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History of CRTP
CRTP was founded in 1998 by Mark Hintzke. At this time he had nearly twenty years of construction experience, an engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin, a Master of Science degree from the Institute for Environmental Studies (UW-Madison) as well as several years of restoration experience. After having worked with a variety of non-profit organizations, Mark was deeply aware of the classic model of non-profit funding – endlessly searching for grants. He developed CRTP’s model and was quickly approached by the Baldan Baraivan community in Mongolia.
In 1999 CRTP started to run programs in Mongolia restoring an ancient Buddhist temple. It began small: Mark, two western volunteer-staff, 13 Mongolian staff and 15 volunteer-vacation participants. Over the next seven years CRTP served over 300 volunteer-vacation participants. By the seventh year the western volunteer-staff numbered 10 and the Mongolian staff up to 40.
In 2003, CRTP was invited to come to Nepal to assist on the restoration of an ancient temple in the Lower Mustang region. CRTP has been operating volunteer tours at the Chairro Gompa in Nepal since that time. The funding model has proven to be successful. The participants enjoyed themselves so much that many have joined CRTP in Mongolia for a second or third visit and nearly a dozen past-participants have already joined CRTP in Nepal.
In 2008, CRTP plans to expand into Egypt to help the people of the Farafra Oasis in there attempts to preserve their centuries-old city. Our first trips are tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2008. CRTP has also been talking to communities in Panama, Peru and Mexico, so keep in touch and watch how these projects develop.
Programs hosted by the Cultural Restoration Tourism Project are always community initiated. We help communities who want to help themselves, but do not have the resources to do it on their own. The restoration efforts aid communities in their sustainable development both environmentally and economically. The restored buildings will not become museums, but functional centers within the communities. CRTP facilitates the coming together of local specialists within the host country to ensure success.
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“We made one more stop at the ger of the old lama. As I reached to touch his hands in a farewell gesture he began to cry. His tears fell upon my hands softly, and I sat still for a moment. My interpreter told me that the lama's tears were tears of joy, now that he was
confident that he would gaze upon the restored temple one day. “
-- excerpted from “Journey to Baldan Baraivan” by Mark Hintzke
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