Below is a list of links to organizations that Tiger Alliance works with or supports around Asia. We feel that these organizations are, like Tiger alliance, dedicated to the responsible development of Asia, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the facilitation of cultural exchange at a grass-roots level. These links are part of our goal to provide you with rich information before and after your trip with Tiger Alliance, allowing you to experience Asia differently.

Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection http://www.bjchp.org/ Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection is a non-governmental organization that focuses on giving communities and officials the resources to protect valuable heritage, both physical and non-, under their jurisdiction. BCHP focuses mainly on grass roots heritage, which receives less funding for protection and less attention than larger, national preservation projects funded by UNESCO, the government, or other major donor agencies.

Chi Heng Foundation http://www.chfaidsorphans.com/ The mission of the Hong Kong-based Chi Heng Foundation is to provide educational and social support to children and adults affected by HIV/AIDS in Central Henan. The Foundation provides scholarships for children who have lost parents to AIDS, organizes programs to foster psychological healing, and offers some vocational training to children over 18 who cannot continue their education.

Dropenling Handicraft Development Center http://www.tibetcraft.com/ This organization strives to alleviate poverty in Tibet while protecting traditional cultural and heritage. They help teach local artisans how to make their products more competitive and provide these artisans with an outlet for sales. Another goal is to promote entrepreneurship and new job possibilities. All profits are returned to the Tibetan artisan community.

Global Exchange http://www.globalexchange.org/index.html/ Based in San Francisco, Global Exchange is an NGO dedicated to promoting social, economic, and environmental justice around the world. They organize "Reality Tours" to every corner of the world; these tours promote socially responsible travel and encourage building "people-to-people" ties at a grass roots level.

Onemoon Art Gallery http://www.onemoonart.com/ This art gallery is located in the Temple of Earth in Beijing and spotlights contemporary Chinese fine art. The Ming-era building that houses the gallery is protected by the Cultural Relics Bureau and provides wonderful atmosphere for exhibits. The gallery showcases new work about every two months, and it is not unusual to meet local artists over there working or hanging out with owner Jan Leaming.

The International Ecotourism Society http://www.ecotourism.org/ TIES is dedicated to generating and disseminating information about ecotourism. It is membership-based and has developed standards, guidelines, training, and publications to promote the growth of ecotourism as a way of alleviating poverty, conserving the environment, protecting culture, and, of course, making travel enjoyable and educational. TIES members are from over 70 different countries.

Torana Gallery http://www.toranahouse.com/ These galleries in Beijing and Shanghai feature hand-dyed and hand-woven traditional rugs from Tibet and China. They also stock some textiles made by the Tibetan Artist Initiative, which creates sustainable livelihoods while preserving the culture and heritage of Tibetans.