A Winter Programme for School Going Children of Tamshing Chiwog
A week-long winter programme for each of the two batches of school-going children of Tamshing Chiwog under Bumthang was planned from Dec. 2020 to Jan. 2021. The programme aims to improve academic and interpersonal skills in a relaxed friendly environment. It was also envisioned to foster community vitality in Tamshing chiwog offering opportunities for children to know their peers and learning the history of the place. It is jointly supported by Pema Lingpa Foundation www.peling.org and Tamshing Thuendrel Tshogpa, an informal group, consisting of members with ancestral connection with the community. A review of this pilot project will be conducted towards the end of the programme for planning a way forward.
On 20th December, an orientation was conducted for participants for the winter programme. The orientation session was graced by Lama Tsheten, head of Tamshing monastery and Kenchogsum Shera. A simple opening ceremony was started with a prayer and national anthem, followed by suja and dresi. Participants were then conferred Buddhist refugee vows - the first step of embarking on ‘applying’ basic Buddhist principles to their life and ‘arousing’ humanity and empathy in heart of the young participants. Lama also reminded them that they are fortunate to be born in a peaceful and prosperous country like Bhutan blessed by Buddhist saints like Guru Rinpoche, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, Pema Lingpa, and others. Children were also reminded to be thankful to their parents for making numerous sacrifices for their education. He is hopeful that the young children would grow up to be a better human being to serve the community and beyond.
The programme is coordinated by Khenpo Sonam Tashi and Mr. Sangay Penjore together with resource persons from the scouting programme in Bumthang and Thimphu.
Published 21 Dec. 2021
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