More than 5,000 Students Carry IM’s Legacy
Srongsten School in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu was founded with support from IM more than 45 years ago – and since then has provided thousands of exiled Tibetan children with education, language, and cultural identity. Today, the school is fighting for survival in an increasingly hostile climate. Headteacher Nyima speaks about the struggle for the future, her own journey – and why IM still has a special place in the school’s heart.*
Nyima is the headteacher of Srongsten School, which has around 600 pupils from preschool to lower secondary, 150 of whom live in the boarding section. The school was founded with IM’s support more than 45 years ago and was the first school for exiled Tibetans in Nepal. Today, most pupils are day students, as fewer children are fleeing Tibet. The school receives no government funding and has recently lost support from the Tibetan exile government.
The school’s infrastructure, however, has withstood the test of time for more than 45 years, even surviving the 2015 earthquake. All the teachers are exiled Tibetans, dedicated to passing on knowledge and culture to future generations.
No “Year of Compassion” in Nepal
This year, the Dalai Lama turns 90 – a celebration taking place on a large scale in India under the theme “the year of compassion”. But in Nepal, the situation is different. Nyima explains that the Chinese embassy cooperates with the Nepalese police to prevent celebrations of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan festivals. The climate for exiled Tibetans has hardened. Despite nine Tibetan refugee camps in Nepal, young people cannot pursue higher education after secondary school. Many therefore try to reach India, where opportunities are greater – despite increased risks and surveillance.
“Families of young people who flee Tibet are imprisoned and tortured for years. Yet many young Tibetans come back to Nepal just to receive a hug from their loved ones who made the journey for that very purpose – and find the strength to carry on abroad. Many never see their families again,” says Nyima.
Over 5,000 Pupils Have Benefited from IM’s Support
Nyima came to Dharamsala in India as an orphan, only three years old. Her relatives in Tibet do not know that she is alive. After completing teacher training in India, she dedicated her life to education, particularly history. With pride, she says:
“My driving force is to ensure that Tibetan culture and language are preserved.”
For her, leading the school is the finest way to give knowledge back to the next generation.
In Nyima’s office are photos of Britta Holmström and the Dalai Lama’s mother, Diki Tsering, whom she calls “the mothers of Srongsten School”.
“We remember IM as the most important donor. No one has been able to replace IM – more than 5,000 pupils have been blessed by IM,” says Nyima.
* Nyima has no surname. Her name means sun or sunshine in Tibetan.
Text and photo: Maria Kempe
By: Malin Kihlström