Solutions in Action History

In 1995, when Solutions in Action's co-founders, Brian Heubel and Karen Garfinkle, visited the home of exiled His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, India, they found a tremendous need for environmental and social services for Tibetan refugees living in exile. Upon request of a local Tibetan goverment office, they immediately began teaching newly arrived refugees from Tibet about the health hazards they unknowingly faced now in exile. Due to the urgent need for teachers in the field of environment, they were subsequently asked to train Tibetan teachers, government leaders, health care workers, students, as well as local Indians and visiting tourists in the Dharamshala area.

As their Tibetan community ties grew stronger,they came to hear stories of atrocity, human rights and environmental abuses. Seeing the need for global support for Tibet, they pledged solidarity with Tibetan's non-violent struggle for freedom and basic human rights. Thus, they joined the international network of Tibet support groups, offering service in support of Tibetan Freedom and Tibetan communities in need, while promoting global cultural exchange with concerned US students.

Today, Solutions in Action (SIA), is a US based, 501c-3 non-profit, grassroots international, education and service organization, dedicated to compassionate acion for endangered cultures and environments. Our achievements are due to the dedication of a core group of environmental educators, kindhearted volunteers and international Tibet supporters.

In essence, we work to share a positive outlook on the world's future. Our goal is to inspire hope and peace while empowering individuals to compassionate action. We find that people help others in need, when they are made aware of injustice while being given practical means to help. Solutions in Action creates educational environments and service projects based on this philosophy.

In Dharamshala, India, exiled community of His Holiness the Dalai lama, we support the Tibetan and local Indian community through environment, education & service projects. These programs have developed as a result of direct request from and in cooperation with departments of the Central Tibetan Administration, schools and individuals in need, avoiding the bias of our western perspective.

Since 1995, we have provided courses, curriculum & training in environmental health education, reaching thousands of Tibetans, Indian residents & international visitors in Dharamshala, India. Recently we offered a two-month environmental health education & consultation project reaching thousands of monastic and lay residents in the Tibetan settlement of Mundgod, South India. Currently, we are working on project follow-up and implementation of locally requested environmental health infrastructure. As well, we are planning future training programs for Health Care Staff from Tibetan Settlements all over India. Programs such as these, empower individuals to make wise and practical choices for a healthier and cleaner environment for their communities and future generations.

In the United States, we function as a Tibet Support Group whose aim is to educate the public about the plight of Tibet and other endangered peoples and the environments upon which they depend. We emphasize Tibet's powerful example of non-violence and compassion in their struggle for freedom, while facing human rights abuse and cultural genocide.