SIDDHARTHA SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP

I have been fortunate to be a supporter of the Siddhartha School Partnership (formerly Project) for over ten years. I have visited the Siddhartha School in Ladakh, India where 425 bright children are afforded access to a rich, thoroughly modern education that is in harmony with their Himalayan heritage and their cultural traditions. The School and its funding by the Partnership ensures that the school is open to all families, regardless of their economic circumstances. Founded in 1993 by the esteemed Buddhist abbot Khensur Rinpoche, the school is a vital agent in moving a simple Buddhist culture into the 21st century with care and consideration for the ancient traditions of its people. For over 25 years Siddhartha School has provided a dynamic, sensitive program of academic excellence for all children, Nursery age through Class 10, regardless of economic means. It is an institution with a great academic track record with 98% of their 10th grade graduating classes passing the government exam to move on to their next studies. This organization is a strong steward of the funds raised and a superb communicator with its supporters.

I donated to the Siddhartha School for the first time this year. I was pleased with how simple they made it to add this organization to my donor-advised fund. The payments are automatic, and the school sends a receipt. It's so easy.

I love the communications from the school. I receive their email newsletter, and I'm impressed by how well they convey what's happening at the school and in Ladakh.

Keep up the great work!

I was first introduced to the Siddhartha School's student sponsorship program years ago. I began sponsoring 2 students that year. What a blessing it has been to see them grow. I hear from them a couple times each year, and those messages reveal that these children are being educated well. It means a lot to me that their culture is also being preserved.

I so respect the integrity and care that this organization brings to every decision and interaction. As both a board member and a donor I feel my resources are very well stewarded and always mission focused.

GO Campaign first worked with Siddhartha School in 2015. Siddhartha School has shown incredible commitment to the education and well being of children from the remote region of Ladakh. We have previously funded a water tank on the school campus as well as improvements to the girls dormitory. Siddhartha School has been fantastic to work with and we have been very pleased with the outcome of both grants. We are incredibly proud of Siddhartha School and the amount of care they provide to their students.

First, the school in Ladakh is a true gem. I know students who have graduated (it goes through 10th grade), taken a year of high school in the US and gone on to Smith College and to Bennington College, with one now in a Master's at John's Hopkins in International Studies. Siddhartha School prepares some of the best students in all of India, and this from the remoteness of Ladakh! The S.S. Project does an amazing job raising funds. I've helped a bit turning friends onto it, and they've contributed regularly. The organization is tight, dedicated, well organized and well resourced. Fully functional and for an excellent cause.

My husband and I have been supporting Siddhartha School Project since it very inception. We first met Khensur Rinpoche when he first came to Portland, Maine and he became our root teacher. We were both on the Board of Directors in the early days.

In June 2014, I had the opportunity to visit Siddhartha School and meet the student that I would be sponsoring, Dawa Landol. What a wonderful experience that was and to see what a difference this made to the children and their families in this remote region!

Siddhartha School has transformed the lives of many (many!) Tibetan children in need by giving them residential first class education with emphasis not only on top notch academics but on how to repair the world and make it a better place for all. The staff is brilliant, compassionate and very, very hard-working.
The school's founder, Khenzur Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan is the embodiment of wisdom, love and compassion; and these qualities are seeds that are planted in all around him; and inspire all at Siddhartha school, at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Exile where he served as Abbott and all who have had the privilege to meet him and learn from him. Siddhartha School is one of Khenzur Rinpoche's precious gifts to the World that I hope many are compelled to support.

Siddhartha School Project does a wonderful job of supporting this School in Ladakh India with a curriculum that is up-to-date and respectful of local traditions and graduates students who receive the highest marks on the Indian state exams. Besides connecting each sponsor with a student and keeping the two in touch, they send very frequent emails involving timely events, holidays, or cultural matters. Most the time these involve drawings and/or writings by students and I always learn something new from them. In addition, I always feel that my support is promptly and gratefully acknowledged. The values of the organization and the school are of the highest quality and it is my pleasure and honor to be involved with the organization.

My husband and I have supported Siddhartha School for 10 years, and I have volunteered with the Siddhartha School Project for 2½ years. During this time, we’ve seen the school grow--in the number of students, facilities, curriculum offerings, and teacher training programs. This is possible through the dedication of the Ladakhi staff, teachers, parents, and board members, as well as in the staff and board of the US-based Siddhartha School Project. Everyone works together to ensure that students have the best modern education available while honoring Ladakh’s traditional culture. Students develop the skills they will need to navigate the changes coming as this remote region develops. We have come to know several graduates and are proud of their accomplishments after graduation, both in their academic achievements and their growth as caring, compassionate people.

This organization is filling a vital need for quality education in India. They've been an effective nonprofit for over 20 years, working consistently and efficiently throughout this period.

My experience with the Siddhartha School Project is from a great distance from the school. The results obtained for the children far exceed outcomes expected from their modest financial status. The staff with whom I have come into contact are devoted supporters of the school and its mission.

I know this organization has education in its blood. The people who are associated with this school project are ethical and kind; quality people!

I have been to the school twice, and see how many children and families are affected. Some are first-generation literate, and that affects the quality of the whole family's lives. Also, given they've been around for 25 years this year speaks wonders about the effective management!

This school gets my monetary support and time as well. Without this school in the Himalayan region of India, most of these children would not get an education. I am proud to support a young girl at this school and have done so for about 10 years. We have become good friends and correspond frequently. I have traveled to the school twice now and must say that the experience has been an amazing one. The Siddhartha School is a very worthwhile organization that I will continue to support.

Fantastic school! Example for others around the world.
Thank you!

I love the way they celebrate their students. I visited the school recently and was very impressed with the staff and students. I loved their new ethics instruction.

I visited the school many years ago and have watched it grow to a fully mature flower. So happy for the students and teachers .

I have been associated with the Siddhartha School for over 13 years and have watched them grow into a world class institution of learning. Their excellence is demonstrated through the success of their students and graduates. As a nonprofit Siddhartha School makes enrollment available to all students regardless of family income. The teachers are qualified, caring, and support the students in all aspects of their personal growth. Kudos to Khempu Rinpoche lobzang Tsetan, founder of the school💖

It’s an great honour and fortune for being part of the Sss for the past 13 years as a teacher.Despite teaching I worked for heroes project and kickstarter. It was indeed a great part of my life working with SSS. For the remote area as our land and able to provide students with such good wisdom and education. I would like to thank the donors and volunteers for their unwavering support and commitment .

Siddhartha School not only enriches the lives of its students - it reaches out beyond the school grounds into the local community and the rest of the world through the Heroes Project and its collaborative efforts with other institutions and educators.

One of the best educational institute in whole Ladakh region providing basic education to the students from remote areas of Ladakh at free of cost. Siddhartha school is unique in its own ways, it provides quality education to the students studying there and also promotes to preserve the rich culture and heritage of Tibetan tradition. 11 batches already passed from the school and many of the graduates are spreaded in all over India and in USA also for their further studies.

I had the great fortune and privilege to visit this school in Ladakh during a trip there. I was completely amazed at what has been accomplished there -- school offerings, including instruction in all subjects plus English, and full meals, after-school programming, and extracurriculars, in a great setting of several buildings. I was able to visit every single grade, speak to the students, and meet some of the teachers. It has been an unforgettable experience, and one that's inspired me to do more myself to use education to transform lives.

well im student of siddhartha school in which because of charity i was able to proceed toward my dream.
now im in frist year persuing my engineering course .thnkyou siddhartha and dear sponser

I worked as teacher and coordinator in Siddhartha School for eight years.It was one of the most meaningful years of my life.The mission of the school is to preserve the culture of humanity. And I found myself lucky to be the part of it. And the most beautiful thing was to experiencing the witness of growing children towards the betterment of life.Indeed!!! they are major contributors of my growth as well.

My husband and I visited Siddhartha School this summer. I first donated to the project on meeting Khen Rinpoche in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2008. I have worked with children for 40 years. I began working as a teacher in public schools systems across the United States for over 20 years, then as an Occupational Therapist providing pediatric therapy in schools and in home health, and in my own clinic. I was so very impressed with the high level of academics provided in this small school high in the Himalayan mountains. I was so delighted to see rooms of happy, engaged bright eyed Tibetan children being exposed to the wonders of 21st century life in the world being prepared to engage with and offer Tibetan culture and wisdom to the world at large. I feel they are being prepared well to become young adults who can successfully engage with world and bring their culture to a place of integration with the world.will survive and thrive in the world because of the work at Siddhartha School. The vision of Khen Rinpoche to preserve Tibetan culture and prepare them to live in the world today is being realized. They were learning with computers, and videos, interviewing us, delivering amazingly wise and skilled speeches each day in class and assembly. We saw Tibetan cultural dances, songs, plays, traditional clothing interlaced with Western technology and science, culture and speech all at ease and flowing with joy and vitality. The education these children receive is so well rounded with outdoor activities, classroom instruction, individual attention. It far exceeds the level I have seen in our public schools here at home in the United States. It is very clear to me why the children are performing so well in the ratings. My heart is filled and overflowing with joy to share how satisfying it was to visit and see Siddhartha School. I feel these children will grow and help the Tibetan culture survive and thrive in the world because of the very dedicated, devoted, important and powerful work at Siddhartha School.

The opportunity to get to know the Siddhartha School came with friends in Ladakh who introduced me to not only the school, but their incredible mission. I have since returned several times to Stok and am working with SSP from my university campus in New York. The unique programs which I have personally seen them promote include; cultural preservation through their initiative to teach Ladakhi, Hindi, English, and Tibetan; involvement with the Mind and Life Institute; the sponsorship of children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to receive such a stellar education; and the promotion of local documentary film artists.

Teachers, board and staff love their students and do all they can to improve their lives and deliver a great education.

I have known of this organization since it was begun, years ago. Last year we had the fantastic experience of visiting the School, meeting the administrators, teachers, parents and, most importantly, the amazing students! I cannot express in words the commitments of all people involved in this endeavor. We support a young man who is at the school and meeting him in person simply reconfirmed our commitment. Also, we have had the privilege of getting to know one of the graduates of the School who continued he studies here in the US. She won full scholarship to Smith College. Every year she and her friend (full scholarship) return to their home to provide education to the community on woman’s health issues.

I definitely give this charity five stars. I am a college professor and expert on India who has worked with numerous Indian charity projects over the past thirty and I've never found one more deserving, or better operated, than this one. Rinpoche has created a first rate school that brings profound benefits to the region of Ladakh. This is a chance to gives a gift that matters and where all the dollars go to the school rather than a lavish corporate structure. Sincerely, Professor Dana Sawyer, Maine College of Art.

I traveled to Ladakh and volunteered at the Siddhartha School in the summers of 2015 and 2016. I feel that I not only helped the school in some way, but I also learned so much from the students, teachers, and Siddhartha School community members. I enjoyed working with various members of the Siddhartha School project and hope to continue being part of it into the future. The school is benefitting Ladakhi children who otherwise may not have had the opportunity for such a good education.

As a volunteer and donor since 2005 , it has been amazing to witness the phenomenal success Siddhartha School has had, impacting individual, local and community life. About Siddhartha School: Founded in 1993 by the esteemed Buddhist abbot Khen Rinpoche, the school is a vital agent in moving a simple Buddhist culture into the 21st century with care and consideration for the ancient traditions of its people.

With an aim of providing modern education which extends the educational opportunities to young women as well, the school has been essential in raising the educational bar and putting girls out in front. Two of the region's top students are female graduates of Siddhartha School. They are both currently pursuing Master's degrees in their respective fields. In addition, two other excellent female students were sponsored to attend boarding schools in the United States and are now on full academic scholarships at two leading liberal arts colleges, with the intention to become medical doctors specializing in women's health.

The school has also had a huge local environmental impact, with students spearheading a five consecutive summer initiative called Zero Waste to encourage their village where the school is located to Go Green and Keep It Clean. This led to a village wide ban on plastics as well as establishing a community trash pit so that the villagers would no longer burn their waste, but bury it.

Located in the high Himalayas of northern India, Ladakh is among the last places on earth where a traditional Buddhist culture remains unrepressed. But rapid modernization and the global market economy threaten Ladakh’s sustainable, communal and deeply peaceful way of life.
For over 20 years Siddhartha School has provided a dynamic, sensitive program of academic excellence for all children, Nursery age through Class 10, regardless of economic means. It is an institution with a great track record. Since 2008 and 2009, 100% of the first two graduating glasses passed the government exam. A female student in each class set, and then broke, the highest exam records ever achieved in all of the Jammu and Kashmir region.

This school is a model of how vision, commitment and the invitation to make a difference can lead to lasting sustainable change and positive transformative impact on people and place through education.

The Siddhartha School Project has been supporting children in Ladakh by providing modern education while also supporting traditional culture and values. Their vision far out reaches the Himalayas!

I have been supporting SSP for about 20 years, first as a volunteer and now as a donor. The dedication of the founder, staff and other supporters is extraordinary. I have seen this project deliver results for the children of Ladakh for two decades and look forward to continuing my support to the work of SSP.

Hello,

I had the opportunity to work as a volunteer with the school team and the students last summer. I was there to go further in the setting up of the social emotionnal learning program, one of the pilar of Siddhartha school. The motivation and the mobilization of everyone, everyday, to make sure that all the students can learn in a positive and kindly climate were just remarkable. A great team in a great school!

Danielle Marquis
Psychologist

I visited the Siddhartha school with friends in 2010 and was deeply touched by the students and classes, especially by the many girl students who were encouraged to speak up and be leaders. I also recognized the directors, teachers, and Khen Rinpoche's great dedication and love for them all. It was truly an inspiring experience to see the great care taken to ensure the education of these village kids.

An organization that really makes a difference in the lives of children in Ladakh, India.

I am an graduate student from Siddhartha School and I am living my dream of studying abroad and getting the opportunity to study women's health right now because of Siddhartha School Project. I was selected as the candidate for studying at a school in Maine by Siddhartha school in 2013 and with all the effort from the board members and teachers, I got my VISA to America . Today, I am a sophomore at Bennington College in Vermont and I am studying public health but mostly women's health from all perspective such as science, literature, economics, and social science etc. After getting exposed to the other side of the world, my experience has change so much as a women, as a Ladakhi, and as a human being. I feel so proud for being a woman and I want to be an advocate for women rights especially women's right to seek information on health in India especially Ladakh. I am a social worker as well and I do different projects every summer with women in Ladakh on different topics that are stigmatized in our society. This all wouldn't have been possible without Khen Rinpoche, Siddhartha School family, my sponsors and supporters who believed in me and who have helped me with every step. Siddhartha School is a platform for every student like me who wants to do something in their life and who wants to bring a change in our society.

It was very much our pleasure to witness firsthand the beautiful children who attend Siddhartha School. And, to see the commitment the teachers and staff have for their wellbeing and education. The children themselves are very disciplined and respectful; they seem to understand just how fortunate they are to be under the care of the School staff.

During our trip and tour of Ladakh, we were hosted at an all student assembly where each class provided us with presentations, most of which were of cultural and had strong ethical underpinnings. They were amazing! These kids all speak (al least) three languages: Ladakhi, Hindi and English. They selected their presentations from cross-cultural sources. We were, quite simply, blown away!

We were able to attend presentations from two recent School graduates who are continuing their education at Smith College and Bennington College in the USA. Many parents were in attendance at these sessions and indicated a strong commitment to the education and betterment of the community. These two young ladies return each summer to lead research and provide classes for the students. Their poise and dedication to providing a better environment to their homeland is inspiring and impressive. It speaks volumes for the education they received during their tenure at Siddhartha School.

Our daughter has been involved with the Siddhartha School since its founding in 1993. It now serves more than 400 students regardless of socio-economic capabilities and is, by many measures, the premier School in the Jammu-Kashmir States. We, as parents, are extremely proud of her and the accomplishments of the Siddhartha School Family.

When I visited the school in Ladakh, India, this summer, I was completely bowled over. I've been supporting the school for years and had no idea that it employed Tibetan Refugee teachers, and provides hostel services for needy children who are from far-flung areas or from nomadic families. They have fresh, clean drinking water, and the buildings are beautiful.

They also teach three languages, plus Buddhist Philosophy. They also have a vast international curriculum of math, science, art, and grammar. They are no flash in the pan either, they've been teaching and educating since 1995. They're an institution.

I'm completely impressed by their professionalism, warmth, and emphasis on ethics that 's apparent in the teachers and students. Siddhartha school continues to truly help people rise above generational illiteracy and poverty. They're a wonderful, smart, efficient Non-profit.

I have helped to raise tens of thousands of dollars in my U.S. community for this non-profit because of my immense admiration and respect for the founder, who is a dear friend. Then I traveled to India to attend the 20th anniversary and at last saw where that money was going. I was not disappointed! The quality of the facilities, teachers, students and staff was beyond anything I could have expected. Truly dedicated people in a totally thriving and well-supported environment. Most of all -- the students. They were tremendously vibrant and so appreciative of the precious opportunity that Siddhartha School was giving them. Their radiance spoke volumes upon volumes to me of how successful the SS programs are. The teachers I met were also top notch: clearly hard-working, dedicated, articulate and compassionate. And they students huddled around them with such care! Lastly, I will say that I hosted at my home last year two graduates of Siddhartha School who are now at colleges in the US (Smith College and Bennington College). These two women are among the most intelligent, worldly, inspiring, ambitious, visionary -- I could add a dozen powerfully praising adjectives -- young students I have ever met. I am sure their impact on their U.S. campuses is immense. Their impact on their homeland in Ladakh will, and probably already is, tremendous. Thus the incomparable service being offered by the Siddhartha School Project is worthy of repeated adulation. It is doing amazing, wonderful work that has huge positive influence the world over.