Case Histories and Success Stories

SHAM BABU TAMANG Sham’s father was murdered before he was born. His mother didn’t want him or his brother, so they were left with his grandparents. But when his grandfather began to drink heavily, their life became a nightmare.

After being regularly tied up and beaten, Sham ran away. He lived under the market stalls when the vendors had gone home, subsisting on bits of food given him by priests and pilgrims. Occasionally, the grandfather would find him and take him home: then, tied again to the post, the beatings would continue for several days.

Finally Sham ran as far away as he could. He ended up living alone, on the streets of Kathmandu.

He was 6 years old.

A voluntary worker at the Buddha Academy introduced him to Dorje who immediately gave him a place at BABS. He studied in the school for 6 years before he joined carpentry training. He became very proficient and for two years became a teacher of carpentry in the school. He still lived in the boys hostel and was paid a small salary.

This he was encouraged to save for the time he would leave for the outside world. Then the small cornfield and the mud house lived in by his grandparents was badly damaged by a landslide. Sham took out all his savings and rebuilt the house.

After teaching he became employed by one of the biggest furniture factories in Nepal and learnt advanced carpentry skills. In 2005 his grandfather died. Sham paid for the funeral. He still visits his grandmother and does what he can for her. Layla, his sponsor, visited him in 2006 and found a strong, compassionate, funny, independent and happy man of 24.

DHURBA SUBEDI Dhurba comes from a poor family from mid-west Nepal. His family had been farmers, but when his father stabbed and killed his mother and was subsequently sent to jail, Dhurba had to go to live with his uncle. His uncle is kind but very poor and he could not afford to keep Dhurba.

He was recommended by the district education office to BABS. He has settled in well and is a remarkably cheerful young boy despite his traumas.

SUNITA WAIBA Sunita is the youngest daughter of the five children of a poor family in Ramechap district in Eastern Nepal.

The family has no electricity or water in their home.

The other four children help their parents in the field but it is poor land and the family face great difficulties feeding the children.

We now have her here in the Special Class.

BUNITA KUMARI SHAH Bunita's parents are landless peasants from the Terai region bordering India. They belong to a very low caste and are very poor.

They have no access to electricity or clean drinking water. Bunita’s father and brother work as labourers in a furniture workshop earning a pittance.

None of her siblings have been educated and her father requested she be taken into our care.

She arrived thin, but cheerful and has already adjusted well to the school. She goes to nursery class.

RAM MAYA Ram comes from a poor peasant family of rural Makwanpur and has nine siblings. Apart from her youngest brother none have had the opportunity of going to school.

She has been badly crippled since birth. We took her in, arranged for a major surgical operation and afterwards she was fitted her with an artifical leg. This has given her a new life and she is able to walk without any assistance.

She was one of the most talented trainees and completed her course in the spring of 2005. She then went back home with her new sewing machine (donated by the school as in the case of each student who completes the 3 year training). She is the main breadwinner of the family. 

SANTOSH YADAV Santosh is a post-polio case. After having successfully completed the three years’ training programme in tailoring in the Vocational Training section of our school in 1996, he was employed by a small, local NGO in Pashaputinath, a holy Hindu site, in Kathmandu. He is now married and has a child of his own. He also set up his own NGO giving crash training in stitching and tailoring to the poor and deprived youth in his neighbourhood. He is doing very well indeed!

LETTERS TO THE PRINCIPAL FROM THE STUDENTS

From: GELBU SHERPA AND PEMBER T SHERPA

“Sub: Expressing our gratitude for your kind help.

Sir,
It makes us sad to leave now after having lived in this school for last 12 years as a member of a big family. Sir, you have done so much for us which our parents would not have done for us. Although we lived in a hostel, you never let us feel that we were orphans. Your love, care and inspiration always made us feel that we are not without parents.

We will cherish this in future. Sir, we know that you have to take care of so many children. So, we cannot stay here for too long and be a burden to you. We have decided to be self-dependent. Moreover you used to say that when we are able we have to be independent. Sir, you have made us an able individual and now the time has come to stay on our own.

Sir, we have decided to leave the school. You have done so much that we cannot express in words but they are in our hearts.

This day we have made a promise that after completing our bachelor’ degree, we will come back to this place to work and contribute and share our knowledge with other members.

At last, thank you very much for your kind help that you have given to these helpless children so far. The credit of our success in becoming an able individual especially goes to you. We will always feel proud to be called a member of Buddha Academy family. We will always miss you, your love and care.

Thanking you,
Your obedient students,
Gelbu Sherpa and Pember T. Sherpa”

Both now at University studying for their BA

From: SONAM BHUTTI

‘Respected Sir,

I am forwarding this letter to confer my hearty gratitude and many, many thanks to you for all the great things that you have done for me. In fact, you reared me from the time I was innocent, exposing me to the rays of education and finally today you have searched me a nice and wonderful career that would soon be my support for life. Indeed you did more than a father should do for his children.

So you are like a real father. As far as I am concerned you are no less than God. I feel myself very lucky to be acquainted with you. If I weren’t known to you obviously I would remain in the environment of my previous background.

After spending 11 years of wonderful time here, now that time has come for me to leave you, my only home (school) and all the family members here. I cannot imagine how speedily the happy and wonderful time flies away. But, Sir, along with my body I am going to take you in my heart and mind.

The numerable good things you did for me are inexpressible. I feel I have on my shoulder lots of duties and responsibilities towards you and the school. I will see what I can do in the near future. I will never forget you and the school till my last breath of life.

Though I am out, my heart will remain in this school. By your grace I have stood in this stage. May your hands of blessing will always be with me. I always pray to Almighty for your long and prosperous life.

Yours one of the children,
Sonam Bhutti”

After successfully completing basic nursing training Sonam is now working with a French medical mission team in Kathmandu.

From: JIGME SAMTEN LAMA

“Respected Principal, Sir
Buddha Academy Boarding School 30th June 2005

Sir,
First of all I would like to thank you very much. I studied here for 10 years as one of the children of the school family under your shade. You helped me by providing scholarship until the SLC.

It is kind of you and I am very much grateful to you. Here, I gained lots of knowledge and I knew the right path. Here, all the staff and the students are really co-operative and understanding.

The environment of the school made me more perfect (meant in Buddhist terms). I am really very proud to be student of Buddha Academy Boarding School and to have a Principal like a father.

From my childhood I have an immense interest in Buddhism and its teaching.

So, I want to be a monk. Through this path may I spread the teachings of Lord Buddha for the welfare of all the sentient beings and bring peace in the world to some extent.

Lastly, once again thank you very much for bringing me up to this stage and I always pray for your success, longevity and sound health.

Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Jigme Samten Lama

After having successfully graduated from SCL Grade X he has become an ordained monk and is studying Buddhist philosophy.

AND BY A PRESENT STUDENT

THE WOES OF RURAL LIFE
An essay by SUDERSHAN DAHAL

Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so. So, from my point of view village life is not only good but it has negatives (sic) features also.

Some people think village life if very pleasant and beautiful. This is true from the view of rich people. But if we observe from the point of view of poor villagers, it is horrible. It is so miserable that I cannot express and explain.

By watching tele-films and cinemas about village life, we can know the hardship of village life to some extent. To get the full picture one must spend enough time in the village itself. Most people of our country are living in the rural area below the poverty line. They are the ones who experience the real village life and I am also one of them.

The hardships of village life that I had faced were so miserable that I couldn’t forget that experience. So is the case with many people in our country. My daily chores were grazing and looking after the cattle with my friends, sometimes cutting grass for the cattle, working with my parents in the field, collecting firewood from the forest and cleaning the cowshed etc.

Books pens and school were out of my sight. Going to school was my dream. Due to the remoteness of my village there is lack of basic means of communication, transportation, electricity, proper health facilities or pure drinking water all of which are just a distant dream of our village people.

One had to walk miles to reach the nearest health post. Because of lack of modern facilities people depend on the woods for fuel.

Life is a mixture of sorrows and happiness. All my miseries were disappeared when I was admitted in the Buddha Academy Boarding School. My dream came true and the school has been giving me education in the homely environs since the day I came here. All my basic needs are fulfilled here, in education, health, feedings, love and affection, dignity, protection etc.

The school has made me a conscious human being from an innocent kid. All my thanks and the credit goes to the Principal and all staff member for this.

Sudershan Dahal
Class X