Serang Monastery School

While Nubri Monastery itself survived the 2015 earthquake virtually intact, surrounding villages – including homes and schools – were badly damaged. Many lost their lives and children were orphaned. Poverty levels increased. Child trafficking continues to be of huge concern in the area. Infant and maternal mortality remains high.

Nuptul Rinpoche was so moved by the situation that he offered to care for and provide schooling for children local to the monastery. His vision was to build a school near the monastery to educate and empower these children of the Himalayas and to provide a spiritual base and safe haven for them. At the beginning, the children were housed in the monastery dormitories along with the nuns. A small room was found for a classroom. It was a significant challenge for the monastic community to keep running and at the same time have a school in its midst when its own future continues to be financially threatened.

Donations from supporters helped provide food for the children and to get the school house built. It would have classrooms below, dormitories upstairs and an attached kitchen and bathrooms. Building materials were slowly brought up the mountain paths. Rocks were brought up from the river. An area of land was levelled in readiness.