Awards Day at SMD
While schools throughout the country have been closed, education for nuns and monks has continued. All gompas (monastic institutions) are seats of learning as well as places of spiritual endeavour. Our monks happily moved back into SMD to continue their classes and our nuns (who normally come to SMD in their bus) are continuing their classes at Thrangu Tara Abbey. (All our other students have to take their classes online during the current lockdown.) Awards Day for the monks and nuns was held in the SMD shrine hall; topper Jimba Norbu was among those recognized for excellent performance. Pictured above with Nyerpa Tashi Gyatso and Lopen Tsewang Topgyal.
Tsering Dolma (L) & Pasang Kaji Sherpa (R)
Our 49th IB Diploma
Tsering Dolma (in the pink) and Pasang Kaji Sherpa graduated from the Inter Community School Zurich with International Baccalaureate diplomas. Pasang is a year ahead and is at university in Finland now. Tsering Dolma will attend Maastrict University where she will study psychology and neuroscience. With help from the ICS Parents’ Association, her host mum, and the ICS family, Tsering has most of the funding needed for university — see Tsering Dolma GoFundMe page. She aims to finish her education, then return to “combat health problems in rural villages in Nepal”.
From LR: Tenzin Sonam, Tashi Tsering, Tsering Yudon & Dechen Sangmo.
Rations
The April 29 lockdown came suddenly. Schools were ordered to close, so we had to send our children to stay in the valley with relatives or friends, people who had not been expecting to feed and clothe kids, much less pay utilities and support online learning with gadgets and WiFi. In addition to clothing, shoes, text books and learning materials, we are sending weekly rations (lentils, rice, oil, flour, soy nuggets & potatoes). The families round out the diet with fresh green vegetables. SMD also sends masks, soap and (if needed) sanitary pads. Tenzin Sonam, Tashi Tsering, Tsering Yudon and Dechen Sangmo are from Ripchet, in the Tsum Valley. Those four are extremely lucky to be living with an ICS alumna, Tsewang Dolma, who rented a room so they could attend online classes. Tsewang is looking after them like a mum–she also happens to be a teacher.
Amala Chandra Maya (L) and Sanjana (R).
Another Green Project – Amalas Chandra Maya and Sanjana
With funds from Australia, our monks bought the materials for our amalas to make 50 sets of sanitary pads. A set of four lasts a year.
COVID-19
The second lockdown imposed on April 29 is gradually being lifted. Schools are not operating unless they can offer online classes like we do. An estimated 1.8 million children are out of school.
The Delta variant is predominant here. It is highly transmissible and children are vulnerable. Experts say Nepal needs to be prepared for a third wave. Nepal desperately needs vaccines. Only 2.5% of the population is vaccinated.
On a happy note, our founder, Thrangu Rinpoche received his first jab!
Nepal’s politicians are still squabbling about power while the virus ravages the country and monsoon unleashes floods and landslides. Thrangu monks flew relief helicopters into Manang this month.
Class 10 Final Exams
The government finally stopped dithering about Class 10 National Board Exams and formulated a system for schools to issue Class 10 students’ final grades based on evaluation and exams conducted in schools. Each school had to field a committee of five educators to conduct internal reviews. SEE marks will be published in July.
2021-2022 School Year Shortened
The new year started two months later than usual, but will finish at the normal time – end of March 2022 (we hope). The shortened year puts more pressure on teachers and students (those who can access the internet) to cover the whole year’s worth of the subject material.
Sponsorship
We are holding our SMD School sponsorship rates the same for the 2021-22 school year. We are extremely grateful to all our sponsors and donors. Your generosity is keeping the children, the school, and our staff afloat in these hard times!
In Case You Missed It…
Supporting Mental Health: Our Medical Officer Nelha Sangmo held a Zoom webinar chat about COVID-19, uncertainty and its psychological impact. All SMDers from Class 8 up were invited to attend. Everyone was extremely grateful and many requested more webinars.
No post: The Nepal Post Office has not been handling outbound mail for the last year. Incoming is ok.
SMD on YouTube: Click Here