Manjushri Education Center - Nepal

Tsering Dolma knew that many of the refugees coming to Nepal were in need of learning English , so she started a language centre in 1994. In the beginning they offered classes in Tibetan and Nepali, but the students were only interested in English ! Some of the students are illiterate, and so they have to learn to read and write Tibetan first. The students stay in the school for 2-3 months before they travel out in the world. Besides the refugees, Tibetan monks temporarily visiting Nepal from India attend the courses. The ones who already have some basic knowledge of English can choose a continuation course at their appropriate level. The students who attend the school do not receive a certificate, but do however get a diploma showing that they have participated.

A few similar schools exist in Kathmandu, but the quality depends very much on the teachers, who normally teach before or after his/her ordinary job. The school rents three rooms in central Boudha (close to the stupa) and they offer 5 levels. At 17.00-18 .00 beginners English is taught in all three classrooms. In the morning there are classes at 6-7, 7-8 and 8-9 o’clock. Five teachers take turns in teaching every day of the week except Saturdays. The fee is equivalent to 6,5$ a month, which is payment for books and the teachers` salaries. It happens that the school sponsors refugees that cannot pay. In 1999 the Society made a donation of one year`s rent to the school.

During our visiting in June 1999 there were 37 students, but usually there are about 50. Former students spread the information of the school. The school`s founder, Tsering Dolma is working for an American development fund for womens` education and health in Nepal.

In the future she wants to offer education in Tibetan writing and computers. A small library with English books would improve the school greatly.

Meditation Center at Namo Buddha - Nepal

Namo Buddha is a very historically important place. Siddharta Gautama offered his life in a former life at this spot. With compassion and love he gave his body to feed a starving tigeress and her cubs. Many pilgrims and tourists often come to visit this place.

The Society supports higher studies for monks at the meditation center here, and also supports a village hospital.

Shree Mangal Dvip Primary Boarding School - Nepal

Thrangu Rinpoche founded this school in 1987 with the purpose of giving poor Tibetan refugee children, Nepali orphans, and novice monks primary education. The school is unique in that it teaches ordinary children together with monks. They have employed very well-educated teachers in order to attract fee- paying students, and the school has a very good reputation in Kathmandu.

The school has a kindergarten with children from five years old , and grades 1-10. The Tibetan language is compulsory,even for the Nepali orphans, which makes it easier for the children to communicate with each other.

The 73 monks are day students and they live in the nearby monastery . 103 of the remaining 190 students are boarding-students and they are supported by an American organisation - Himalayan Children's Fund. The school has 18 teachers and 260 students. Three of them live at the school and also function as ´parents` for the boarding students. There are also 7 persons employed for the kitchen work, cleaning, and the janitor.

The Society has sponsored a three-storey building with classrooms diningrooms and guestrooms, and drained the schoolyard to make a soccer-field & basketball court. Just as in the West, computer knowledge has become very important in Nepal, and so the Society has contributed towards modern computer equipment.

During 2000 started the work to build a third storey on an existing building. It will house classrooms for the grades 11-12, a small hospital, library, and computer room. It was complited in 2003.