Save the Children began working in the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1990. We work closely with government departments at municipal and county level. Our work focuses on education and health, with a strong emphasis on ensuring respect for children’s rights. We’re also providing nutrition training for teachers and local villagers, and helping to build water and sanitation systems.

Let us transport you to the highlands of Tibet, where your gifts are making one girl’s dream a reality.

It’s Sunday, an ordinary day in the autumn of 2007. After driving for more than an hour we reach Duiling, village No 6 in Tibet’s remote Damshong County. Daylight is just breaking as we arrive. The village is bathed in beautiful early morning sunlight. The air is quite chilly, though.

The village stands at more than 40000 metres above sea level. Smoke begins to rise out of the chimneys into the clear blue sky. It’s a beautiful scene: the beginning of a new day in a typical Tibetan village.

Yudrun, 12, has returned to her village for the school holidays. Together with her brother she is herding 25 yaks towards grazing land, high up on the plateau. In the distance, we can hear the echo of melodious song and the mooing of the herd.

By the time we get to the top of the hill and find Yudrun, the sun is high in the sky. Yudrun is chatting with her friends. Nearby a herd of yaks stand gently grazing on the sparse grass. In the clear blue sky are white clouds, and in the background stands a majestic snow-capped mountain range.

With curiosity, Yudrun gradually starts conversing with me. I learn that she likes grazing the herd. She is especially happy with this particular yak herd because it belongs to her school.

Like most of the 322 pupils at Nyendrung Township No 2 Integrated Primary School, Yudrun boards at the school which is more than 30 kilometres from her home. Many of the children start boarding from as young as seven, and nutritious food is vital to keep them health and help them learn.

During summer 2007, Yudrun’s family took delivery of a herd of 25 adult and 25 young yaks bought with money donated by Save the Children supporters. Every year, Yudrun’s family will deliver 60kg of milk, 30kg of butter, 30kg of cheese and two yaks – 300kg of yak meat – to the school. Yudrun’s family will keep any surplus meat and dairy produce in return for caring for the herd.

“All students are very happy because they can have more milk and buttered tea, and they can eat yak meat. All this will help their healthy development,” says Mr Patse, Yudrun’s head teacher.

Since April 2007, Save theChildren has worked with local authorities in Damshong and Nyimo counties to improve nutrition at four schools. We’ve provided 102 adult female yaks, and 102 baby yaks, benefitting more than 10000 pupils – including Yudrun. Yudrun at home. Yudrun, 12, reading on her bed at home. She is a Grade 6 student of Nyendrung Township No 2 Integrated Primary School, Tibet, China. She is reading a book titled 'Children say what makes a good teacher' produced by Save the Children. (Copyright: International Save the Children Alliance)

Unlike many students who want to become police officers, teachers or public servants, Yudrun says she wants to stay in her village and graze her herd when she grows up. “Don’t you want to do other work?” I ask. She doesn’t reply immediately but puts her head down and starts fiddling with the grass.

After a while she says in a shy, soft voice: “I love my village, and the yaks. In the future I’d like to look after the herd.”

Ice on the surface of the stream beside us reflects the sun as the stream winds its way down the hill into the village. Behind us lies a yak, chewing and gazing at us lazily. It seems as though she, too, would like to join in the conversation Yudron and I have been having.

By Ran Jianwei, communications officer with Save the Children’s Tibet programme

Yudrun and classmates. Yudrun, 12, left, and her classmates, tend to the yak herd, Tibet, China. They are Grade 6 students of Nyendrung Township No. 2 Integrated Primary School. On the weekend she helps her family to look after the school's 25 yaks which were donated by Save the Children. They are improving the remote rural children's health and nutrition by the milk, butter and meat from these yaks.

Yak fact file

Yaks are helping to improve children’s heath and nutrition in rural Tibet. They may not be the most obvious present but for some children and their families in Tibet, yaks are top of their wish list.

Yaks provide nutritious milk, butter and wool for knitting. They’re also used for ploughing and as an essential means of transport. Last year, 102 female yaks bought through the Wishlist were distributed between four Tibetan schools in the districts of Nyimo and Dashing. 1,200 children and 73 teachers are now benefiting from their nutritious milk and butter.

What a difference a Yak makes

For thousands of years, Tibetans have depended on yaks. High up on the Himalayan plateau, where temperatures drop to minus 20 degrees C and oxygen levels are 60 percent less than at sea level – not many livestock can survive. That’s why yaks really are a lifesaver.

Fuel – yak dung is dried and buried as fuel

Hair – the hair from the bottom half of a yak can be more than 30cms long. It’s used to make rope, sacks, blankets, clothing and tents.

Hide – the yak’s thick, tough hide makes excellent leather products – boots, bags, belts, saddles and straps.

Milk – yak milk is very rich in fat. It’s great for butter, yoghurt and cheese (chhurpi). Milk and buttered tea are an everyday staple.

Meat – yak meat is beef-like and high in protein. It’s dried or frozen to last throughout the year

Wool – yaks moult every spring, providing 2 to 3kg of wool per year for clothes, blankets, mats and fabric

Bones and skulls – even these are used for combs and handcrafts.

Buy a Yak from our Wish List

A hairy yak – NZ$432

Buy a share in a female yak NZ$108

... or click here to check to out other Wish List items.