THRANGU TARA ABBEY EDUCATION FUND

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Update - May, 2003

NUNS STUDYING AT SHREE MANAGAL DVIP

In 2000, sixteen nuns began attending classes at Thrangu Rinpoche's school, Shree Mangal Dvip in Boudhanath, Nepal (near Kathmandu). The school is approximately ½ hour's drive from the nunnery. The new school year (2003-2004) has just begun and there are 45 nuns enrolled at the school in classes from Grades 1 to 10. Some of them had some previous education before joining the nunnery.

In addition to receiving a secular education, the nuns who complete their secondary education and learn Tibetan well will be able to qualify to attend the nine-year program of studies at the Indian Government funded University for Higher Buddhist Studies in Sarnath, India. In the future some, perhaps many, will be fully qualified Buddhist teachers and therefore of great benefit to their fellow nuns and to the general sangha.

Each year, a new group of young nuns will be allowed to attend Shree Mangal Dvip School.

We need to raise funds for nuns attending Shree Managal Dvip School - the ten new nuns who started school this year do not have sponsors for school fees or the nunnery.  

TO SPONSOR A NUN: School Fees, lunch fee and books - $240 per year To support one nun for the nunnery and school education: $480 per year

NUNS ENGAGED IN HIGHER BUDDHIST STUDIES

We now have a total of nine nuns engaged in higher Buddhist studies (Shedra) at The Central Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies in Sarnath. Two have completed their seventh year receiving the degree of "Shastri" and will be returning soon to the Abbey to as teachers to the nuns. Previously, eight nuns were studying at a shedra in Manali, India but they have returned to the Abbey for this first year of Shedra at Tara Abbey under the direction of Thrangu Rinpoche.

NUNS RECEIVING EDUCATION IN THE NUNNERY

Thirty-two young nuns from the poor mountain regions who had no education are studying with a qualified primary teacher who was employed three years ago to teach them at Thrangu Tara Abbey five days a week. The teacher is a Tibetan woman. The nuns are doing very well in their studies. They are learning to read and write in Tibetan, English and Nepali. A sponsor has donated funds for the salary of the teacher.

The goal is for the nuns to achieve basic literacy in the three languages as well as some basic education in arithmetic, social studies etc.

Eleven nuns from this class are now studying Tibetan Medicine.

Only half the nuns at Thrangu Tara Abbey have sponsors for the nunnery.

If you are interested in sponsoring a nun or in giving general donations to the nunnery for food, medicine, clothing etc.

CONTACT:

Himalayan Children's Fund
P.O. Box 15644
Beverly Hills, California 90209
Director: Debra Ann Robinson
Tel:   (310) 395-6616
E-mail: debraannr@mac.com

For further information, direct donation or information on how to donate for tax purposes in U.K., Europe or Canada
Please contact:
Gloria Jones, Thrangu Tara Abbey Coordinator: gloriaj@mail.com.np (Nepal)

PLEASE HELP!

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL THOSE SPONSORS WHO ARE NOW HELPING THE ABBEY
OR WHO HAVE HELPED IN THE PAST. 
THANK YOU!