Kyitsel-ling has needed a medical van for a long time. There are about 80 students plus a few staff members as part of the Kyitsel-ling community. In India, children are prone to many health issues. Often, children are sick and need to go to the hospital. Minocha Hospital, where the Kyitsel-ling children go for most hospitalizations, is about 6 kilometers away. But because of traffic and road conditions, it takes about 30 minutes. For more severe health issues, the children have to visit hospitals in Dehra Dun, about 10 kilometers away. It can take about 45 minutes.  Additionally, over the past several years, Kyitsel-ling has continued to increase its co-curricular sporting, cultural, and academic activities.  It has started participating in some inter-school activities, which means Kyitsel-ling sports or cultural teams need to travel to other schools. They need a school van.    More details in the project report below:    KYITSEL-LING VAN PROJECT UPDATE  Huge gratitude to TCEF sponsor Dori Garfield and family for funding this project. 

Tibetan Nehru Memorial Foundation School (TNMFS)  school is situated in the Tibetan Colony at Clement Town, Dehradun (UK). The school was established around 1965 to help Tibetan refugee children in this colony get a modern education in a conducive Tibetan environment. Today it is a senior secondary school affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. This School is administered by the Tibetan Nehru Memorial Foundation under the leadership of Ven.DG Khochhen Rinpoche. Children from Kyitsel-ling and the Tibetan settlement here, as well as those from the neighboring Indian community, attend this school.  Currently, the school has about 170 students. Compared to other Tibetan schools in exile, this school has very limited resources for developmental projects.    Because of TCEF’s special connection to Clement Town and Kyitsel-ling, we have worked with this school before – helped to procure computers and remodel their science lab.    Early in 2025, Jennifer led another group to Clement Town, and we visited the school and saw the real need to improve the library there.    On our return, Sara Sykes, one of the sponsors in that group that visited this school, offered to organize a fundraiser for the library. She and her circle did an amazing job, and the necessary funds were raised.    Work on renovating and improving the library had started earlier, but they used the summer break, when children are no longer in school, to do the final electrical and painting work. Recently, the school reported that the renovation work has been completed.  They’ve now installed excellent new lighting, added several new shelves to accommodate the collection of new books, and improved seating facilities. A new coat of paint transformed the look and feel of the place, completing this remodel project.    More details of all the positive changes are included in this completion report.    COMPLETION REPORT – TNMFS LIBRARY PROJECT  

                The incessant monsoon rains and the monkey menace in the area have changed the roofing landscape in Clement Town. Nearly every house now has a metal shed over its existing roof. Thanks to TCEF donor Michael DeMato’s contribution, the west wing, which comprises the girls’ dorms, dining room, and computer/library room, already has a tin shed. What is needed is a tin shed over the rest of the Kyitsel-ling building.    A tin shed will protect the cement roof from the monsoons and prevent leaks, dampness, and molds. Additionally, some kind of grid to enclose the roof area would make it completely safe from monkeys. The whole enclosed space under the tin roof  can be of multiple uses to Kyitsel-ling—for water storage tanks, to dry clothes, and to print prayer flags. Down the line, there is even potential to create a multi-purpose hall.    This project is now completed. Attached completion report (KYITSELLING ROOFING PROJECT REPORT)     Huge gratitude to sponsors of this project:    Michael & Dru DeMato David & Julie McCulloch 

Kyitsel-ling was facing major/significant issues with their water distribution system. They have a tube well, and therefore a great source for their water. But the water pipes are old, and have frequent leaks. The water storage and distribution system was not planned and put in place at one time. Instead, as the hostel grew, modifications and changes took place at different times. The lack of a master plan, and the aging of the pipes are causing significant problems.    Kyitsel-ling needed  to  develop a central  efficient water distribution system. This involves replacing a lot of the old pipes, procuring a few large water tanks that can be placed at one central location. We’re glad that this project has now successfully been completed.    Huge gratitude to Dr.Ira & Susan Casson for sponsoring this project in memory of their beloved sons – Joshua and Benjamin Casson.    Here is the complete report “Kyitsel-ling Water System Report”  

TCEF collaborated with the Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society in Dharamsala to organize English essays on Tibet-related topics. A total of over 1,000 students from 15 Sambhota Tibetan schools participated in this project.  The aim of the project was two-fold:  Encourage students to study and think about Tibet-related topics  Strengthen English language learning in Tibetan schools.  Recently, we received the top three essays for each grade from all fifteen participating schools, and the essays are beautiful. The most striking feature of the essays is the strong content. The students’ interest in and knowledge of Tibet-related topics are truly remarkable – even inspirational.  This project has also been well-received and appreciated by our partner organization. Here is a paragraph from Tenzin Norphel, the Sambhota sponsorship coordinator with whom we worked. We extend our sincere appreciation to TCEF for its generous support, which has facilitated our students’ ability to engage with Tibetan cultural themes while enhancing their English language proficiency through essay writing. This project not only improved their linguistic skills but also deepened their understanding of their precious cultural heritage. From our side, we’d like to thank everyone associated with this project – the Sambhota head office, the principals and teachers of the participating schools, and, of course, the outstanding students who poured their hearts out in these essays. 

TCEF is collaborating with APECIH, Switzerland to construct a multi-use auditorium for Rainbow School at Zanskar, Ladakh. We’re delighted to report that this project is now underway. Here are the projects reports from Rainbow School in chronological order. PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 01 PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 02 PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 03     We are glad to report work has resumed after the long winter break in Ladakh. Recently Rainbow School sent us another update. They have labeled it as Construction Report 1/2026. Overall, this is the 4th report that we’ve received on this project.  PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 04  

The overarching linguistic objective of Tibetan education in exile is to guarantee all Tibetan students bi-literacy and bilingualism in both the Tibetan and English languages. Achieving this aim increases the likelihood that Tibetan children receive a high-quality, modern education to be successful in an ever-changing world. 

Improving the quality of education is going to take a multi faceted effort – involving quality teacher training, building an exception cadre of Tibetan education leadership and then transforming Tibetan classrooms with education technologies. And right here – transforming Tibetan classrooms is where we feel TCEF can make a vital difference – maybe not for all Tibetan schools, but at least in a few select schools.

TCEF believes that the endangered Tibetan culture premised on compassion and altruism is precious, not only for Tibetans but also for the whole world. We think it is vital to transmit it to the children.

In the project, the Tibetan children at Kyitsel-ling Tibetan Children’s Education Center ( Kyitsel-ling) will themselves make the prayer flags manually. In doing so, they will be actively engaged in a colorful and fascinating facet of Tibetan culture. And, we believe that this will be hands-on cultural transmission – the very best way to learn about our culture.Finally, the proceeds from the sales will go to benefit the Tibetan Elders Program.

Kyitsel-ling has needed a medical van for a long time. There are about 80 students plus a few staff members as part of the Kyitsel-ling community. In India, children are prone to many health issues. Often, children are sick and need to go to the hospital. Minocha Hospital, where the Kyitsel-ling children go for most hospitalizations, is about 6 kilometers away. But because of traffic and road conditions, it takes about 30 minutes. For more severe health issues, the children have to visit hospitals in Dehra Dun, about 10 kilometers away. It can take about 45 minutes.  Additionally, over the past several years, Kyitsel-ling has continued to increase its co-curricular sporting, cultural, and academic activities.  It has started participating in some inter-school activities, which means Kyitsel-ling sports or cultural teams need to travel to other schools. They need a school van.    More details in the project report below:    KYITSEL-LING VAN PROJECT UPDATE  Huge gratitude to TCEF sponsor Dori Garfield and family for funding this project. 

Tibetan Nehru Memorial Foundation School (TNMFS)  school is situated in the Tibetan Colony at Clement Town, Dehradun (UK). The school was established around 1965 to help Tibetan refugee children in this colony get a modern education in a conducive Tibetan environment. Today it is a senior secondary school affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. This School is administered by the Tibetan Nehru Memorial Foundation under the leadership of Ven.DG Khochhen Rinpoche. Children from Kyitsel-ling and the Tibetan settlement here, as well as those from the neighboring Indian community, attend this school.  Currently, the school has about 170 students. Compared to other Tibetan schools in exile, this school has very limited resources for developmental projects.    Because of TCEF’s special connection to Clement Town and Kyitsel-ling, we have worked with this school before – helped to procure computers and remodel their science lab.    Early in 2025, Jennifer led another group to Clement Town, and we visited the school and saw the real need to improve the library there.    On our return, Sara Sykes, one of the sponsors in that group that visited this school, offered to organize a fundraiser for the library. She and her circle did an amazing job, and the necessary funds were raised.    Work on renovating and improving the library had started earlier, but they used the summer break, when children are no longer in school, to do the final electrical and painting work. Recently, the school reported that the renovation work has been completed.  They’ve now installed excellent new lighting, added several new shelves to accommodate the collection of new books, and improved seating facilities. A new coat of paint transformed the look and feel of the place, completing this remodel project.    More details of all the positive changes are included in this completion report.    COMPLETION REPORT – TNMFS LIBRARY PROJECT  

                The incessant monsoon rains and the monkey menace in the area have changed the roofing landscape in Clement Town. Nearly every house now has a metal shed over its existing roof. Thanks to TCEF donor Michael DeMato’s contribution, the west wing, which comprises the girls’ dorms, dining room, and computer/library room, already has a tin shed. What is needed is a tin shed over the rest of the Kyitsel-ling building.    A tin shed will protect the cement roof from the monsoons and prevent leaks, dampness, and molds. Additionally, some kind of grid to enclose the roof area would make it completely safe from monkeys. The whole enclosed space under the tin roof  can be of multiple uses to Kyitsel-ling—for water storage tanks, to dry clothes, and to print prayer flags. Down the line, there is even potential to create a multi-purpose hall.    This project is now completed. Attached completion report (KYITSELLING ROOFING PROJECT REPORT)     Huge gratitude to sponsors of this project:    Michael & Dru DeMato David & Julie McCulloch 

Kyitsel-ling was facing major/significant issues with their water distribution system. They have a tube well, and therefore a great source for their water. But the water pipes are old, and have frequent leaks. The water storage and distribution system was not planned and put in place at one time. Instead, as the hostel grew, modifications and changes took place at different times. The lack of a master plan, and the aging of the pipes are causing significant problems.    Kyitsel-ling needed  to  develop a central  efficient water distribution system. This involves replacing a lot of the old pipes, procuring a few large water tanks that can be placed at one central location. We’re glad that this project has now successfully been completed.    Huge gratitude to Dr.Ira & Susan Casson for sponsoring this project in memory of their beloved sons – Joshua and Benjamin Casson.    Here is the complete report “Kyitsel-ling Water System Report”  

TCEF collaborated with the Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society in Dharamsala to organize English essays on Tibet-related topics. A total of over 1,000 students from 15 Sambhota Tibetan schools participated in this project.  The aim of the project was two-fold:  Encourage students to study and think about Tibet-related topics  Strengthen English language learning in Tibetan schools.  Recently, we received the top three essays for each grade from all fifteen participating schools, and the essays are beautiful. The most striking feature of the essays is the strong content. The students’ interest in and knowledge of Tibet-related topics are truly remarkable – even inspirational.  This project has also been well-received and appreciated by our partner organization. Here is a paragraph from Tenzin Norphel, the Sambhota sponsorship coordinator with whom we worked. We extend our sincere appreciation to TCEF for its generous support, which has facilitated our students’ ability to engage with Tibetan cultural themes while enhancing their English language proficiency through essay writing. This project not only improved their linguistic skills but also deepened their understanding of their precious cultural heritage. From our side, we’d like to thank everyone associated with this project – the Sambhota head office, the principals and teachers of the participating schools, and, of course, the outstanding students who poured their hearts out in these essays. 

TCEF is collaborating with APECIH, Switzerland to construct a multi-use auditorium for Rainbow School at Zanskar, Ladakh. We’re delighted to report that this project is now underway. Here are the projects reports from Rainbow School in chronological order. PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 01 PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 02 PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 03     We are glad to report work has resumed after the long winter break in Ladakh. Recently Rainbow School sent us another update. They have labeled it as Construction Report 1/2026. Overall, this is the 4th report that we’ve received on this project.  PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 04  

The overarching linguistic objective of Tibetan education in exile is to guarantee all Tibetan students bi-literacy and bilingualism in both the Tibetan and English languages. Achieving this aim increases the likelihood that Tibetan children receive a high-quality, modern education to be successful in an ever-changing world. 

Improving the quality of education is going to take a multi faceted effort – involving quality teacher training, building an exception cadre of Tibetan education leadership and then transforming Tibetan classrooms with education technologies. And right here – transforming Tibetan classrooms is where we feel TCEF can make a vital difference – maybe not for all Tibetan schools, but at least in a few select schools.

TCEF believes that the endangered Tibetan culture premised on compassion and altruism is precious, not only for Tibetans but also for the whole world. We think it is vital to transmit it to the children.

In the project, the Tibetan children at Kyitsel-ling Tibetan Children’s Education Center ( Kyitsel-ling) will themselves make the prayer flags manually. In doing so, they will be actively engaged in a colorful and fascinating facet of Tibetan culture. And, we believe that this will be hands-on cultural transmission – the very best way to learn about our culture.Finally, the proceeds from the sales will go to benefit the Tibetan Elders Program.