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There are currently 21 children in the school, introduced here from junior to senior. They come from different surrounding villages, some even from Upper Mustang, up to two days away on foot. Without the free facility at Jharkot, their families would not be able to afford a good education for them. |
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Came here at the age of 4 given the information that she was 7. She cried a lot in the beginning, the older children say. “Now she is crazy”. And cheerful! | Tshering Lhamo from Phaylak, East of the Kali Gandaki. Born in 2006, 2 siblings, at the school since 2010 |
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Pema Wangchuk from Gyaghar in Upper Mustang. Born in 2003, 1 sister, at the school since 2010 |
Pema Wangchuk is a calm fellow but can nevertheless be quite cheerful and look for contact in a quiet way. |  |
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Lhakpa is very talented in languages, an impish and cuddly girl. Though the youngest, she knows how to make her point. | Lhakpa Chenzom from Ghara in Upper Mustang. Born in 2003, 2 siblings, at the school since 2007 |
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Angya Gurung From Phaylak village, like Tshering Lhamo.. Born in 2003, 2 siblings, at the school since 2010 |
Angya, a delicate, friendly little boy, can be completely absorbed when drawing. We were baffled when we saw him lark about in Lhadup… |
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Palsang Lhamo has blended in well and quickly with the girls’ team. She likes to sing and loves it when Lhamo Tshering does her hair. | Palsang Lhamo from Chuksang in Upper Mustang. Born in 2002, 2 siblings, at the school since 2010 |
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Jeewan Gurung from Lhadup near Jharkot.Born in 2002, 4 siblings, at the school since 2007 |
Jeewan is a quiet, cautious observer. He has turned out to be a talented, courageous actor. |  |
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Tshering Pemba, the strongest among the new boys, takes a back seat (most of the time) – and sees everything. | Tshering Pemba from Phaylak, a village East of the Kali Gandaki. Born in 2002, 1 brother, at the school since 2010 |
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Bhujung Gurung from Phaylak, 5 hours walk to Jharkot. Born in 2002, 3 siblings. At the school since 2007  |
Bhujung is a cheery child, but he doesn't talk a lot. He frequently has a new scratch on his nose or a swelling bump on his forehead... |
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Far away from home and in a school for the very first time Kurchung Lhamo still found a home in Jharkot quickly. | Kurchung Lhamo comes from the village Surkhang in Upper Mustang. Born in 2001, 1 brother, at the school since 2009 |
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Ngawang Gyamtso from Yara in Upper Mustang. 3 siblings, Born in 2001. At the school since 2007 |
Ngawang Gyamtso is quite short for his age, an earnest boy, very talented in drawing and singing. Here he's puzzling over a problem of perspective. |  |
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Sonam Wangyal is wonderful with little children and can sometimes be a scallywag… and hopefully his leg has mended! | Sonam Wangyal from Tangbe, Upper Mustang. Born in 2000, 1 brother. At the school since 2007 |
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Dicky Gurung one more girl from Phaylak. Born in 2000, 2 siblings, at the school since 2010 |
She hadn't been in school before and thus has a lot to catch up. Since we didn’t have any more room she sleeps at relatives’ in the village and spends the days with us. |  |
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Pema Yangdon is a diligent student whose temperament blossoms when she dances and sings Nepalese hits with the others. | Pema Yangdon from Ghara, Surkhang in Upper Mustang. Born 2000, 3 siblings, at the school since 2010 |
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Sonam Tshering he comes from Dzong, a little village at the other side of the canyon. Born in 1999, 3 siblings, at the school since 2010 |
The boy is a true allrounder: smart, creative, sporty, and interested in everything. And on top of that he is a good and cheerful companion. |
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Dolma Gurung from Tangbe in Upper Mustang. 3 siblings, born in 1999. At the school since 2007 |
Dolma is a cute, always jolly and grateful child. She lovingly looks after the smaller children |  |
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A capable craftsman. And even now it's really hard for the ladies to withstand Ngawang Tsering's charming manners... | Ngawang Tsering belongs to the group from Phaylak. 3 siblings, born in 1999. At the school since 2007 |
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Karma Choesang from Dzong, the village on the other side of the canyon. Born 1999. At the school since 2006 |
Karma is constantly moving, a lively dancer and actor. Career aspiration: Amchi. (Practitioner of traditional Tibetan Medicine) |
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Ngawang Thupten maintains order: school stuff, clothing, his few possessions - everything perfect. Nonetheless he's incredible witty. | Ngawang Thupten from Kangra in Upper Mustang; Born 1998, 5 siblings, at the school since 2007 |
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Pema Dechen from Putak. Born 1997, 2 siblings, at the school since 2004. Her big brother lives as a monk in Jharkot monastery. |
She has an enormous feeling for colours and can completely lose herself in painting. She is also a canny and capable aid in the kitchen – and wants to become a cook. |  |
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Sonam Wangdu is the captain in the bigger boys' room, an excellent drawer and rider. Career aspiration: Tangka-Painter. | Sonam Wangdu from Chongur, 300m higher than Jharkot. Born 1997, 5 siblings. At the school since 2004. |
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Lhamu Tsering Born in 1996, she is the most senior. At the school since 2004, 2 siblings. Comes from the neighboring village Kingar. |
The highly intelligent girl wants to become Amchi – there should be more women in this profession, she says. She is gifted in languages and a master of origami. |  |
...and because you might like to see the pictures we replaced with newer ones here's the way to our children's archive >> | |||
People in charge | |||
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Mohan Gurung is the head of the school, English and Maths teacher and educator; he lives 24 hours a day with the children, manages the shopping, reconstruction measures, meetings with the village committee and with the school committee and much more. |  |
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| His wive and children live near Pokhara, he only sees them in the holidays. Mohan's family is from Jharkot, but he grew up in India. When he was 21 years old and visited the village of his ancestors for the first time, Tsewang Norbu, the project director at the time, offered him employemnt as part-time English teacher – and Mohan stayed.Mohan's story >> | |||
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Tsering Dolkar teaches Tibetan. Like Mohan she lives full-time with the children at the centre. Apart from teaching she attends to the daily issues of the boarding school, is the motherly contact person for the children and by leading the daily morning and evening pujas she is also responsible for their traditional religious education. |
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| Tsering Dolkar's family is from Tibet. Like so many others, after the Chinese occupation of their native country her parents fled to Nepal, where Tsering Dolkar was born in a refugee camp. Tsering Dolkar about herself>> | |||
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Amchi Nyima is a noted practitioner of Traditional Tibetan Medicine. He is from Jharkot originally, his own father was Amchi as well. He tends to the children as well as the inhabitants of the local villages – often going there by horse; he gives instruction in Tibetan medicine to interested westerners. |  |
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Amchi Sang Kna has been part of the team since April 2009. Besides his training as an Amchi a spiritual introduction defines his life. He supports Amchi Nyima as a physician and teaches the older children in botany and anatomy to spark their interest in traditional Tibetan Medicine. |  |
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| Mohan about Amchi Sang Kna >> | |||
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Rishikant has been working as the school’s cook since 2009. He is from the Terai, the tropical lowland of Nepal. When we first arrived in Jharkot he was new as well and quite guarded. In the meantime he has developed an affectionate relationship with the children who add lots of chili to his already quite spicy dishes. |  |
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| Photos on this page: C. Klaffinger, W. Pichlmüller, J. Schlager, R. Grannemann | |||
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