Shree Sangka Dechholing Gonpa School
Shree Sangka Dechholing Gonpa School is located in the peaceful surroundings of Bhote Gaun, Bhungkulung in Taplejung, a remote district in the far eastern region of Nepal. The school was established on 15th April 2015 with the dual purpose of providing both modern and moral education to local children.
The initiative came from socially active individuals in the village, who recognized the urgent need for a school that could offer a holistic education. While the importance of such an institution was widely acknowledged by village elders, there was considerable concern about how to sustain it over time.
At the time of its founding, the school was built through local fundraising efforts, collecting NPR 550,000 (five lakh fifty thousand rupees) from the community. Most of the parents are subsistence farmers or daily wage laborers, and due to widespread poverty and illiteracy, they have long struggled to provide their children with a path to higher education.
In its initial phase, the school began with just 12 children, aged between 5 and 8 years old. These children were mostly from families involved in farming and manual labor. The first class—Nursery—was taught by two dedicated teachers. Since then, the school has added new classes annually, and the number of students has steadily increased.
However, with this growth came numerous challenges: lack of funding for teachers’ salaries, insufficient classrooms, a shortage of toilets, lack of clean drinking water, no proper playground, and no hostel facilities. Despite these difficulties, the school managed to continue operating with community support.
A Fortunate Encounter with Lama Zopa Rinpoche
As luck would have it, in 2019, Lama Zopa Rinpoche visited Bhote Gaun to lead a Vajra Guru mantra recitation program dedicated to harmony within the community and peace in the word , which had been organized by the villagers themselves.
During this auspicious visit, the villagers took the opportunity to approach Rinpoche—not only for spiritual guidance, but also to share the challenges they were facing. With sincerity and hope, they expressed the dire situation of their village school, explaining how financial difficulties were bringing it close to closure.
Recognizing the significance of education for the younger generation, the villagers humbly requested Lama Zopa Rinpoche for some form of financial support to help continue their school and secure a better future for their children. The school also extends its heartfelt thanks to all supporters and benefactors for their continued generosity.
In response to this situation, His Eminence kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered guidance and advised Kopan Monastery to take responsibility for the school. Understanding the critical need for education in the village, Kopan Monastery accepted this responsibility in 2019, with the aim of establishing a proper school to serve the children of Bhote Gaun. Since then, the monastery has been working to provide these young students with access to education and a chance for a brighter future.
As of the 2024 academic year, the school is officially recognized by the Government of Nepal and currently offers classes from Nursery up to Grade 10. A total of 171 students are enrolled—86 girls and 85 boys—supported by 16 teaching staff and 1 office assistant.
Despite this progress, the school continues to face daily challenges. Due to economic hardship, up to 20 students are absent each day, often because they haven’t had lunch or lack basic educational supplies like notebooks, pens, school bags, and lunch boxes. Many students also walk 1 to 2 hours each way to reach school. Financial constraints mean that parents who depend on daily wages cannot always afford to send their children to school regularly.
Yet, the teachers at Gonpa School remain steadfast in their commitment. They teach with sincerity and kindness, even though they earn 25% less than the government’s salary scale.
Although the school is steadily gaining recognition and appreciation within the local community, it is now facing a new and pressing challenge—the growing demand for admission. Many families, especially those living in remote areas, are eager to enroll their children, but the school is currently unable to accommodate the increasing number of students due to limited space and infrastructure.
A significant number of children, particularly from distant villages, remain deprived of the opportunity to receive a proper education simply because they have no place to stay near the school. This has made the need for expansion and the establishment of a hostel an urgent priority.
We earnestly appeal to compassionate sponsors and generous benefactors to support this vital cause. Your contribution could make a profound and lasting impact by enabling underprivileged children from remote regions to access education in a safe and nurturing environment. With your help, we can expand our facilities, build hostels, and ensure that no child is turned away due to distance or poverty.
Together, we can shape a brighter future for these children and empower an entire community through education.
