PROJECT PROPOSAL
REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FOR A
PROJECT TO SET UP IN SREE BADAM VILLAGE, SIKKIM, INDIA
SOTN was established in
1984 by me, Guzang Choden. I am a Tibetan. I was born in
Tibet and left Tibet with my parents during the Chinese
occupation. I was fortunate to go to school. Education
changed my life for the better. When I came to Holland I
set up SOTN. SOTN”s
main goal is to promote education. We have been very
successful and have helped a substantial amount of children
to complete their high school.
SOTN would also like to
bring the plight of the village population of Sree badam,
Sikkim, India.
We would like
to raise money for the Payul Dechan Gaweling Monastery in
Sikkim, a sub-monastery of the Payul
Monastery in Tibet, so that the Monastery could build a
school for the children of the village.
Palyul Dhecan
Gaweling Monastery was established in the year 2002. The
Monastery was built under the leadership of the construction
committee. The committee consisted of Lama Tsering, Thupten
Dorjee Bhutiya, Thendup Bhutiya. The Monastery was realized
from donations received from the local people.
The Monastery
is located at upper Sree badam (west Sikkim). At the
Monastery they have a toilet, a bathroom and a residence for
the monks.
The Monastery
has been built so that puja/prayers can be done daily and
also to look after the well being of the community. In
Buddhist society a Monastery is very important for the
community i.e. for education, medical and general well being
of the people.
In the year
2004 the committee of Sree badam people invited H.E. Lhatul
Rinpoche to do a puja for world peace. Rinpoche also gave
some teachings. The committee was very impressed and
decided to ask Rinpoche to take over the Monastery. Due to
the harsh economic conditions, the committee finds it
difficult to maintain and support the monastery.
The Sree badam
village is located in south west of Sikkim, India
Sree badam
village consists of 376 houses. The population is 2000.
The people of the Sree badam village are very poor. The
number of children going to school is very low. Most of the
people live below poverty level. They are farmers and
depend on agriculture for their living. The Government has
taken initiative and provided them access to subsidized
rice. There is no hospital in the village. When the people
fall ill they must walk 9 km to the nearest hospital. The
people live in small houses with no basic facilities
Due to the
difficult and harsh conditions in the village, I have been
approached by Lhatul Rinpoche for assistance. He would like
to build small school so that the children of the village
could get a basic education.
Below are two
pictures of children from the village.
Address of
Monastery:
Palyul Dechen
Gaweling Monastery
Sree badam,
P.O. Sree badam Bazaar
District
Gyalshing, West Sikkim
Pin no. 737111
03595 245610
