The Vikramasila Foundation

Background

As a result of the Chinese occupation in 1959, Tibet's cultural identity has been continually threatened. Recently, this threat has increased dramatically and the Tibetan identity now faces extinction. For the last 40 years there has been a constant exodus of Tibetans as they seek refuge in other countries throughout the world.

Pema Ts'al was founded as an educational institution for children, a place where students can study both the teachings of the Buddha and a comprehensive Western curriculum. A school currently operates in both India and Nepal, and future plans include a Buddhist Monastery for girls. An educational institution for Western adults opened in February 2001 in New York City.

Pema Ts'al Mundgod

The Pema Ts'al hostel for Tibetan children was established in 1995. It is located within the Tibetan refugee community of Mundgod in South India.

In a community where most families have little education, children often find little support for their academic efforts. Semi-literate parents cannot help with homework and sometimes do not understand why studying is so important. All of the Pema Ts'al resident students attend the local community school where they study Tibetan, Hindi, English, math, science, history and social studies, along with about 1,000 other students.

From 1995 to 2002, 44 students were admitted to the Pema Ts'al school. Between 2001 and 2003, 14 students have graduated. Five of those students transferred to other schools where they are currently enrolled, and 25 students are currently studying at Pema Ts'al. There are currently ten openings which are in the process of being filled.

Pema Ts'al has developed a reputation for academic excellence. Every year, the Tibetan Department of Education in Dharamasala, India, conducts an essay competition in Tibetan for senior students all throughout India. For the 2002-2003 year, Pema Ts'al student Tenzin Yangdol was awarded first place in the Class XII category and Tenzin Dolker was awarded second place in the Class XI category. Among the students who have graduated and gone on to college, one is attending Ethraj Girl's College in Chennai, India, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and another is studying Tibetan Medicine at the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute in Dharamsala, India.

Pema Ts'al provides students with an environment committed to education and spiritual development with the support of a dedicated staff and selected teachers.

On October 24, 2002, the site for the new school was blessed, and excavation began a few days later on October 30th. The Pema Ts'al staff and students were very fortunate to receive a visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on December 15th. His Holiness laid the foundation stone for the school building. Click here for photos of His Holiness.

If you would like to sponsor a child in Nepal or India, please click on the "Sponsor a Child" button below. Please fill out the form and mail to the address at the top. If you click on "Meet the Children", you can meet the Tibetan children currently residing at the school. If you would like to make a general donation to the school, please click on the "Make a Donation" button at the top of this page. Thank you from everyone at Pema Ts'al.

Sponsorships for Pema Ts'al Mundgod students continue through college. The students not only have to pay tuition to gain admittance, they must also pay for books, lodging and general expenses, which is more costly than when they attend Pema Ts'al. Pema Ts'al continues to send them a stipend as long as they remain in college.

$20- Pays for breakfast and two meals, along with evening tea, for 30 students and staff for a day
$30 - Buys a cupboard for a student
$35- Pays boarding, maintenance, toiletry, medical, stationary and clothing expenses of a student for a month
$50 - Provides a teacher or a student with a study table and a chair
$73- Pays the salary of a teacher for a month
$90- Buys a desk/table and bench for a classroom for two people
$100 - Provides a bed, table and chair for a teacher or a student
$250 - Buys a cupboard for the Library
$1000 - Pays the total cost of an 11'x13' bedroom for two students
$1400- Pays the total cost of an 18'x13' room with attached bath for a teacher
$1500 - Builds a 13'x27' toilet and bathroom block
$3500 - Will build a 26'x23' classroom

You can also dedicate a room; e.g., with a $3500 donation you can have a classroom dedicated to you or the person you designate; for $1000, you can do the same with a bedroom. When you send in your donation, please state in writing that you would like this done.

All money is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. The Vikramasila Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization, tax ID #22-299-8005.

Lama Guru featured on PBS Nova special "Lost Treasures of Tibet"
Lama Guru Gyaltsen, Executive Director of the Pema Ts'al schools, and Lama Kunga Dhondhup, principal of Pema Ts'al in Pokhara, Nepal, assisted producer Liesl Clark in many of the filming and touring arrangements in Mustang. An interview with HH Sakya Trizin is also included. Lama Guru was featured prominently during the show, and opening footage showed the monks of Pema Ts'al Sakya Monastic Institute in Nepal making a sand mandala. The program originally aired on February 18, 2003. More information, and a copy of the program, can be ordered by visiting www.pbs.org/nova/tibet/.

Concert at Local Bar Saves Tibetan Schools
Information about an April 2002 benefit concert by the band Buffalo Nickel (The Student Printz, University of Southern Mississippi, April 2002)