SMD Online Classes continue
Schools in the Kathmandu Valley are still under closure orders with an estimated 1.8 million children now out of school. At the beginning of this school year (June 2021), most of our SMD students (especially the older ones) stayed in the Kathmandu Valley with relatives or friends so they could access online classes and/or write their final exams. However, we do have some students that returned to their mountain villages, as such, we are setting up classes in the mountains again, albeit it is more difficult this time around. Fewer children are in the mountain villages, and they are widely scattered. Furthermore, many villages are cut off by landslides—monsoon slammed into Nepal in June unleashing freak rains in the Himalayas and destroying crops. It’s going to be another hungry winter…
Acharya Pasang (L) and Lhakpa Tsering (R) delivered emergency medical equipment in Nubri.
Monsoon, Landslides & Hunger
The districts of Manang and Sindhupalchok are officially labelled disaster zones. Thrangu family monks, nuns and ex-monks flew COVID-19 relief gear into Nubri and have been providing rations in rural communities. Villages in Manang and Tsum are cut off by landslides and bridges have been swept away. Supply lines are cut — the need for helicopter support is great. We are working on that.
COVID-19 Update
The US and China have shipped vaccine to Nepal and there are droves of anxious people queuing for their jabs. Most of the lockdown restrictions have been removed, but the Delta variant and Delta plus are prevalent (see “Is there really a ‘Nepal variant’ of COVID-19?” The medical community warns of a third wave. See AP article, US doses arrive as Nepal struggles to vaccinate population, for more details on the situation in Nepal.
Norbu Tsering (L) and Yangchen Dolma (R).
SMD Lending Library & Library Wish List
SMD Senior students Yangchen Dolma Tamang and Norbu Tsering have opened a lending library. SMDers that reside in the Kathmandu valley can come to borrow books every Friday afternoon from 4:00 to 5:30.
We are also building libraries at SMD Branch School for young monks, and at Thrangu Tara Abbey nunnery. See our SMD wish list. If you live in the UK or the US and you prefer to support real bookshops, shop online here – bookshop. They do not ship to Nepal, so you will have to pack and mail the books to us.
Dawa Dolma (L) with the book ” Daring to Dream”.
Daring to Dream
Dawa Dolma is doing an online reading of Daring to Dream for SMDers. A true story about the first Sherpa women who climbed K2, which is said to be the most difficult climb, technically. Mera Publication
Kids are still waiting, as are the new ones who should have started this year.
Children Waiting to attend SMD School
Normally, we take in about 40 boarding students every year, depending on how many free beds we have. All the children who were ready to be admitted in April 2020, who had had come down to the Kathmandu Valley and had their medical exams (first in their lives) had to return to their villages when the pandemic struck. They are still waiting, as are the new ones who should have started this year….
In Case You Missed It…
No outgoing mails: The Nepal Postal System cannot handle outgoing mail. Incoming mail is ok. Please remember to use our children’s admission numbers in all correspondence — it really helps us.
Thrangu Band: Thrangu Band Recorded “Pray for the World” just before the pandemic Listen to the song