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Five Years Of Partnership

L-R: Mike Schauch, Acharya Karma Sangpo and Dechen Dolma

Celebrating Five Years Of Partnership

Shawnigan Lake School shawnigan.ca celebrated five years of partnership with SMD. Our director, Shirley Blair was honoured to be invited as a guest to the Scholars’ Luncheon. We SMDers were deeply moved by the care and thought that went into the celebration – kudos to Sara Blair.

In chapel, Acharya Karma Sangpo spoke about the central teachings of the Buddha, and Mike Schauch did a reading from his book A Story of Karma.

SLS grads Junu and Tenzin spoke in chapel and we were joined by Dechen Dolma (an Inter Community School Zurich grad).  Yangchen Dolma who just finished Grade 10 was away – the Shawnigan rugby team was playing in the provincial finals. They won the Bronze medal!

Sadip Tamang.

Another Engineer

With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, some of our overseas goers have dared to come home. Sadip Tamang (Lama Surjay’s nephew) is back from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) with an engineering degree in New Energy Science. He is planning to intern in Nepal for a year, then start a MEng, probably in the US.

Karma Yeshe Lama B13.18 in Grade 6.

Karate

Our staff Buddha Tamang has resumed karate and self defense classes again. Our sensei, Buddha has a black belt and now that we’re all back at school, the SMD dojo is open! Read some of the feedback and experiences of our kids who are in the Karate Group.

”I have been joining the class for almost four months now. I’m happy to be part of the karate class because I am gaining so much knowledge about self-defending and it has also helped my body to become more flexible because here we do lots of exercise and stretching to make our body healthy and fit. It has also helped me to build up my confidence and there are also lots of other benefits.” – Karma Yeshi (Class VI)

”Since little I was interested in martial arts. So, I am happy to be part of the karate class. We take karate class three times a week for an hour. During the time of pandemic, I practiced karate myself a little but it wasn’t really effective without master but now I am able to elevate my skills and since the new session here at SMD, there are many new kids who just joined the class. They all are beginner and they are eager to learn skills from us.  For that I would like to thank our master and also I would like to appreciate others for their love and support.” – Pemba Dolker (Class VIII)

 

L-R: Tsering Thinley, Dawa Sangmo and Pemba Tsering.

SMDers Run In Local Elections

Five SMDers ran for office. They have all previously been involved in social service in Tsum-Nubri.

Tsering Thinley reports, “The villagers from these two wards requested all of us to take part in the election as they know we SMDers are more than capable of bringing better changes in the field of community development and in the lives of those who are unable to stand up for their rights and benefits. Plus, they know that we are the ones who can preserve our own cultural values, traditions and norms, and our mother tongue, Tibetan, as it’s our founder Venerable Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoches core aim and the wish of all of us SMDers from Himalayas to help Rinpoche’s aims flourish.”

L-R: Tsering Diki, Pema Tsewang, Tsering Gurung.

 

Preserving Himalayan Culture

One of Thrangu Rinpoche’s main aims is to help Himalayan children preserve their culture. Every year, at least half a dozen older SMDers join Lhamo Tsokpa, an outside organization dedicated to that very purpose and this year our kids were invited on a two week trip to Mustang, to learn and share.

Running For Nepal

The Inter Community School Zurich staged a virtual run (ICS to SMD) to raise funds for our school.
Our schools have enjoyed a long partnership, which has seen 25 SMDers awarded scholarships to finish Grades 11 & 12 in the International Baccalaureate diploma programme. Among our ICS graduates, there are two crackerjack teachers, three engineers and several social workers.

 

Baking For Nepal

Our dear friends in Mulheim Germany, retired baker Gunter and partner Renate Hoffmann are SMDers who always remember Nepal.

SMD kids celebrating H.H. Karmapa’s Birthday.

In Case You Missed It…

H.H. The Gyalwang Karmapa’s Birthday: We celebrated H.H. Karmapa’s birthday on June 30th, at Dabsum Monastery – Near Boudhanath Stupa.

If You Are Coming To Nepal: and if you would like to bring something:
Books!
Balls – basketballs, soccer and small soft ones for little kids
Indoor games – Pickup Sticks, Clue, Uno, Scrabble, Bananagram, Cards
Board games – Chess, Snakes & Ladders, Chess
Lego, jigsaw puzzles and sidewalk chalk
Small, soft washable toys
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No outgoing mail: The Nepal Postal System cannot handle outgoing mail. Incoming mail is ok. Please remember to use children’s admission numbers in all correspondence — it really helps us.