The Story Of The School

While Nubri Monastery itself survived the 2015 earthquake virtually intact, surrounding villages – including homes and schools – were badly damaged. Many lost their lives and children were orphaned. Poverty levels increased. Child trafficking continues to be of huge concern in the area, and infant and maternal mortality remains high.

Nuptul Rinpoche was so moved by this situation that he offered to care for and provide schooling for children local to the monastery. His vision was to build a school near the monastery to educate and empower these children of the Himalayas while also providing a spiritual base and safe haven for them. It would be a massive undertaking as funds needed to be raised and all materials would need to be brought in through the valleys by mule. But the enthusiasm and longing for the education of these children had such momentum it was decided that the first children could already start and would be housed in the monastery dormitories along with the nuns. A small room was found for a classroom. Exams were carried out in the monastery temple. This arrangement was a significant challenge for the monastic community, to keep running and at the same time have a school in its midst.

Donations from supporters began to arrive which helped provide food for the children and to get the school house built. It would have classrooms below, dormitories upstairs and an attached kitchen and bathrooms. Building materials were slowly brought up the mountain paths. Rocks were brought up from the river by the local communities. An area of land was levelled in readiness.

And in 2020 with the help of many supporters and the dedication of workers from the local villages, the school was built. The Nepalese government is supporting the project by providing teachers. The original 19 students has grown into 108 with over half being girls, and all are now receiving an education and accommodation in their dedicated school buildings. The children of the monastic Sangha also attend classes alongside their monastic training. The sound of laughter and happy optimism fills the air. It is a wonderful result. The dream that Nuptul Rinpoche had after the earthquake has become a reality.

With the continued generosity of our supporters the school continues to flourish. There is higher enrolment every year. There are currently four teachers and the school goes up to Grade 7. In fact, there is a need for a bigger dining room so that in the snowy winter months all the children can eat indoors. The shower and toilet block needs to be extended. The dream continues!

The staff and children at the school, Nuptul Rinpoche and the monastic community all send their heartfelt thanks and blessing to our many supporters for what has been made possible and what continues to be possible by this wonderful ongoing generosity.

This video tells the story of the school and how much it means to the local community