Educating Tibetan Bon Children and Youth

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your support!! Your generosity is helping Creating Hope International to provide much needed support to the Bon Children’s Welfare Center in Dholanji, India. In our reports, we usually relay events at the Center to you, but today we’d like to share with you articles that the students published in their yearly magazine, So-Dra.

The Menri Bon Children written by Jigmey, Class 12

Menri Monastery is a Bon Monastery, situated in a small village called Dholanji. Menri is a refuge for about 500 Bon children whose number is increasing every year. All the children in Menri are take care of by H.H. the 33^rd abbot Menri monastery. Most of the children are orphans or semi-orphans who have come from the Himalayas and other places. They come to Menri for their education and refuge in Bon Children Welfare Center (BCWC) and Bon children home (BCH). In Menri they are given modern education along with traditional Bon culture and studies. Most of them are from families who are interested in gaining knowledge about precious Bon culture. There is a school for the Bon student called CST Dholanji. This is being managed and observed by the Government of India.

Initially, most of the boys of Menri were trained as monks and the girls as nuns. But nowadays, they have a choice of becoming whatever they want. There is also Bon children home where boys and girls who do not want to be trained as monks and nuns are taken care or and are taking education at CST Dholanji.

All the children including young monks and nuns attend the school. This is situated in the valley below the monastery as education is regarded as absolute necessity for the future of children as well as of the society.

Education is Important written by Phurba, Class 6

Education is most important thing in our life. Education is as important as air because it gives better life and opens the opportunities of the life. Those who lead a good and luxurious life are only by the virtue of education. Education gives self confidence and self satisfaction. Education makes a man right thinker and correct decision maker. A man without education is like a pen without ink. In this world education is important because education develops a lot of brightness in our life. It is only education which makes doctors, officers, teachers & engineers. Education is as important as the air we breathe. So, if you want to be a good and successful person in your life then you should work hard in your studies.

We have included several pictures that we hope you will enjoy. The picture at the top is of young students getting ready to perform a Bollywood dance. Below you can see the students showing off their new jerseys which they wear when competing on their newly formed sports teams. Also below, you can see the younger students showing the new backpacks they received which feature the BCWC logo.

Again, thank you for supporting the students at the Bon Children’s Welfare Center!