So what about supporting Tibetan refugee projects by making a small donation, working for them as a volunteer English instructor or donating some (not necessarily new) ESL books to them that could be used in class?

Absolutely right. Although I am wary of helping with donations to charities IN China, after the first bad sichuan earthquake, there were too many reports of officials holding extravagant banquets with the donated funds....China needs rule of law first, officials are not to be trusted there.