June 27, 2024
Himalayan Children’s Fund News
Dear Friends,
The HCF annual audit was completed in May for the fiscal year ending 6/30/2023. Although contributions were lower for the year, the projects still received substantial support. Thrangu Tashi Choling and Tara Abbey: $131,646.00; SMD: $158,263.00; VVI: $13,908.00; Pullahari Drubkhang: $4,899.00; Thrangu Monastery Tibet: $2,741.00.
Congratulations and thank you to all our dedicated sponsors and donors for another year of joyous collaboration.
Please visit our website if you would like to review our audited financial statement and as always, our 990 filing is available upon request.
Enjoy the news and thank you for your kind support.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
~ Debra Ann
*We will always accept any amount toward sponsorships and find additional sponsors to complete the full fee amount. For more information, or to arrange a sponsorship please contact HCF.
himalayanchildrensfund@gmail.com
On June 5th, the monasteries and SMD all observed World Environment Day. Trash was collected, grounds tidied, and trees planted. At VVI bird feeders were hung in acknowledgement of the following ‘Birdist Proverb’: "Saving one bird will not change the world, but it would change the world for that one bird.” Hover for video.
TARA ABBEY SHEDRA ~ LUMBINI
After four years of Tibetan Astrological study in Namo Buddha, three monks have graduated and are ready to serve at Phende Clinic. Lama Phurbu Gyatso, who was trained many years ago at Palpung Sherabling Monastery, and Khenpo Yonten teach the astrology course at the clinic, and Tibetan Astrology is one of several modalities offered to patients. Congratulations to: Norsang, Sonam Wangdu and Migmar Tsewang! To support the clinic work, designate: Phende Clinic.
Construction is moving right along in Lumbini to add a dormitory and an expanded and covered kitchen and dining area. Khenpo Chogyal recently settled on a table and bench design which allows cross legged sitting as well as feet on the ground. To support the Tara Abbey Shedra designate: Tara Abbey Shedra, Lumbini.
Shedra students at VVI continue to prepare 100,000 tsa tsa for Thrangu Rinpoche’s To support VVI designate: Vajra Vidya Institute
Hover for Videos.
Vajra Vidya Institute
Indrakali Bardewa was born in 2006 in the Khotang District of Koshi Province, in Eastern Nepal. After her father passed away, her mother was keen to come to Kathmandu and in 2013 she was enrolled at SMD where an Aunt and Uncle also work. Early on, Indrakali participated in running competitions and won many medals during Sports Day programs. She also played in interhouse basketball competitions and took football (soccer) training. She participated in HMG*and coding class, interhouse speech competitions, learned to play the Sarangi and was member of Art Club for 7 years. (She still likes to draw, doodle and sketch.) Indrakali’s mother was encouraging of her desire to volunteer after the SEE exam in March of 2023 and in considering the assignment to Nar Satek Gompa she felt excited, thinking of being in a new environment, meeting new people and the opportunity to experience new things. In August 2023 she made the trek to Nar where she has been teaching Nepali and math to the 12 monks living there. Indrakali says that SMD gives a lot to children and teaching kids is loving. “When I teach the children I remember little things about myself. Teaching then makes me so happy!” She also says that she could not see a future as bright as today if she was not in SMD and asserts, “Wherever I go, I will always the remember the aims of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, follow them and spread them all over the world!” Indrakali hopes to keep meeting new people and experiencing new things and dreams of a future in Civil Service ~ either politics or law.
Ngima Sangmo Sherpa was born 2008 in the village of Bagam in Sindupalchowk District. She joined SMD in 2016, after the destructive 2015 earthquake destroyed her home and village. Her brother, a Thrangu monk and Khenpo, helped to bring her to Kathmandu and get her enrolled in school. Of her arrival at SMD she recounts being the smallest among her classmates and feeling very nervous, but really loved that everyone was so friendly, caring and loving towards her, taking time to talk with her. Ngima Sangmo recounts that while she was interested in sports, she did not play that much but really loved dancing~ cultural and all other kinds. She participated in HMG*, Art and Yoga classes and learned to play the Sarangi and mouth piano. After the SEE exam in March of 2023 Ngima felt that volunteering would be a chance to experience a new environment, new people and a good opportunity to develop new skills. Since she loves working with children, she thought it would be good to be teaching at Nar Satek Gompa and her family agreed and encouraged her. At first, the young monks were very shy to talk and also believed her to be too small to be their teacher but in addition to studying English, Math and Nepali they soon cooked together, played hide and seek and took hikes together in the forest along with many other activities. Ngima Sangmo intends to continue her education and was granted a scholarship at ISAK Japan. She says she really enjoyed teaching and her responsibilities ~ that her experience at SMD has been a very precious time in her life and she will continue to help others in any way she can.
*Himalayan Makers Guild
Tsering Diki was born in 2008 in Dolpo, in the Dolpa district of Karnali Province in North Western Nepal. At 3 years of age she made the 7 day trek (not alone!) to Kathmandu and was enrolled at SMD with the help of an uncle. She found her new environment to be very strange and found rst to make friends since she couldn’t speak the Nepali language. It took some time to learn and, of course, it then became easy to make friends. During her time at SMD Tsering Diki participated in Health Club, Eco Club, and Art class. She assisted acupuncture practitioners at the school and in 2017 helped in the acupuncture clinic provided during the Mani Drupchen at SMD. After completing the SEE exam in March of 2023 she decided to volunteer and give a year of service at the Nubri Hinang Monastery. There are 14 students at the monastery and since August of 2023 she has been teaching Nepali and English for grades 1, 3 and 5. At the completion of her service, Tsering Diki will return to SMD to study in grades 11 and 12. Her dream is to study acupuncture and be able to help back in her village. She says that SMD has changed her life so far and “it has been a pleasure to give service at Nubri ~ I want to ful Rinpoche’s aim.”
Tenzin Sangmo Lama was born in Tsum in 2007 and joined SMD in 2012. She has 4 brothers and 1 sister who all graduated from SMD! Not knowing the Nepali language when she arrived, Tenzin Sangmo cult to adjust to her new environment but says SMD soon became member of the Library and of Eco Club, she also participated in sports and music, anchoring the football team and attending guitar class. She enjoyed Art class, speech and public speaking, developing communication skills, and was Room Captain in 7th grade. After completion of the SEE exam in March of 2023 Tenzin Sangmo decided to take the gap year of service before continuing her education. She has been teaching Nepali, English and Math in tandem with Tsering Diki at Nubri Hinang Monastery since August 2023. The monks and teachers trek down from the mountains and spend the winter at the monastery in Namo Buddha and return cult for her ~ the village was similar to her own, peaceful and lovely ~ and it was a pleasure to teach the monks. She plans to study in the Science stream at SMD for grades 11 and 12 and would like to
Indrakali (left) and Ngima (right) with the monks and staff at Nar Satek.
Tenzin (left) and Tsering (right) with the monks at Nubri Hinang.