Himalayan Children’s Fund P.O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 rinpoche.com/hcfindex.htm

August 9, 2015Himalayan Children’s Fund News

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

Boarding Student $890.00Day Student $410.00School Monk $680.00Shedra Monk $600.00Nun (basic sponsorship) $240.00Additional for school nun $240.00Monk (basic sponsorship) $240.00

You can also choose a partial sponsorship –– we will combine sponsors to cover all fees.

General Donations Undesignated gifts help meet needs not covered by sponsorship such as costly fruit, yoghurt and eggs; emergency hospitalization, or new blankets. Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted and will make a big difference!

Dear Friends,

Amidst all the relief efforts and repairs in Nepal, the students, nuns and monks are doing an amazing job of carrying on their daily life as usual. With the newly constructed, temporary building at Tara Abbey many nuns have been able to enter into a long Nyungne retreat while the Shedra nuns have begun the annual 45 day summer (Yarne) retreat at the monastery in Lumbini. Monks at Namo Buddha and VVI are doing the same and the students at SMD and SMDBS have resumed studies for the 2015-2016 academic year.

The medically trained monks and nuns remain very busy, visiting local and remote areas to bring medical help and supplies to those in need.

I hope you find these stories and photos inspiring.

–– Debra Ann

KIDS HELPING KIDS

Another story of how people have been responding to the earthquakes in Nepal:In May, 70 young students at the Montessori School of Washington Park in Denver, Colorado held a breakfast fundraiser for SMD. The students made and served breakfast to parents for a donation. They raised $845.00 USD from the breakfast and teachers added a bit more. Their plan is to help the earthquake relief now and sponsor a student next school year.The students also made prayer flags to let the SMD students know they are thinking of them after what has happened to them and how their lives have changed.Each child wrote a message and drew pictures on an 8/12x11 sheet of paper that was then inserted in a clear plastic sleeve and strung together with yarn. These very special prayer flags will be hung at SMD for all the kids and staff to see.Here are a few of the messages from children 3 to 5 years old: “I hope you can make a new school,” “I hope you get all the help you need,” “ I hope there are no more earthquakes,” “I hope your family is safe,” “ I hope you get new homes,” “I hope things get all fixed up!” and “ I love you”.

CONGRATULATIONS SMD GRADS!Fortunately for everyone, the SLC government exam was completed before the earthquakes. Despite all the disruptions, test results arrived recently and all of the Class 10 students passed––three with distinction. Graduation day was celebrated and the students honored at SMD.

Himalayan Children’s Fund P.O. Box 15644, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 USA 310.395.6616 rinpoche.com/hcfindex.htm

HCF Page 2

Nyungne retreat at Tara Abbey.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Nuns in Yarne retreat in Lumbini.

Young monks and teachers at VVI.

Class-time for young monks at SMDBS –– learning the parts of the body. Monks from Namo Buddha Mentsee Khang continue to provide healthcare and relief aid in mountain villages to earthquake victims.

Wangchuk Rapten and Bal Kumari Gurung from SMD clinic teamed with Amche Yangdron (a Tara Abbey doctor) and Lhakpa Tashi to provide medical assistance in the Tsum Valley. (Many thanks to HCF donors who have helped to pay for the use of helicopters which is the only way to reach many areas now.)