When we visited Bhutan in the summer of 2017, we were struck by the beauty, the rich culture and the history of this country and its people. The influence of Buddhism was clearly evident in the Bhutanese way of life, a contributing factor to its recognition as the happiest country in the world, and it’s commitment to the philosophy of ‘Gross National Happiness’ (GNH).

 

On visiting several of the monasteries, we were humbled to see how the monks existed & managed with the most basic of living conditions. The idea of raising donations to improve the living conditions was proposed, however great value is placed on the provision of education, especially the acquisition of English, as a potential provider of opportunity and social mobility.  

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Often families from disadvantaged backgrounds send their boys to Buddhist monasteries to provide them with basic sustenance. Unfortunately, English education in the monasteries is often limited due to a lack of teachers and learning material. However, the monastic body is now beginning to provide some basic provision for the teaching of English in some monasteries, but resources are limited.

 

In contrast to the young monks, school children in Bhutan are taught English from an early age. It forms part of the curriculum and is the second language after their native ‘tongue’ of Dzongkha. English is considered extremely useful in Bhutan. It is an international language and tourism is an expanding sector in Bhutan, providing a valuable contribution to the country’s GDP. Furthermore, those wishing to succeed to the top of their profession/vocation or work in top government jobs are likely to need to speak English.

 

With the help of your generous donations, we will be able to equip the Bhutanese monasteries with valuable learning resources, as we aim to transform young lives, literally one page at a time! 

 

Please consider supporting this worthy cause, all donations, however big or small, are greatly appreciated.