Mustang Education Project
High in the mountains of Mustang, Nepal, the Chasey Kengtse School and Hostel in the village of Lubrak works to preserve Mustang culture by providing quality education and cultural studies in the mountains near the children’s homes.
At first read, this doesn’t sound unique, but it certainly is. In the last decades, anyone with any means has sent their children to boarding schools far away in the lowlands of Nepal and India, far from their families and culture. Once there, the children tend to lose their mountain culture and few ever come back. Many Himalayan communities that were once vibrant and flourishing are now dying out with no young people to continue the community or traditions.
The Chasey Kengtse education project works to reverse this trend, educating children well and closer to home. They believe that keeping children in their culture during their formative years will help preserve the mountain cultures. Yet, they face many challenges.
The project has been primarily supported by the Lubrak community (only 50 people), the Bon monks and a small group of European supporters. The receive very little support from people in the United States. Grit & Thistle Film is taking the lead here to bring together interested people who want to support this project by getting involved in planning, funding and implementing new and existing projects with the school.
Please contact us if you would like to learn more and get involved!
Some of the first challenges we want to address are finding a nonprofit in the USA to funnel funds through, organizing an English teaching program at the school, and starting to organize visits by health professionals to assess the health and needs of the children.
Chasey Kengtse Hostel Needs:
- Sponsor Students – fees, uniform, supplies, meals.
- Sponsor private teachers – to increase salaries to standard levels.
- Maintain and improve current structures – flooring, desks, chairs, tables, lights.
- General Supplies – school materials, books for a library, computers.
- Solar system for lights.
- Solar system for hot water to wash bodies, clothes and bedding.
- Expand the dormitory – it’s currently very cramped with little room to expand.
- Beds and bedding for students and staff.
- School uniforms and shoes – appropriate for cold weather and long-lasting.
- Kitchen – stove, fuel, pots and pans.
- Additional staff to care for the children – cook, care, clean, nurture.
- Teach English lessons – long-term qualified volunteers needed.
- Greenhouse to grow vegetables and improve diets.
- Health, hygiene and dental care – doctor, nurse and dental volunteers.
Contact us to learn more and donate:
Grit & Thistle Film, info@gritandthistle.com, 719-221-1731
The village of Lubrak was established in the 12th Century in this remote mountain valley in Lower Mustang. The Chasey Kengtse Hostel and school is located just above the village – at the very upper left corner of this photo.
