Tsharka Tibetan Elem/Middle School, Dolpo, Nepal

This summer has seen exciting new developments at Tsharka School. School Coordinator Samdup Tsering has been instrumental in attracting donations for the school from several NGOs and individuals. The salaries of the School Coordinator, two teachers, and the cook -- the real basis of the school being the teachers and the information they convey to the students -- continue to be covered by ICDF, through its Global Giving project.

Wind Power Generator: Peter Werth, through his organization Himalaya Currents Inc., provided a wind-solar hybrid power system for Tsharka School. In May, he brought the wind generator and other materials to Crystal Mountain School, Dho-Tarap, Dolpo, and presented them to School Coordinator Samdup Tsering. With the help of a specially trained teacher from Tingyu School whom Peter sent, the power system was successfully installed in July. The power system provides light to the entire school building and can also power other electronic devices including a computer, printer and projector. Wind power has made the school a brighter and friendlier place to study and learn.

School Enrollment Day: On July 17, School Coordinator Samdup Tsering and the teachers conducted an "Open School Day" program to encourage villagers to enroll their children in Tsharka School. The program was suggested and sponsored by Doreen Kindermann from Switzerland. Seventy children are now enrolled Tsharka School, out of 120 children in the village. Some of those remaining fifty children are sent to private schools outside of Dolpo, but most do not attend school at all.

Doreen brought gifts of pencils, books and chocolates and she donated money with which the school bought hygienic items including soap, tooth paste, tooth brushes and handkerchiefs for every single school-age child in the village. During "Open School Day," teachers distributed the gifts and hygienic items to all the village children, as well as clothes and shoes brought by the team of the NGO Chay Ya and school bags donated by Lama Pema of Tsharka.

The program worked so well that ten new students were enrolled by their parents that day. ICDF's goal is to have all the village children enrolled in their local community school.