Lhakpa Dorje D101 Boy 5 years Class: LKG
Dear Friends of VVF,
At Thrangu Rinpoche's main school, the children are halfway through another year dotted with success!
TWO more Reading Angels were placed at the mountain school in Lhi.
Himalayan Teachers Project in Canada is funding training for FIVE young women, so they can finish high school and undergrad degrees in education to return to the mountains to teach.
In another Canadian initiative, TWO SMDers (one is a nun) started Montessori training in India.
Here in Nepal, 7 are studying at university, 2 at Master's level, and are all teaching at SMD. Some Aussies trekked up to the school in Lhi with supplies, furniture and some of our kids as guides and volunteers. The plan, which involves a lunch programme, is to build more classrooms so kids can stay in the mountains until they finish Class 6.
Again in Nepal, 3 SMDers are studying to become health workers, and 3 more have been hired at Tsadra Foundation . We have to keep Class 10 grads with us so they can finish high school, but they work. Hard. In a week, 19 'Seniors' do the work of 28 day teachers.
SMDers have won 50 scholarships overseas. Currently there are 30 students studying abroad and at SMD. This year we have 700 boarding and day students.
We are already half finished the school year. If you’ve already sent your child's sponsorship, we thank you; if not, please send it as soon as you are able.
Rising costs are forcing cuts that pinch the children this year...they have less fruit and no new play clothing. Their uniforms are too small, so they children look a little shabby except for the little boy above, who was so pleased with his new hat.
SMD is dependent on fixed income for operating expenses; all our income is from sponsorship. We don't have government support here in Nepal, nor do we have support from foundations or corporations. We can't keep up with price increases and economic shocks in world markets, which have lost us sponsors in the US, the UK and the EU. We are asking for co-sponsorship of students to ease the burden.
If you could print this notice and hang it up in your workplace or Dharma Centre, or if you could ask a friend to sponsor, it may help. Many of you know your student or SMD quite well and could speak persuasively.
With best wishes from everyone at SMD,
Shirley Blair
