This was the first project of the Tara Foundation. It concerns a school for the very poorest children in the mountain village Nagarkot. The original school was established in 1998, by 3 of the main teachers of the school. They are two brothers - Narayan and Shambhu Jung Ale and Kamala Rai, Narayan's wife. They accidentally came into contact with the penniless Tamang people of Nagarkot. As Buddhists, these people are not part of the Hindu cast system, and as a result, the Tamang people are extremely poor and nearly destitute. The three teachers gave up their comfortable lifestyles and their university jobs, in order to offer a better life to these children -the future Tamang population- by means of an education.


Tamang primary school children

The teachers built the little original school with their own hands and with their own money, and began to give an education to the children free of charge. Narayan continued working at the school until recently, and also a couple evenings a week as a university lecturer, to pay for his family as well the salaries of some part time staff. Sadly in the past six months he has no longer been able continue his teaching jobs, due to serious health problems. In conjunction with the Tara Foundation this project has now developed into a thriving school with 136 children aged between 4 and 16. As well as their education, the children and their parents receive medical treatment, where necessary. The very poorest children (approx. 65 of them) who never have the chance to eat any hot, nutritious food at home, have, until recently, been getting a free warm lunch at school 3 times a week, which was prepared by the 3 founding teachers.


The youngest pupils / The reception class

The lack of money available means that this year the offering of this warm food to the poorest children has had to come to an end. But fortunately a local NGO has donated some buffalos, and as a result the children are now getting valuable calcium in their diet, from the buffalo milk and cheese. The childrens' school uniforms were donated too, as the families cannot afford to buy them.

A few years ago the Tara Foundation set up a strong foundation for this project - both metaphorically and physically! The original school had to be demolished because the landowner reclaimed the land for himself. New land had to be bought (what is very expensive in Nagarkot) and a new school had to be built there. The building of the new school went very well. Now the children have a brand-new school, with 3 floors. (See photographs, top).

Unfortunately a new problem has arisen. Narayan and Kamala, two of the founding teachers, both became seriously ill and needed long-term hospital treatment. This was probably exacerbated by their chronic work-overload. Currently neither are able to return to work. In Narayan's case, his recovery will probably take a long time, and as he's no longer be able to work, he cannot pay the teachers' salaries at the school.
But recently, despite he is not totally recovered, he started to teach again in the school. As a result of their illnesses, substitute teachers had to be found immediately. A new post has therefore come on the budget of the school: the salary costs are now for a total of 7 teachers. For a while most of these teachers were content with receiving quite a modest pay, in order to help to children of this poverty-stricken village, (about a quarter of the normal salary). But the progress of the complete project is going very slowly and sadly most of the teachers are now having to review their situations, as they can no longer afford to feed their own families (the cost of food has recently risen again in Nepal). As a result of this, the Tara Foundation has had to borrow money, to help pay these teachers. This is, of course, a very unsustainable situation, and outside donations are urgently needed, to prevent this much needed school (and important for the whole community) from having to close down, and thus denying more than hundred of children a decent start in life. Most of the classes at this school are conducted, as far as possible, in English, therefore giving the children the best possible means of future financial independence.

We ask for your support for this project so that these children can finish their education, and that many more children may also be offered these educational chances in the future.

For a photo-report of the new school .(click here).

Beyond the School


A disabled schoolgirl with her father                            Mahendra & his sister

Outside Nagarkot there are a few children (3 at present), in very difficult circumstances, who are being sponsored. Two of them now go to a good school in their own village. We are still, however, looking for a good place for one of these children to live.
Mahendra (pictured above) who has learning disabilities, cannot live at home as his mother can no longer look after him, as well as his sister, due to his acute autism and often violent behaviour. The shelter-home, where we could have placed him, has recently been closed down.
The girl pictured above, was the victim of a botched operation and now suffers from mobility problems. She cannot walk unaided, and has very limited use of her hands and is not more able to talk. She can still attend school, however, so there is hope for her.
The other 2 children are victims of a broken home. When their abusive father decided to take another wife, the children and their mother were abandoned. As a result of this, the children have had to leave school, to find work and help their mother. All 3 children remain under the responsibility of Narayan.

Can you help?
There are various ways you can help:
- By giving a donation for the costs of the school and the teachers' salaries.
- You can also become sponsor of the school, with a minimum donation of € 5 per month.
Because the continuity of a project of this kind (for the children's education) we are especially grateful to receive ongoing periodic contributions.
- By volunteering in Nepal.
If you would like to get involved in the school project in other ways, and have time to offer, rather then money, we can arrange a gap year project, whereby people can volunteer a teacher (or classroom assistant) in the school. All that's required is the ability to respond well to these children and the local people, a good level of English (and the ability to teach it to young children!) The Tara Foundation can help arrange this. This will, undoubtedly, be a very rewarding opportunity for the right people. No Tibetan or Nepalese language skills required!

The children other mentioned above, from outside the village, thankfully have sponsors now, but if you would like to sponsor other children, in similar circumstances, your help would be most gratefully received.
For more information on making donations click here.