Himalayan Children’s Fund P. O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 rinpoche.com/hcfindex.htm

March 29, 2018

Himalayan Children’s Fund News

Dear Friends,The arrival of spring signals the end of the school year and almost

immediately the beginning of the new academic year in Nepal. Students at SMD and SMDBS, as well as shedra monks have been busy taking exams. Class 10 students have also just completed the SEE (Secondary Education Exam, formerly called SLC) ~ the 8 day government exam required for graduation.

After teaching in Sarnath and giving exams to the young monks of VVI and Pullahari, Thrangu Rinpoche has recently returned to Nepal. He is teaching the yearly 5 day seminar which will be followed by the 26th annual Mani Drupchen for 10 days. Both events are held at SMD.

With gratitude for all your help! Please enjoy and share the news. ~ Debra Ann

SPONSORSHIP RATES

SMD BOARDING SCHOOL

Boarding Student $890.00* Day Student $420.00

FOR MONASTICS

SMDBS or SMD Monk $480.00 Shedra Monk $600.00Nun (base sponsorship) $240.00Additional for school nun $240.00Monk (base sponsorship) $240.00We will always accept any amount toward sponsorships and find additional sponsors to complete the full fee amount. * SMD calculates $935.00 as the actual cost for boarding students, however, HCF is reluctant to increase sponsor fees and will continue to raise additional funds for the support of the school.

TARA ABBEY ~ SHER GOMPA RETREAT

As reported last June, the Pema Chödron Foundation provided the necessary funds to complete the repairs needed at Sher Gompa, the three year retreat for nuns in Manang. The new group of nuns were able to begin retreat early in the fall of last year. Here, Tashi Dikey, Palkey Tsomo, Dollar Lhamo, Tsundi Sangmo, Tashi Dolma, Tsering Palmo, and Lhakpa Palkey are shown with Khenpo Chonyi and Khenpo Lhaibu before traveling to Manang. Sherab Sangmo, in the separate picture, was not available for the group photo.

New monks study for two years at VVI and Pullahari. Thrangu Rinpoche then gives a reading and writing test individually to each monk. When they pass they move on to school at the monastery in Nepal.

CURRENT NEEDS

VAJRA VIDYA INSTITUTE

*15 mattresses are needed for the monks at VVI. The estimated cost is $50.00 each. Make donations of any amount through HCF. Designate: VVI beds.* Food support is needed: Designate VVI food.* VVI clinic needs support to provide the services of a local doctor. $60.00/month. Designate: VVI Clinic.PULLAHARI DRUBKHANG

* Help is needed for toilet and plumbing repairs.* Food and education support for young monks.* Funds for a generator Designate: Pullahari DrubkhangSMD* Senior program support is needed. Designate: SMD seniors* SMD school clinic is always in need for helping students and staff. Designate: SMD Clinic

Himalayan Children’s Fund P. O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 rinpoche.com/hcfindex.htm

SMD 2017 GRADS

Shown with their young students, Youdon Lhamo Lama and Tsewang Diki Ghale are two of the 2017 SMD grads who are giving a year of service before continuing on with their education. While living at Tara Abbey they teach the new nuns who are not yet ready to attend SMD, help the SMD nuns with after school study, and teach English to the older nuns as needed.

Youdon Lhamo Lama was born in the village of Sama in Nubri Valley, and joined Class 4 at SMD in 2009 having previously studied at another school. She participated in

Eco club, sang in the show Splats!, and played the flute in the school band. With the Peace Pal group she relished sharing life stories and learning life styles of children in other countries. In Library Club, she helped to arrange the book shelves and read stories to the younger students ~ an activity she really enjoyed. Youdon Lhamo says that living at the abbey is very different from SMD and at first she found it uncomfortable to be shown so much respect by

the nuns! She likes to teach children, however, and since they are so interested in learning, it has made her want to learn and teach more. She finds it peaceful to

be living in the nunnery and is inspired to learn more Buddhist practice. Youdon Lhamo hopes to continue her studies and return to her village not only to teach small

children, but “anyone who never had a chance to study”. She is grateful to all who help the Himalayan people and in the future hopes to share with others in the same manner.

Tsewang Diki Ghale is from the village of Nar, in the district of Manang, and joined SMD in 2011. Her parents are subsistence farmers and run a lodge. An older sister and younger brother have also attended SMD, and Tsewang says it has been good and comforting to have siblings nearby. While attending SMD she participated in cultural programs, was on her house team for basketball and soccer, and enjoyed playing badminton. She was selected for Health Club in classes 7 through 10, and with dreams of helping others, was given a chance to be a dental assistant for 3 years to the Global Dental Relief staff during dental camps at SMD. Tsewang explains that it was a great experience to work with foreigners: they were very friendly, taught her a lot and they shared many stories together. She also was an editor for the school paper ~ Thrangu Express. Now at Tara Abbey, she and Youdon Lhamo teach Math, Social Science, English and Nepali. She says it is helping her to “overcome shyness and to be an open and frank person ~able to share with others.” She hopes to become a teacher and wants to study many subjects in order to have more to share. “I will remember all who have helped to the end of my life. I have nothing to give but prayers for good life and health ~ thank you.”

HCF Page 2

SCENES FROM VVI AND PULLAHARI

Shedra monks practice ceremonial conduct in preparation for the Kagyu Monlam.

Above: Shedra final exams.Below: Classroom study at Pullahari and young monks in Sarnath.