Educating Tibetan Bon Children and Youth

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The Bon Center in Dolanji is operating normally with children attending their classes. There have been a few minor cases of Covid, but everyone is now well. Examinations take place in the second week of December and then it is vacation time, with most students staying on at the center because it is too difficult for them to travel home. The staff will provide activities, games and learning opportunities during the winter vacation which will end February 8^th. The students come from poor families in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and locally in India.

This year 9 students graduated from the high school, two boys are attending university and two other boys are enrolled in the Tibetan Medical College under our Higher Education Program. There have been 20 new students admitted to the center.

The students have a holistic education which includes academics, sports, arts and understanding of nature and care for the environment.  All students, from the youngest to the oldest, learn to care for nature and the environment and the fact we are part of the world and responsible for it. The center has a garden and grows crops for food.

 One student had this to say, “Earth is the only planet that has life as we know it. Plants are very important to all life on Earth. They help with the air, provide food to eat and shelter as well as medicines. It is everyone’s responsibility to plant trees and plants to make our surroundings green and more health for every form of life.”

Thank you for your support and interest in the education of Bon youth.

The Bon Center in Dolanji has remained virus free and everyone is safe. The school is utilizing distance learning and video instruction to keep students engaged in learning but in a Covid-secure way. Teachers and students are now well used to this form of education.

The students study many academic subjects but also learn life skills, behavior and core values, such as compassion, trust, respect, listening and advocacy.

All students, from the youngest to the oldest, learn about good manners, some having experienced this at home, while others have lacked the structure of good manners in home life. One student said, “Manners, manners! We hear about this every day at home and school. Why?  Well manners help us gain the respect and confidence of others. Politeness brings success in life. A child learns from what he sees and seeing elders treating others kindly and with respect, he will copy that behavior. Society works better when everyone is heard and treated well.”

Thank you for your support and interest in the education of Bon youth.