January 18, 2021
Himalayan Children’s Fund News VVI HAS A NEW RESIDENT
Dear Friends As we begin this new year together, it is wonderful to report that things are still holding steady with all of Rinpoche’s programs. Everyone is still healthy and all the educational activity continues with the usual perseverance and enthusiasm This would usually be a time for sharing our fundraising goals for the year, however, careful quarantining means that activities are restricted and some plans are on hold. For the time being our main focus will be to increase basic support for all venues and encourage more sponsorship of monks, nuns and SMD students With wishes for a healthy and prosperous year, we thank you. Please enjoy and share the newsletter
Khenpo Gendun recently rescued an injured owl in the garden at VVI and is nursing it back to health.
~ Debra Ann
NATIONAL COVID-19 HERO AWARDS 202 On January 16, Ram Bir Manandar, Minister of Urban Development, bestowed the National COVID Hero Awards in Kathmandu, Nepal. Honoring people from many different organizations, the National Civil Development Society acknowledged their contributions to social welfare. Among the honorees were two Thrangu ‘family’ members that you have seen before in these pages ~ Wangchuk Rapten and Nelha Sangmo. Wangchuk Rapten was the medical monk for SMD who then went on to develop the Bhaktaphur clinic and the Phende clinic at Namo Buddha. After the 2015 earthquake, HCF donors helped to support his work in reestablishing the Tsum Valley Healthpost. Wangchuk and Nelha, are on the board of Kyimolung Foundation Nepal, and have been instrumental in procuring donations and supplying the villages in Tsum valley with essential supplies including food, clothing, medicine Nelha Sangmo (sponsored through HCF), joined SMD at 8 years of age, nished the SLC in 2010 and completed her Health Assistant certi cation in 2014. After giving service at SMD she took a post in Nubri, working 6 months each at the healthposts in Bhi and Lhi. After returning, Nelha began a Bachelor of Public Health and is now in her 3rd year while also working as the Medical Of cer at SMD. During the pandemic she has been busy managing the full quarantine safety protocols at SMD, started a washable mask project and has other seniors knitting muf ers and toques for children at a nearby orphanage With funding from Marlies, Global Dental Relief and others, Nelha, Palden Tashi, (SMD manager) and other SMD grads have been helping to organize and deliver supplies to families in Nubri and Sindhupalchok We salute and admire their tireless effort.
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Himalayan Children’s Fund P. O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 himalayanchildrensfund.org