Thrangu Rinpoche’s Vision for Empowering Himalayan People Through Education and Healthcare
Thirty-six years ago, SMD opened to serve the needs of the forgotten children of the Himalayas. A Tibetan lama founding a school for lay children was unheard of, but Thrangu Rinpoche’s compassion was vast and his vision far-reaching. He established SMD to help Himalayan folk preserve the language, culture, and Buddhist way of life. Buddha taught, “Study, contemplate, meditate,” which is why Buddhist countries have high literacy rates.
Rinpoche expressed the wish that interested SMD graduates go into two fields: education and healthcare. It is with joy that we note three new Health Assistants (paramedics) were licensed this year, all working in the mountains. Their medical training was funded by the Khyentse Foundation, a nonprofit which supports Buddhist activity.
Karma Nangsal Lama works at the Compassion Health Post in Tsum Valley, located at Lamagaon Monastery. Tsewang Bhuti Lama is stationed at the Chyakhu Health Post, which is managed by the local municipality in Nar, Manang District, her hometown. Youden Lhamo Lama is based at the Serang Monastery Health Post. The General Secretary of the monastery, who also serves as the director of the community school, is Tsering Dekyi Lama, an SMD graduate and ICS (Inter-Community School Zurich) alumna
Are You An Aeroplan Member? An Smder Needs Airmiles
Every year, some of our students have the opportunity to compete for scholarships at independent schools abroad to finish high school. Most schools sponsor flights, but one student needs help. Your donated miles will allow them to go back home to Nepal during holidays, to reconnect with their culture and community to share what they’ve learned. Donate through our Canadian foundation here: https://donatepoints.aircanada.com/charity/1080
Exodus
While Nepal has a dire shortage of skilled workers, more than 3000 young people fly away every day, looking for better opportunities overseas. Estimates suggest that 1,000,000 have left (not including those who’ve gone to India) affecting nearly half of every household.
They are pushed by job scarcity, low wages, poor economic growth, political unrest, social inequality, corruption, and natural disasters. Nearly 30% of the GDP comes from remittances sent home by unskilled workers sending money home to support their families. https://english.onlinekhabar.com/democracy-dies-in-darkness.html
Urgen Tsomo with the kids from Ghap Basic School in the Nubri Valley.
Wants to get a Teaching Degree
Urgen Tsomo Lama finished Grade 12 this past summer. Since then, she’s been at Ghap Basic School in the Nubri Valley. She writes, “As I began teaching here, I got to know that the children are not being taught grammar, even the students of grade eight find it difficult to make a sentence as they were taught wholely by Teacher- centered method; all they would do was copy the exercise written on the board. They weren’t made to try the exercise on their own.I don’t say that I am better but the students have told me that they understand a bit from the day I start working here as a teacher.”
Urgen Tsomo is eager to take more training in education when she comes back to Kathmandu. She is the kind of teacher this country needs.
Dorje Tsering Lama in his classroom.
Children Who Need Sponsors
Dorje Tsering Lama (Admission no: B21.16) is 10 years old and in Class 2. This is his second year with us, unsponsored. Please Click to view our Kids who are in need of sponsors. or, Contact us directly at himalayanchildren@gmail.com
Our children during their visit to Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery at Namo Buddha.
Did you ever wonder why there is colored trim on kids’ uniforms?
SMD has three houses, each associated with a color: Sambhota House (Yellow), named after Thonmi Sambhota, a 7th-century grammarian regarded as the inventor of the Tibetan alphabet. Sagarmatha House (Blue), named after Mt. Everest, known as “Chomolungma” (ཇོ་མོ་གླང་མ) in Tibetan. Strongsten House (Red), named after Songtsen Gampo, who introduced Buddhism to Tibet and unified what had been disparate Tibetan kingdoms.
Countries where international mail services have been resumed
The Nepal Post office can only handle mail to the following countries, and even then, it is hit and miss. Photos and get-to-know-your-student questionnaires were sent to US sponsors, but only an empty envelope reached its destination!
1. Austria 2. Belgium 3. Denmark 4. France 5. Finland 6. Germany 7. Italy 8. Norway 9. Netherlands 10. Switzerland 11. Qatar 12. India 13. Spain 14. Sweden 15. United Kingdom 16. United States 17. Japan 18. South Korea 19. Thailand 20. Vietnam 21. Phillippines 22. Newzealand 23. Australia 24. Maldives 25. Singapore 26. Indonesia 27. Uae 28. Malaysia
In case You Missed It…
If You’re Coming to Nepal, Be a Yak & Bring:
- Mosquito repellent
- Supplies for our school dog Max and our rescued cats
- Art supplies (no glitter, please)
- Non-chewable multivitamin tablets (so we can cut them)
- Board games
Shirley’s (Director, SMD School) new Facebook: Shirley has created a new Facebook account for SMD, as she no longer has access to the old account. Here’s the link to her new Facebook: Shirley Blair
Join The SMD Family: Help us widen our impact on Social Media: Instagram | Linkedin (Shirley) | Facebook