Tashi and his children. [Photo/Chinatibetonline]

Tashi would never know that his life changed dramatically after he adopted an orphan and later one after another.

Tashi is an English tour guide. At the end of 2008, he adopted the orphaned Yangdron, then a begging girl at the foot of the Mount. Qomolangma in Xigaze Prefecture with the permission from the local government in Xigaze.

Days later, out of sympathy, he picked up an abandoned baby lying on the roadside on a chilly day.

People who were familiar with Tashi called him "good man Tashi" for he had adopted the two children. But later on with the publicity of his story by the local media he became famous and was regarded as a benefactor and more orphaned children were sent to him out of his expectation.

Tashi’s primary concern was to do good deeds as he could. But he had not imagined that he would sell all his family property to raise money for a family orphanage, for he has 24 children to feed.

There were two nerves fighting in Tashi’s mind. On one hand, he felt pity for those poor children, and worried about their future if they couldn’t receive normal school education; and on the other hand, he couldn’t afford raising 24 children, physically nor financially.

But he decided to accept all the children sent from various sources. And now, he fathers 24 children.

Children first, girlfriend second

The 24 children need a mother. But Tashi is still single.

The eldest child is 18 years old, while the youngest one is only 2. Even the little Yangdron is 16 years old now.

"I once had a girlfriend who is beautiful and nice, really nice,"Tashi said.

To raise the children and provide them with the best, Tashi sold his two private cars, three sweet tea houses in downtown Lhasa, and together with loan from the bank he built a new house for his children in Yamdo town of Tohlung Dechen County in Lhasa. His girlfriend, under the pressure from her family, left him.

Tashi was heartbroken. But he said that if he had abandoned the children, he would regret all his life." Although my life was temporarily stuck, it is magnified and enriched by my children." Tashi said.

A corner of the Tashi Orphanage [Photo/Chinatibetonline]

Tashi taught his children the importance of self-reliance and hard work

The 24 children kept their home clean and tidy. Footware were put in the right places, beds neatly made and the floor swept dustless.

Tashi expected a lot on his children. He taught them the importance of self-reliance and hard work. "Chairman Mao Zedong influenced me by his diligence, which I will pass on to my children, so that they can fit into and make contributions to the society."

"I hope that they will grow up to be people of mortality and integrity and always feel grateful, not for me, but for the people who have once helped them. Raising these children needs joint efforts, which is obviously far beyond my own strength." Tashi said.

Tenzin Yudron, five years old, plays the harp well.[Photo/Chinatibetonline]

Tashi encourages the children’s hobbies. Tersing Quta in junior three, the eldest son in the big family, wants to be a PLA soldier. Tashi agreed to have him registered in the army in this summer. Now, 19 out of 24 children are receiving school education while the rest five are not qualified as they are very young. Tashi also hired music and painting teachers for his children.

Tashi teaches English to his children every day. He said that he quit school after graduating from primary school and learnt English through self-teaching and some training schools in Lhasa.

Tashi is learning Tibetan ethnic customs as the Tibet’s tourism season is on the way. "I hope to earn more by tour-guiding more group tourists so that I can provide an improved life for my children."