EDUCATION

Schooling support for exilee children

Boudhanath, Kathmandu

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This schooling project was designed to support families who could not bear the cost of sending their children to school. The situation for Tibetans in exile and the socio-economic difficulties they face make it often impossible for them to afford schooling fees. Through sponsorships from individuals, Norlha helps families to bear the schooling cost but also supports schools and even tuition classes.

The importance of education for exiled Tibetans

The situation for Tibetans in exile and the socio-economic difficulties they face make it often impossible for them to afford schooling fees.

Despite being a very poor country, Nepali schools offer a relatively good quality of education. The average per capita income is of 16 € (26 CHF) per month. Schooling fees amount to approx. 23 € (30 CHF) per month for primary school and approx. 40 € (50 CHF) per month for secondary school.

In such conditions, many children cannot have access to education. Without sponsors, unfortunately children are forced to stay at home. Sending a child to school is of paramount importance. Socially, the education of young Tibetans promotes their integration in Nepal. Culturally, it helps them preserve their customs and traditions.

In the absence of any social assistance from the state, the future of children directly influences the parents. Indeed, when they are older, the parents do not receive any allowances and will be entirely dependent on the support of their children.

The Tibetan diaspora has to struggle in order to keep its rich cultural heritage. To realize this hope, it is also important that they are socially and ecoNameically integrated in their host country, Nepal in this case.

Tibetan parents struggle for their children having a better future than theirs. That’s why they hope so much that their children could attend school. Thus, it is clear that the financial support for education is of paramount importance.

The Tibetan exiles in Nepal, as much as possible try to send their children to the Tibetan schools of Kathmandu where they can study at the same time their own language, Nepali and English (trilingual schools).

Thus, young Tibetans can preserve their culture, while becoming integrated in the Nepali schooling system, and later into the professional world.

THE FAMILIES

Norlha has chosen the families who’s need is the most urgent, that is mainly the semi-orphan families. Thus, the children who benefit from this project have one thing in common: most of them have lost their father, or the father is very sick.

The situation of semi-orphan families (father died) is particularly hard. In the total absence of welfare, a single parent carries the burden of all children. In addition, unemployment among Tibetan exiles in Nepal is very high and salaries very low, even much lower than the Nepali citizens.

Widows raising their children alone are facing great difficulties because it is most often their husbands who were employed, and women often earn less than men. They must therefore live with less than half than before.

Because of the lack of income, the parent is unable to pay school fees. As a result, some mothers gather increasingly important debt.

Considering the urgency of the situation, Norlha has decided to respond positively to their request, in order to find a solution for these extremely poor Tibetan families.

Faced with such a precarious situation, any help singularly improves the living conditions and the future of these families.

ON-SITE IMPLEMENTATION

A group of tibetan volunteers take care of the daily on-site implementation of the project. The project takes place in the area of Bodhnath, in the suburbs of Kathmandu.

The volunteers operate the communication with the children, transmit their letters and report us regular news about the families' situation.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHOOLING SUPPORT PROGRAM

Your schooling support will enable a child to go to school in the right conditions: he will learn Tibetan, English, Nepali history and mathematics with qualified teachers.

The sponsors’ support is therefore a unique and decisive hope. Sponsorship is a long term commitment between you, Norlha and the student.

The scholarship is 12 monthly payments of 23 € (30 CHF) for primary school and 40 € (50 CHF) for secondary school.

Project manager: Chantale Gumy

Donations
PostFinance Bank Account : 12-684766-5 
IBAN : CH68 0900 0000 1268 4766 5 
Swift / BIC Code : POFICHBEXXX