The U.S. Tibetan Society for School and Culture

THE TIBETAN SCHOOL PROJECT The U.S. Society for School and Culture is a small non-profit organization run by volunteers dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture through education. Our work is focused on building or renovating schools in rural Tibet, an endeavour called the Tibetan School Project. The Tibetan School Project is the result of an international, non profit, grass roots venture of Tibetan exiles and westerners in Sweden and the U.S. This was the first project of its kind that was granted permission to build schools inside Tibet. We also strive to provide Tibetan children and their families with medical care, housing and other essential supplies that will allow them to pursue an education.
Mission & Purpose The Swedish Tibetan Society for School & Culture (The Swedish Society) with the economic support of the U.S. Tibetan Society for School & Culture (the U.S. Society) has the following mission and purpose: To participate in an international grass roots effort to build, renovate, or otherwise support 108 primary schools (grades 1-6) in the rural areas of Tibet, and to provide medical care for the students attending the schools. To preserve Tibetan culture by providing Tibetan children with the ability to read their traditional texts, to learn traditional arts and crafts, and develop the skills necessary to be able to participate in the economical and political future of their country. The founder of the Tibetan Society for School & Culture, Soenam Jamyangling Please visit the Swedish Society website for more information.	Making A Difference The Swedish and U.S. Societies have shown that an international group can successfully negotiate and manage projects within Tibet. The Tibetan School Project in Tibet is currently educating thousands of Tibetan boys and girls, as well as providing them with basic medical care and food and clothing. In addition to the construction workers (the vast majority of whom are Tibetan) the schools employ Tibetan teachers and staff. Please visit the Program History page for a chronology of our projects since 1988 and go to How You Can Help to join us in this important work on behalf of the children - and the future - of Tibet.	Current Situation The majority of Tibetans still live inside Tibet. In urban areas, the level of education is generally adequate. However, in rural areas (where the majority live) it is still extremely difficult to obtain a basic education. Although there are many competent teachers being trained in Tibet, it is often impossible for them to teach in rural areas due to the lack of proper teaching and living facilities. More often than not, there are are not enough school buildings to accommodate all the children who want to learn. The financial responsibility of building a school is often left to the villagers themselves but it is financially impossible for them to do so. Even when a school is built, the ongoing costs of operations and maintenance are far beyond the resources of the local community. Students from the Mangra Bhatsik School For these reasons, the U.S. Society has undertaken responsiblity for maintaining the Mangra Bhatsik School which opened in 2003. Click here for more information on this project and how you can help.