In 2003, UK Optometrist Christian Dutton was fortunate enough to attend a lunch in London with Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche (Founding President of Rokpa). As the conversation progressed, Rinpoche talked about a group of doctors from Canada, led by Dr. Isaac Sobol, who volunteer their services each year in the town of Yushu (Tibetan area of China). Christian explained to Rinpoche that he was an optometrist and offered his services if they might be of benefit. Rinpoche thought this might be useful for the impoverished people of Yushu. Twelve months later Christian travelled with Dr. Anya Adair (a UK volunteer) to Yushu with only basic optical equipment and no previous experience of volunteering in a developing country.
As Christian had to work in a narrow corridor with poor light levels and nowhere to store equipment and supplies, there was a clear need for a permanent building to work in. Our hospital was built within two years through the generosity of our sponsors.
Christian's first translator, Choetsho Drolma, became his wife two years later in 2006. They now live together in the UK and have continued to develop the project with the help of his childhood friend/best man Jon Aston and Jon's partner Karen Jamison.