SMDers welcomed His Holiness The 41st Sakya Trizin Rinpoche to Nepal
Many other people and SMDers lined up outside the school premises, offering khatas to warmly welcome His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche (Sakya Trizin Rinpoche), the 41st head of the Sakya lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. SMDers feel incredibly blessed and fortunate to be part of this auspicious event, which brings immense spiritual significance and inspiration to everyone involved.
Floods and Landslides during This Moonsoon
Heavy monsoon rains have triggered landslides in many parts of Nepal, causing casualties and damage. Across Nepal more than 200 people lost their lives in monsoon this year. As Pasang Dawa Sherpa, one of our graduates reported on our Facebook page, “We had heavy rainfall for three days. When it stopped, we saw landslides everywhere. The big monastery, Thrangu Monastery Namo Buddha and its surroundings were damaged. So,there were shortages of water, electricity, and supplies. School was also paused for a while. Everyone at the monastery worked together to get through this crisis. After the situation was better, we resumed our daily classes.It was a sad time for us, but on the bright side, it helped bring us closer together.”
TWO THIRDS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS FINISHED BUT 40 STUDENTS STILL NEED SPONSORS
Would you like to help? Drop us a line at himalayanchildren@gmail.com or you can also learn more about the wonderful students at SMD School who are in need of sponsors. Click Here
Ann Shaftel at SMD School
Treasure Caretaker Training With Ann Shaftel
Ann Shaftel, a conservation expert from a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of sacred Buddhist treasures, came to speak with Grades 11 and 12 about the importance of preserving Buddhist artifacts. She emphasized that there may be treasures in their villages, homes, and in the monasteries and nunneries.
Dorje Sherpa and Tsering Dolkar
Kindness Makes The World Go Round
Dorje Sherpa and Tsering Dolkar Lama travelled to Vancouver Island. Dorje is our 6th student at Shawnigan Lake School
he will finish 11 and 12 at SLS. Tsering Dolkar is at St. Margaret’s School and will finish 10, 11 and 12. (SMD kindly offered pre-IB Grade 10, which really helps our kids get up to speed).
Canada initially denied study permits to both students because their applications didn’t seem to fit their aims despite the fact that both (boarding) schools offer generous (five figures) support. After 6 months, we finally got the study permits, thanks to members of parliament. Alistair MacGregor (NDP) and Elizabeth May (Green) whose constituent advocates Leanne Finlayson and Sara Rollerman went all out for our kids. When SMDer go to Canada, our first stop is always Thrangu Monastery Canada
So many made this possible. The schools are extraordinarlily generous. Older SMDers overseas, the US SMD Alumni Association, Sherab Dolma Sherpa and Nangsal and Ankur looked after flights and accomodation. Tom Cook looked after my return flight. Ang and Kamala Sherpa from momoville.com a Nepalese restaurant near Shawnigan Lake School drove me all the way down to Victoria, then drove back up island.
We Welcome New Host Families
Without the incredible kindness that host parents extend to SMDers, none of this would be possible. James and Christine in Squamish, and Julia and Tyler in Victoria – welcome to ’the SMD family’.
Pemba Dholker, Tsering Dolkar and Dorje Sherpa
Overseas Goers Help SMDers
Tsering Dolkar and Dorje Sherpa arrived to start their scholarships on Vancouver Island. Many people made this possible: the US SMD Alumi Association who raised money for Tsering Dolkar to fly to Canada (Tsewang Bhuti, Neelam Gurung, Sangita Rai, Phurbu Chodon, Tsering Namgyal, Lhundup Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa Bokchen, Maya Gurung, Kunlek Tenzin, Karma Wangyal Gurung, Tenzin Sangpo, Tsering Norbu, Dorjee Thinley, Dawa Dolma Sherpa, Tenzin Sherpa). Sherab Dolma who covered my ticket and Nangsal, who helped with transit costs.