Charitable Internet Auction 'Tibetan Art for Children'
We support Tibetan children in exile in India by selling their oil paintings on the internet.

Other:
Alternative Olympics - 2008
Ride Your Bike for Human Rights - 2008
It's not just about Tibet - 2008
A Book for Tibet - 2008
petitions - Petition for a Peaceful Solution for Tibet, 2008


Staffing:

From 2004 to 2008, M.O.S.T. was run entirely by volunteers. Since 2009, the organization has been employing 2 part-time staff members.

Address: Tilschove St. 5, Ostrava - Marianské Hory, CZ 709 00
Phone: 00420 744 899 242
E-mail: info@protibet.org
Web: www.ProTibet.org


Contact Person:

Name: Ing. Jana Neborakova (Project Coordinator)
E-mail: jana@protibet.org
Mobile: 00420 744 899 242

Name: Ing. Petr Dasek (Head of Association)
E-mail: petr@protibet.org
Mobile: 00420 603 730 272