About us
Story
1988
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu founded ASIA after a series of missions in India, Nepal, and Tibet, where he witnessed the difficult cultural, social, and economic conditions of the Tibetan population.
1989
Projects focused on improving living conditions for Tibetan refugees in India. Launch of the project 'A New Tibetan Village.'
1990
The first mission to China was carried out to negotiate authorization to enter Tibet, assess local needs, and present initial project proposals to institutional donors.
1993
Under the guidance of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, the first mission to Tibet was conducted, visiting the eastern, central, and northern regions.
Construction began on the first Tibetan school built by ASIA, located in Dongche, Qinghai Province (formerly part of the Tibetan region of Amdo).
1994
The long distance sponsorship project was launched in India and Nepal.
1996
ASIA began implementing a health and education project in Gamthog, Eastern Tibet, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1997
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu visited Tibet for the last time to inaugurate the Dongche school.
ASIA responded to devastating snowstorms in Ngari (western Tibet) and Yushu (eastern Tibet), which killed millions of livestock and endangered the survival of nomadic communities.
1999
ASIA was officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a qualified international cooperation NGO.
2000
Development Education activities begin in Italy, with the aim of bringing civil society closer to the culture and traditions of the Himalayan peoples.
2001
A partnership agreement was signed with ECHO (the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office) for emergency projects assisting populations affected by natural disasters.
ASIA launched an emergency project in Inner Mongolia, funded by ECHO and OCHA, in response to a severe drought impacting nomadic herders.
2004
Following the catastrophic tsunami in Sri Lanka, ASIA expanded its intervention areas and began work in the country.
2009
The first development projects in Nepal were launched. ASIA registered with the Social Welfare Council as an INGO operating in the country.
2010
Humanitarian aid efforts focused in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu, razed to the ground by a major earthquake.
2015
After a powerful earthquake struck Nepal, ASIA responded with emergency aid and reconstruction projects.
2016
ASIA expanded its operations to Mongolia and Myanmar.
2018
The founder and president of ASIA, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, passes away peacefully on 27 September at his residence of Gadeling, in Arcidosso, in the province of Grosseto.
2019
ASIA launches Global Citizenship Education activities in schools. An important project begins for coffee cultivation in the Chin region of Myanmar, funded by AICS.
2020
Bhutan became a new country of operation.
2021
Support for schools and healthcare facilities in India and Nepal was strengthened in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Xining office was closed, and all projects in Tibet were discontinued.
2022
Together with ASIA Germany, humanitarian aid was sent to Ukraine. In Italy, socio-emotional and environmental education activities were developed in schools.
2023
ASIA's first solidarity trip took place in Nepal.
2024
ASIA focuses humanitarian aid in favour of the Nepalese population, brought to its knees by another earthquake and violent floods.
2025
Myanmar is struck by a devastating earthquake. The ASIA team, present in the epicentre area, immediately intervenes to help the population.
The first Civil Service project is launched in Nepal, and the first solidarity trip to Mongolia begins.
