The International Campaign for Tibet announced today that it is awarding grants to 12 Tibetans in honor of Galen and Barbara Rowell, who through photography and writing, communicated to millions of people the beauty and hardship in Tibet.

ICT received over 50 applications and the Rowell Fund for Tibet's Board of Advisors selected 12 applicants, who will receive a total of $37,240 in funding to pursue their respective projects.

The projects include documentary films, the publication of books, leadership training for women, and environmental activism. They are:

• Ngawang Choephel, US. Documentary film on ethnomusicology in Tibet: $4500
• Tibetan Alliance of Chicago, U.S. Tibet archive and photo exhibition project: $1350
• Tibet Translation House, India. Chinese translation of H.H. the Dalai Lama's speeches: $2970
• Tibet Times, India, Book translation of Martin Luther King's speeches: $2250
• Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamsala, India. Funding for Photography Club: $3600
• Gedun Rabsel, US. Book on "Aku Pema: A Blind Translator to Tibetan Officials": $2970
• Tashi Tsering, Tibet Justice Center, Berkeley, U.S. Environmental project: $2500
• Samphal Wangyal, London, UK. Documentary film on chiru (Tibetan antelope): $4500
• Tibetan Women's Association, India. Leadership Training for Women: $4500
• Confidential* Tibetan-Chinese book publication: $3600
• Confidential* field research and education: $2250
• Confidential* research and book publication: $2250

*Three of the successful applicants requested that their identity and projects remain confidential.

The Rowell Fund for Tibet honors Galen and Barbara Rowell's legacy for Tibetans by providing small grants to Tibetans in the language and visual arts.

Projects were judged on content and their ability to make significant contributions to society through photography, film-making, writing, journalism, and projects that promote these skills within the Tibetan community.

The projects were selected by the RFT Advisory Board, consisting of the following friends and family of Galen and Barbara Rowell: John Ackerly, Conrad Anker, Justin Black, David Breashears, Jimmy Chin, Bob and Beth Cushman, Bob Palais, Tony Rowell, Nicole Rowell Ryan and Ray Ryan. Galen and Barbara were killed in a plane crash on August 11, 2002, near their home in Bishop, California.

ICT wishes to thank the families of Galen and Barbara, other Board of Advisor members, and all of those who donated to the Fund. The Rowell Fund for Tibet is particularly grateful to John Jancik, a friend of Galen and Barbara who donated $25,000 this year. We also thank many friends in Colorado and California who helped to raise funds through events featuring a slide show of the Chang Tang and the endangered Tibetan antelope narrated by Rick Ridgeway, Conrad Anker and Jimmy Chin. Finally, we congratulate the 2003 grantees and as well as all of the other applicants. The next round of applications for the RFT will be in September 2004.

Questions? For more information about the Fund, please email questions to rowellfund@savetibet.org. For more information about Galen and Barbara Rowell, see www.mountainlight.com.