Sponsor

• a boarder for under $100/month
• a day student for under $45/month
• a small monk for under $50/month

Frequently Asked Questions

I want to sponsor. How much does it cost each year? (Canadian dollars)

• $1,185 CAD/year for a boarder
• $530 CAD/year for a day student
• $580 CAD/year for a young monk at the branch school

What does this cover?

• Day Students $530 CAD/year covers education, uniform, school supplies, a hot lunch and remedial classes if necessary.
• Young Monks at the Branch School $580 CAD/year covers education, school supplies, a set of robes and shoes, medical and dental care.
• Boarders $1,185 CAD/year covers education, school supplies, room and board, uniform, clothing, and medical/dental care.

How do I get matched up with a child?

Write to us at the school, by sending an e-mail to Shirley. Please be sure to send both your e-mail and your postal address.

Can I get a receipt for tax purposes if I sponsor or donate?

Yes, if you are in the US, Canada, Europe, or Hong Kong. Please contact one of Thrangu Rinpoche's non-profit organizations:

CANADA

Namo Buddha Foundation Canada
C/O Treasurer
P.O. Box 46898, Station D
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 5M4
nbfcanada@yahoo.ca

UK

Thrangu Rinpoche Trust
C/O Treasurer
Thrangu House
42 Magdalen Road
Oxford OX4 1RB, UK
Tel: 44-1865-241555
Fax: 44-1865-241555 (01865 inside U.K.)
treasurer@thranguhouse.org.uk

USA

Himalayan Children's Fund
C/O Debra Ann Robinson
P.O. Box 15644
Beverly Hills CA 90209
USA
himalayancf@gmail.com

HONG KONG

Thrangu Vajrayana Buddhist Centre Ltd.
c/o Lama Karma Dawa and Secretary Ling
FRm 912, 9/F.
Wah Shing Centre
No. 11-13 Shing Yip St.
Kwun Tong, Kowloon Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2760-8381
info@thranguhk.org

Does sponsorship cover everything for the child I sponsor?

Sadly, it does not. Fees do not cover daily necessities like:

• bedding and linen (mattresses, pillows, sheets, towels, etc)
• toiletries (soap, toothpaste/brushes, etc)
• vaccines and other medicines

A full sponsorship is too much for me. Can I still help?

You can sponsor together with some friends or colleagues. Many of our children have group sponsors.

Why aren't there any nuns to sponsor on this website?

Don't worry! We have nuns going to school at SMD. To sponsor a nun's education, write Gloria.

I'm worried that I won't be able to sponsor throughout a child's entire school career. Can I still help?

Sure! We go one year at a time. If you can start but can't continue, let Shirley know and we'll find another sponsor.

What else do the children need?

• Vitamin supplements; especially multivitamins, C, iron and calcium
• Small stuffed toys, board games, Lego, Meccano, etc
• Art supplies
• Hair clips/bands
• Sports equipment (frisbees, hackysacks, jacks, skipping ropes, etc.)

Can I safely send things through the mail?

No. Corruption in the post office and customs make it impossible to mail things safely. You or a friend can hand carry when you visit.

How about sending books for the library?

Books are the exception. Americans can send books by sea mail in "M bags" (big canvas duffel bags). From the US, approx. 40 kilos (88lbs) of books cost $35USD to send. We now have 600 books in the main school library and 100 in the Branch School library, and most were donated this way.

Can I order things to be delivered by local companies or international couriers?

Yes, you can.

General Merchandise

Muncha is a Kathmandu firm. They take a photo of the recipient and send it to you as confirmation of the delivery.

Discount of 10%

• Gift food items such as cakes and sweets
• Apparel
• Health and beauty products
• Toys and sports items, exercise equipment

Discount of 5%

• Basic foodstuff such as rice, lentils, etc.
• Stationery items
• Household items and appliances
• Sanitary items
• Electronics and computers

Muncha will calculate the discount manually and then have you again select items for free from within that discount amount. Thanks to Laetitia-Marie in France for this tip.

Buddhist books

• Snow Lion Publications

General books

• Amazon.com

To see our Wish List, just enter our e-mail address (himalayanchildren@yahoo.co.uk).

Someone I know is planning to visit Nepal. Is it ok to visit the school?

We would love to show you this wonderful project. The kids are the tour guides. Please e-mail Shirley at the school. Visitors can carry vitamins in for us.

Why do you use numbers for the children? It's so mechanical.

Thrangu Rinpoche has hundreds of children in his care and Tibetan speakers don't have surnames! The numbers help us locate and identify the children. (B=boarder, D=day student, M=monk, N=nun) Please use complete admission numbers in all correspondence.

Many of the kids have shaved heads, even the girls. Why is that?

Since we are Buddhist, we do not kill, but the children often come with lice. This is the way we get rid of them. Plus, we tell them they'll look really groovy, like the big nuns and monks!

For more information or to sponsor or donate, contact us direct in Nepal by e-mailing Shirley Blair.