Long-term and sustainable Projects for the Mosuo Minority

On this site you can find a description of the sustainable projects we support together with the Lugu Lake Mosuo Cultural Development Association. All projects are led by a team of Mosuo leaders. You can find projects regarding:

Culture and Religion: Language, Artist Center, Daba, Anthropology, Arts Festival, Museum

Education: Teacher Training, Teacher Scholarships, Students, Scholarships, Materials

Economics

Environment

Medical

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Important note: Hiddenchina.net supports the Mosuo projects, but has no influence or decision in the choice of the projects. All projects have been chosen and decided by the Lugu Lake Mosuo Cultural Development Association, whose board consists except one person entirely of local Mosuo leaders.

1) Culture and Religion
We tie culture and religion together because, in the Mosuo culture, the two are so closely interwoven. The native Mosuo religion, Daba, is in many ways the repository of Mosuo history and culture; having only an oral language, the Daba priests have the responsibility to memorize a long, detailed oral tradition that encapsulates much of the Mosuo history and culture. And, of course, much of the Mosuo culture is derived from the influence that both Daba and Tibetan Buddhism have had on them.

Our focus in this regard is two-fold; both to engage in projects that promote cultural preservation and to promote awareness of the Mosuo culture among other people.
One of our biggest and most aggressive projects in this regard is our work to develop a written form of the Mosuo language. Other projects are not as large, but are equally important. From supporting the Mosuo Cultural Museum, to hosting an annual Mosuo Arts Festival, to setting up an Artist Retreat Center where artists can come and learn about the Mosuo while engaged in artistic projects, the scope of our plans is very broad, and our goals are very ambitious.

1a) Mosuo Language Project
The Mosuo have their own unique language; it belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language group, but is a distinct language, not simply a dialect of another language. However, the Mosuo language is oral only ... there is no written form of the language. As a result, all history/stories/geneology/etc. are passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.

One of the greatest priorities for the Mosuo is to create a written form of their language; this is, in many ways, crucial to long-term preservation of their culture. The reasons for this are:

* The Daba priests are responsible for memorizing huge amounts of information, which make up the majority of the Mosuo oral history and tradition. Yet there are fewer and fewer Daba priests, and as each one dies without passing on his information, a wealth of knowledge, history, and tradition is lost forever. Of course, this information could be recorded and transcribed in Chinese (or other languages), and this is in fact already being done to a certain extent. However, just as reading an English story translated into another language can lose some of its more subtle aspects, the same is true of the Mosuo oral history. The best way to preserve this heritage for future generations is in their own language.

* While other minorities are able to have some classes conducted in their own language, the Mosuo are not, for the simple reason that there is no written language for them to study/learn. Therefore, all classes are in Mandarin Chinese only. This leads to a situation where many young Mosuo are forgetting their own language entirely.

* Language is every bit a part of a local culture as any other aspect. The complete loss of a language represents the loss of yet another part of our diverse human heritage. Creating a written language helps to preserve that heritage, for the Mosuo, and for others who are interested in their culture.

It is important to point out here that this is not an attempt to create an "official" written language. Only the Chinese government can designate an official written language. Rather, we seek to set up a prototype, and test it with distinct groups, to determine the viability and set a precedent for the adoption of an official written form.

There are three stages to our project: first, to develop the written form; second, to teach that to designated groups of adults and children; and third, to begin creating records of Mosuo oral history/heritage in that written form.

1b) Artist Retreat Center
This project, rather than directly focusing on Mosuo culture, seeks instead to promote awareness of the Mosuo culture by inviting international artists to live at Lugu Lake for periods of one to three months. It is our hope that the work they produce as a result of their time there will both reflect their experience of the Mosuo people and culture, and help to make other people more aware of the Mosuo.

We are open to many different kinds of artist - musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, composers, etc. We don't seek to put a limit in this regard, so long as the artist will be able to produce some kind of product that can reflect their experience with the Mosuo. For example, a musician/composer could write music that integrated aspects of traditional Mosuo music. A writer could write about their experience, or set a story in the Mosuo culture. A painter could do paintings of the local people, scenery, etc. If you are interested, and have a suggestion, please do contact us.

On our side, we will provide accommodations in a really nice Mosuo home, which is traditional Mosuo architecture, but also has an attached coffee shop that offers a few more "conveniences". It is located on an isthmus (almost an island) that is surrounded on three sides by the clear waters of Lugu Lake, and behind it is the majestic "Mother Mountain" that is the center of much of Mosuo culture and religion. Although it is on Lugu Lake, it is relatively isolated from the major tourist traffic, so allows more freedom for individual work and study.

We offer sponsorships for periods of one to three months (we can consider renewing a sponsorship after three months), which will cover your costs for room and board while there, plus the assistance of a translator/interpreter when needed. We do not cover transportation costs for you to get there, you must cover that yourself.

Any/all products which result from your time there will remain 100% your own property and you will retain all rights to them. However, we would ask that you repay our support by providing whatever reciprocal support and assistance you can. At the very least, that would mean including information about our organization in any display of your product; in the case of things like pictures or videos, we'd ask to have the right to use those products ourselves at no cost; and if you'd be willing to donate something, such as a painting, that would of course always be appreciated and welcome. Our goal is to have a result which is beneficial to both parties.

One note for prospective candidates - as we will be providing the funds for your stay at Lugu Lake, we have a reasonable expectation of a suitable finished product. For that reason, we will be screening potential candidates quite closely, and will take only the best. In that regard, you have the best chance of being accepted if you are an established artist, with a demonstrable history, and who are currently actively involved.

We are not a place for struggling artists to go to try to "find themselves", nor are we seeking to provide someone who's hit a block of some kind to try to find inspiration. There is too much risk in such cases that we end up just financing someone's holiday, with no real results for either side.

Of course, if you are able/willing to cover all these costs yourself, we are more than happy to provide you with a place to stay, and help you get settled in. If you'd like to discuss your ideas please contact us directly.

1c) Daba Religion
The Daba religion is in many ways the "heart" of Mosuo culture. Although the Mosuo actually practice two religions, Daba contains the majority of their historical and cultural heritage.

There are several challenges in this regard. First, the Daba priests (who are also called Daba) are required to memorize a long, detailed oral history which really encapsulates most of the Mosuo history and culture; however, due to past policies that restricted training new Daba priests, most of the remaining priests are old, and many will die soon. Without a younger generation to learn this oral tradition, and without written records of it, this means that huge portions of Mosuo history and culture could be lost forever.

Today, many of the restrictions on becoming a Daba priest have been lifted, so one of our goals is to provide support and encouragement for younger Mosuo who seek to become Daba priests. In this way, the tradition can be continued into future generations.

We also seek, through our Mosuo Language Project, to create a written form of the Mosuo language which we could then use to create written records, in their own language, of all the oral traditions that the Daba priests have memorized.

These projects are, by their nature, very long-term. But we believe that they are also very important and worthwhile.

1d) Anthropological Studies
The Mosuo are an anthropological treasure trove, and quite a few anthropologists have done studies of the Mosuo culture. However, the majority of this work is relatively inaccessible; and there is still much more work to be done.

Our major goal in this area is to organize a central "library" of resources about the Mosuo culture. To collect the various research papers that have been written; to track down the various presentations (particularly video) about the Mosuo; and, where necessary, to translate such materials into English, Chinese, and/or other languages.

For example, there is a Mosuo scholar, Lamu Gatusa, who has done phenomenal research on his peoples' culture and history; however, at present, his work is available only in Chinese language. We'd like to translate that into English, and possibly other languages. There have been many documentaries produced - in Chinese, English, and other languages - about the Mosuo, and we would like to track them down, and get the proper permissions for their use.

Another goal is to work with and assist any anthropologists coming in to study the Mosuo. We will not provide funding for such anthropologists (we expect them to find funding on their own); but we will be happy to help them in any way we can. By providing translators/interpreters, by giving them access to our library of resources, by introducing them to local people/communities, etc.

Anyone who is interested in this, and would like more information, contact us.

1e) Mosuo Arts Festival
This is an idea which was begun by an American anthropologist, Tami Blumenfield, who has spent a number of years living with and studying the Mosuo. What she did was to organize a "Mosuo Film Festival" at which they showed the Mosuo various documentary films and programs that have been produced about the Mosuo. The purpose was to help the Mosuo understand how the outside world sees them, and how other people are portraying their culture.

This film festival had a very positive effect, and a very strong response. It is our hope to expand and build on this in future years, by holding a "Mosuo Arts Festival". This festival will include the film festival, but will also be expanded to include other activities such as contests to write new songs in the Mosuo language, to have dancing performances/contests, etc. We also hope to have the Mosuo produce their own videos about themselves, and show them at this festival.

The purpose of this is to generate greater excitement among the Mosuo, particularly in the younger generation, for their own culture and heritage. In addition, hopefully this will serve as a major resource for non-Mosuo to learn about and better understand the Mosuo culture and life, from their point of view.

1f) Mosuo Cultural Museum
Two local Mosuo at Lugu Lake have, through tremendous sacrifice of time and money, built a Mosuo Cultural Museum. Rather than being a tacky tourist attraction, this is a museum which seeks to record and preserve the Mosuo culture, and to present that culture to others.

The Lugu Lake Mosuo Cultural Development Association will work directly with the museum, to provide whatever support they can. This will include grants to fund new projects at the museum; to improve facilities; and to do further research.

2) Education
The best schools, and the best materials, are useless if you don't have teachers, also. Therefore, we focus a significant amount of our resources on Mosuo teachers. And there are significant challenges to face in this regard.

The areas in which most teachers will work are extremely poor; and most people who have a high enough education to be qualified as a teacher can probably get better jobs (ie. higher paying, in more developed regions). Of course, there are many very dedicated teachers who commit their lives to educating the youth, and who deserve a great deal of respect for doing so. However, the fact remains that there simply are not enough qualified teachers to fill existing needs.

In many communities, local residents have volunteered to become teachers. While they are to be highly commended for their willingness and commitment in doing so, the fact remains that many of these volunteers themselves have minimal education.

We seek to work with teachers at all levels, to provide the support and resources necessary to help them; both by supporting existing teachers, and by bringing in new teachers.

2a) Teacher Training
One of our most immediate goals is to provide teacher training for the existing teachers in Mosuo schools. This training will take two main forms:

1) Central Training – during major school holidays, when teachers are free, we will set up training programs at central locations. Teachers will come to those locations for a period of 5-7 days, and go through intensive training programs, to help increase their knowledge and skills. This training will be available to all teachers, regardless of their previous educational background; and we will provide financial support to cover their costs (transportation, accommodation, etc.) whenever possible.

2) On-the-job Training – during the rest of the year, when teachers are working at school, we will have trainers who will travel from school to school, and provide on-the-job training. This will involve seminars for the teachers in the school; and observation of classroom teaching; so that they can effectively identify the greatest needs, and focus efforts in those areas.

An important note here: schools throughout this region actually have a mixture of students from different minorities, including the Mosuo, Naxi, Yi, and Pumi, as well as Han Chinese. Therefore, most schools will have a mixture of students, and teachers.

We will have two criteria for teachers/schools who are involved in this program. First, we will accept any teachers who come from schools in which the majority of students are Mosuo, regardless of whether the teacher themselves are Mosuo or not; and second, we will accept any teachers who are Mosuo, regardless of whether or not they work in a school which has a majority of Mosuo students.

In future, certainly, we would like to expand the program to improve any and all teachers from this region, regardless of ethnicity; however, at present, our funding is limited, and we necessarily need to limit participation. It is our hope that, as this model proves effective and successful, and support increases, we will be able to extend support to all teachers and schools throughout the region.

2b) Teacher Scholarships
While we see it as important to work with existing teachers, we also think it is of great importance to encourage a new generation of teachers. With this in mind, we seek to provide scholarships for Mosuo students who express a desire to become teachers.

In order to qualify, students must be Mosuo, and must have good academic standing in high school. They must also be willing to commit to a minimum of 5 years teaching in local Mosuo villages after graduating from university. In return, we will cover all of their costs - education, transportation, room & board, etc. - to complete their teaching certification at university.

As long as students complete 5 years of teaching in local Mosuo communities after they graduate, this support will be entirely free for them; if, after graduating, they take other jobs and do not complete the terms of this scholarship, they will be expected to reimburse us for the money we gave them (and they will sign a contract to this effect). After they have completed 5 years of teaching, they will then be free to do as they please; but it is our hope that they will continue to teach in their home communities.

We hope to also set up other programs to further encourage teachers to work in their local communities, such as providing stipends to supplement their teaching salary, or providing special awards to those who excel.

2c) Students
The opportunities for Mosuo students to gain a higher level education are extremely minimal, and they face many challenges. Grades one and two of primary school are the easiest, as almost every village has a local school for the students there. However, the teachers at these schools are often volunteers, who don't have much education themselves; and teaching is exclusively in Mandarin Chinese, but many of the students have not learned Chinese before this, and speak only the Mosuo language. This also puts them at a significant disadvantage, and can discourage students.

Grades three to six are a little more centralized, with students from surrounding communities traveling to get to the school. For students who live farther away, this can be a significant barrier. Not only do they have to walk many kilometers over mountain paths, but they may have to pay for room and board at the school if they are too far away to travel back and forth every day. This cost, as minimal as it is, can still be too much for many families to support, especially if they have several children.

Next, there are three years of junior high school. There are fewer junior high schools, which means that students often have to travel even farther to go to school; and tuition costs are higher as well. This is followed by three years of senior high school, which again is often even farther away, and costs yet more money.

It is little wonder, then, that few Mosuo students complete senior high school. And getting into university is even more of a challenge; in fact, fewer than 0.1% of Mosuo students will make it to university.

Our goal is to set up projects that improve the opportunity - and lessen the cost - for Mosuo students to get a good education, and to have access to higher levels of education. We will do this both through direct financial aid in the form of scholarships, and through providing resources and materials to assist their education.

We are not, as an organization, directly involved in the building of new schools. We are, however, very happy to work with any organizations who wish to do so, and will be happy to lend whatever support we can to such projects.

2d) Student Scholarships
One of our primary goals is to provide scholarships to promising students, in order to encourage them to continue in their education, and to decrease the financial burden on their families. Specific amounts will vary, and will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific situation of each student.

In order to qualify, students must have and maintain a minimum 75% grade average (80% for senior high school). Scholarships, depending on the situation, may include funds to cover:

- cost of tuition
- cost of room & board
- cost of travel
- cost of books
- small stipend for student's family

These scholarships will be given free of charge, with no expectation of reimbursement; however, they will be subject to review, twice each year, to determine whether students are maintaining the minimum requirements for sponsorship.

In cases where donors are interested to do so, we would also be happy to provide pictures and biographical information on the student(s) they are supporting, regular updates as to their progress, and even correspondence with the students. We also hope to set up periodic trips to the Lugu Lake region for sponsors, where they can meet the students they have sponsored face-to-face, and see their schools. Please contact us if you need more information or if you would like to make a donation.

2e) Resources and Materials
Due to the financial limitations of schools and students alike, many students have no access to quality materials or resources. For example, they may be using textbooks that are 10 or 15 years out of date; or they may not have computers; or they may not have suitable audio-visual equipment for learning English.

However, for students to enter senior high school, or university, they must pass examinations both on computers, and in English. Obviously, this creates a significant barrier for Mosuo students seeking to further their education.

We plan to do our best to provide such materials and resources to as many schools as possible. In some cases, the Lugu Lake Mosuo Cultural Development Association will buy these things; in other cases, we hope that others will donate suitable equipment (for example, a company that is buying new computers could donate its older computers to a school). The primary resources and materials we seek to provide are:

- textbooks
- computers
- audio-visual equipment
- DVDs of educational materials and programs

In the cases of some of the smaller and more remote schools, funds may also be used to buy electric generators, or even things as basic as chairs, desks, and writing supplies for the students.

3) Economics
Another area which is both important and controversial is economic development. Many Mosuo want economic development to improve their standard of living, to get greater opportunities for their children, etc.

However, the barriers facing them are quite significant. With annual incomes that average US$ 150-200 in some communities, it is hard even to get started. And even if they can get the money, most Mosuo have little or no experience or knowledge about how to run a business.

A lot of younger Mosuo girls are being taken out of school because of the perception that men have a better chance of getting jobs when they graduate. This leads to a situation where many young women, not seeing any alternatives to make money, turn to prostitution.

Our projects seek to address these issues directly; to provide resources and knowledge that give the Mosuo more choices, and more opportunities.

4) Environment
One of the most immediate concerns for this region is environment. Increased tourism means increased pollution. Not just from trash thrown in the streets, and in the lake; or increased vehicular traffic.

At present, none of the main tourist areas around the lake have viable sewage or septic systems. This means that all human waste goes directly into the soil, and is then washed into the lake. When the number of people at the lake was small, this wasn't an issue. But as tourist traffic increases steadily, it is becoming more and more of an issue. If not addressed, this could lead to the destruction of Lugu Lake's ecology, which includes a number of plants and animals that are unique to that area.

We seek to work with other organizations with interest and expertise in this area; to find low-cost alternatives that can prevent this pollution before it becomes too serious.

There are other environmental issues, such as deforestation, overfarming, and the general impact of increased tourism and development. We will institute programs to increase awareness and knowledge of these issues, to encourage the Mosuo to take action and be involved in preserving their ecology. After all, if the beauty of the area is destroyed, they lose the travelers, as well.

5) Medical
There are a number of vital medical issues that need to be addressed. First, there are a significant number of preventable diseases and disorders. Tumors left to grow for years. Cleft palates, cataracts, deformed bone structures, etc. Not to mention various parasites, and sexually transmitted diseases.

We have a variety of strategies to deal with this. In some situations, there are established organizations who already work in these areas (for example, Orbis provides free eye surgery, and The Smile Train does free surgery on cleft palates). In such cases, we would seek to work with such organizations, to facilitate their work in Mosuo communities.

In other situations, education and awareness is crucial. We hope to work with various Chinese organizations to improve health awareness, particularly in regards to sexually transmitted diseases.

And finally, in cases where necessary surgery or medical care is needed that cannot be afforded, we hope to set up a fund to provide financial support; however, it will be awhile before we are ready to do this. If you have a particular interest in this area - to provide financial support, or to get involved as a volunteer/trainer - please contact us.