The New School Year Started On April 23 – We Took In 65 New Children
Most are boarders, but there are a few Day Scholars who need help. If you would like to change a child’s life, drop us a line at himalayanchildren@gmail.com
Photo Source: Thrangu Media
SMD Hosted The 29th Thrangu Mani Dungdrup Puja
Every year, a ten-day Mani Puja (Recitation of 100 million Mani Mantra of Avalokiteshvara) is organized by our nuns and monks. The meditation is Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of compassion. All devotees are welcome to participate and dedicate their merit to the subsiding of disharmony of illness, war, and hunger in the world. Their participation will be beneficial to accomplish 100 million Mani Mantras for the well-being of all sentient beings. People join to recite the six syllables OM MANI PADME HUM, all the prayers directed towards the long life of Thrangu Rinpoche, alleviating the suffering of all beings, and creating the conditions of peace worldwide. All the meals are provided by our monastery.
At the end of the puja, Ven. Tulku Damcho blessed everyone – starting with the crowds who were sweltering outside the shrine hall. SMDers were delighted to help in the Mani Puja and were treated to lunch by the Mani Puja Committee.
People visiting art gallery during leisure time at Mani Puja. To see more artworks of our students please visit our facebook page
L- R Khenpo Chonyni Rangdrol, Tsewang Dorje (the painter), Lama Pema and his nephew.
Our After-School Art Club Mounted A Show During The Mani Puja
‘’Coloring the Dreams of Himalayan Children (Vol – 5).’’ The monastery provided tents and a place for the exhibition. It was led by Tamdin Tsering (SMD’s graduate and senior). He was assisted by other SMD seniors.
All Artworks were done by SMD Students, Seniors, and Graduates. The main theme of this exhibition was to spread the Buddhist way of life and to acknowledge the artistic skills of Himalayan children, and SMD students. ASA (After School Artists) is leading the art exhibition presenting finished work and also doing live art, which is new. Different paintings, portrait sketches, and handicrafts are also presented. They sold paintings and handicrafts. Proceeds will be used to buy new art materials. Dungse Lama Pema Tsewang was one of the buyers.
Tamdin adds ‘’The most amazing thing was that there were paintings of mountains with yaks and the elderly people are sharing their stories of the old times in their villages as they are observing the display. Well, we are loving to hear their stories and chat with them. Art can preserve our culture and art can spread our culture. As we understand that art is the universal language where an artist can express their emotions in artistic ways.’’
Group photo taken after the end of the two-day workshop of our teachers.
Two-day Teachers’ Workshop
SMD School provided a teacher training workshop on the 17th and 18th of April. The workshop started from 9 am to 4 pm. Mr. Mahesh Dahal (Former Ambassador to Australia and The Executive Director of Stairway Management) was the training lead. During the workshop, Mr. Mahesh gave training on many topics including Classroom management, impactful teaching strategies, and lesson plan designing. Read thoughts and experiences shared by some of our teachers after the workshop.
‘’ It was my first SMD teacher’s training outside the school. I learned many new methods, techniques, and skills. It has assisted my work rate and enhanced my teaching skills. In this training, I also learned how to become an impactful teacher and how to deal with students according to their abilities.’’ – Tenzin Dorje, Math Teacher
‘’Highly intellectual, re-enforcing, philosophical, theoretical, activity-oriented, suitable higher level of perception.’’ – Ambir Tamang, School Secretary
‘’ I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Mahesh Dahal sir and the school administrators for providing me and other teachers with exceptional training on effective teaching skills and methodologies. Your training sessions were very insightful and informative. You gave us practical examples and real-life scenarios that made the training more interactive and engaging. I have learned a lot from your training, which I believe will help me improve my teaching skills and make a positive impact on my students’ learning.’’ – Dev Raj, Computer Department Head
Help Defend Children from Dengue
Dengue (‘break bone fever”) is a mosquito-borne virus. A vaccine is not available and there is no treatment for the extreme pain except paracetamol. Dengue mosquitoes bite at dawn and dusk – children are in the dorms at that time. BIG thanks to Yangchen Drolkar and Reed, who brought us 50 kgs of vitamins and mosquito repellant from Toronto. Prevention is the only protection. We want to screen all the rooms in the Hostels – 56 doors and 116 windows. For temporary screens, we calculate the cost at $2400 USD.
From The Nepali Times – “Dengue ravaged Nepal last monsoon, with over 55,000 hospitalizations and 88 fatalities. But that is just the official count, and many who died from the mosquito-borne virus that caused hemorrhagic fever were healthy adults.” Read More…
New Books for Our Kids
We haven’t been able to receive books for a few years, since the government slapped a 10% tax on all books published outside Nepal*. An enterprising sponsor in Singapore ordered books to be delivered to Thrangu Rinpoche’s centre in Hong Kong, and Khenpo Dawa arranged to have the brought by his students who came to attend the Mani Puja.
*Note: the constitution guarantees children can learn in their mother tongue (Tibetan for our kids). There are no books for children published in Nepal.
L-R: Rabin Khadka, Pema Dorje and Pema Gyalpo
Future Engineers from SMD
Three grade nine students, Rabin Khadka, Pema Gyalpo Lama, and Pema Dorje Lama have been selected to pursue a four-year course in civil engineering from grade 9 to 12 at Shree Arunodaya Secondary School. The school is a 20-minute walk from our school.
Kids meditation before starting class
In the entrance exam, our three students secured the top three positions among all the candidates who appeared. Rabin Khadka secured the first position, followed by Pema Gyalpo Lama, and Pema Dorje Lama in the third place. Our Principal nominated a girl who did well in the placement exam, but she chose not to leave her classes at SMD.
In Case You Missed It…
One-Minute Meditation Everyday: This year, SMDers are starting each class with a one-minute meditation
Be a Yak: If you are coming to Kathmandu and want to help, here are some things you could bring:
- mosquito repellant – the mosquitoes are already here
- Multivitamins with minerals, adult dose, non-chewable (we cut tablets to the correct dose)
Click to Watch it on Facebook
School Cats: A new little cat has moved into the Girls’ side. The children have named her Chhimi. She needs oral surgery, costing about $80 USD. We are raising money for that as well as cat food for the other nine lives the children are saving.
Earthquakes: Nepal has had 17 earthquakes in less than a month. We are buying rescue gear in Nepal (helmets, mylar blankets, loud hailers, whistles, stretchers, etc.) Feel free to donate, and in doing so, know that you are also helping Nepal’s shattered economy. Read More: https://earthquakelist.org/nepal/
Watch Video: Two-Day Teachers’ Workshop Short Video Watch on Facebook
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