Tractor Mechanics Training Programme starts up

In the last few years, the Chinese government has been stepping up its resettlement programme for Tibetan nomads. The result of this is that many nomads are now unable to continue their traditional lifestyle as pastoralists. With most having received little education, they thus find it hard to compete in the modern chinese economy.

One of Vista’s aims is to provide a future for these young nomads, by teaching them skills they can utilise to earn a living. We have been running a motorbike mechanic training programme for 4 years now, and the new extension to the VISTA building will at last give it a permanent home. The programme has so far taught over 100 illiterate nomads and given them a way to provide for themselves and their families.

This year we started training nomads in tractor maintenance. Tractors are widely used in East Tibet, for everything from carrying materials to building site, to acting as primitive buses for hard to reach areas. Our first class, currently ongoing, has 12 students being trained in how to maintain and repair these vehicles.