BY MARISSA BRUNNER
DAILY PRESS WRITER
Published on Sunday, July 15, 2007
MONTROSE: Their mission may be difficult at times, but their message is simple— do everything you can to help others, and do so in a peaceful way.
Bill and Nora Duckworth are the founders of Western Colorado Friends of Tibet, an organization geared towards meeting the educational and medical needs of people in Tibet, as well as Nepal and India.
Having visited these countries numerous times, 
Bill and Nora have realized that due to war and conflict, the people of these countries do not have the opportunity for education. “In our family, we believe in solving problems peacefully and helping others,” Bill said.
So by finding sponsors, or sponsoring people themselves, Bill and Nora have found they can make a huge difference in a person’s life thousands of miles away.
Bill became directly involved with the people of Tibet in 1987, and later formed the non-profit organization with the help of Nora, who is from the Philippines, in 1997.
Together, he and his wife have helped countless Tibetans and Nepalis by personally providing financial help for education, and have also successfully helped 12 individuals seek political asylum in the United States.
Bill compared his beliefs to those of Gandhi, explaining that he follows the regiment of the famous philosopher and statesman in the way that he will solve problems in a peaceful way and is willing to go to jail for it.
“I believe you have to do something, something more than just complaining,” Bill said. “And it needs to done in a non-violent way.”
The Duckworths have opened their home to numerous Tibetans and Nepalis, and currently have two adopted daughters living with them; Jigchen, 24, from Tibet, and Radhika, 19, from Nepal. Both have attended Montrose High School, and are planning on furthering their education in the medical field. Jigchen has been living with the Duckworth’s for six years, and Radhika joined the family a year and a half ago.
Bill has traveled to Nepal, Tibet and India on ten different occasions, but noted that it was not until his late 40s that he began his travels outside the U.S.
On his most recent trip, he traveled to Nepal and India from mid-April to late May. During the trip, Bill met with a family that he and Nora are currently trying to help gain political asylum. The husband, wife, and small child are currently hiding in India, and have made unsuccessful attempts to gain asylum in nearby countries.
One of Bill’s biggest concerns is the fact that there is so much violence and war going on in the world today, and most Americans are completely immune to it. His goal is to spread education to people in this country as well by opening their eyes to the things that are going on outside U.S. borders.
He feels confident that if people in this country understand what is going on in other countries, they too will want to make a difference.
Bill emphasized that Western Colorado Friends of Tibet is completely non-denominational, adding that the welfare of humans all over the world does not need to be combined with religious beliefs.
His goal for the Western Colorado Friends of Tibet is to provide a setting where persons of all beliefs, ideologies, philosophical and religious perspectives can gather. He also hopes to convince people to view the world as one human family that includes endless diversity.
Sponsors with the Duckworth’s organization do not only exist on the Western Slope, but in other states such as Oklahoma, Florida and Montana. Those interested in becoming a part of Western Colorado Friends of Tibet can attend their meeting on Friday, July 20, at their home at 19348 65.65 Road in Montrose.
Contact Marissa Brunner via-email at marissab@montrosepress.com
