Aarya Tara Pre School
Our local partner
The Aarya Tara Association is a non-governmental organization with which we have established a kindergarten for children from disadvantaged families, mainly single mothers. The main teachers are young Buddhist nuns trained in early childhood education and the Montessori approach.
Objectives
1. To provide children with an education in a safe and secure environment.
2. To enable single mothers and disadvantaged families to have the opportunity to work and earn a living with confidence.
3. To encourage young women and especially young nuns to study and become active and compassionate professionals.
Our approach
The Aarya Tara Nursery School program is based on the Montessori philosophy and learning through play, while also following the Nepalese government curriculum. By carefully selecting the best elements of both philosophies, the school offers a well-balanced and comprehensive program that adapts to the developmental phases of each child. All activities are carefully planned according to this program.
Children also have access to
- nutritious meals with seasonal fruit and fresh vegetables,
- general health check-ups and access to medical care if necessary,
- outings for picnics, excursions etc,
- clothing and other necessities as required,
- scholarships, if necessary and possible.
Single mothers and disadvantaged families receive regular training in nutrition, hygiene, first aid, etc. They also have the opportunity to receive vocational training.
The young nuns and young women working at ATPS receive regular training in early childhood education, enabling them to develop their skills and contribute to the life of their community.
Longer term vision
• Financial self-sufficiency: open admission to children whose parents can pay normal school fees to fund those who cannot.
• Train teachers: Provide practical training and a home for more nuns, who can then return to their monasteries or villages to provide quality education and care for small children.
Our team
After starting out in Tinchuli, near Boudhanath, the school has been based in Mahankal since 2016. In the early years, the house served both as a preschool during the day and as a home for several young nuns who lived there: our teachers, as well as three young women pursuing their studies in traditional Tibetan medicine (amchi).
Over the years, several of them have completed their studies and are now working in their profession in the Boudhanath area or in other fields. Others have chosen to leave monastic life and build their future outside Nepal.
Ani Dolkar now leads the project while continuing to teach and train new teachers.
The school also regularly welcomes interns and is now recognized as a practical training centre for early childhood education.
Ani Kunchok between Ani Tsering Kunzum (left) and our project manager and main teacher Ani Dolkar (right)
Today, Ani Dolkar leads the project with dedication and skill, while training new teachers and continuing to teach herself.
Ani Choying Drolma
Ani Choying is a Nepalese Buddhist nun with an extraordinary voice, giving concerts all over the world to finance her numerous social projects through her “Nun Welfare Foundation”. (http://www.choying.com)
Ani Choying has always believed that nuns have a great desire and potential to make the world a better place, if only they are given equal opportunities. The Aarya Tara School, opened in 2000, aims to train nuns to help and serve their communities in a professional and humanitarian manner. With a fully developed and realized potential, she believes that her nuns will be able to not only help themselves, but also help others. In short, the Aarya Tara School aims to help young nuns realize their compassion in an active, effective, competent and meaningful way. According to Ani Choying, women’s education is traditionally neglected in Asia. Most of the girls in my convent/school come from rural Tibet, India, or Nepal, patriarchal cultures where women are expected to cook, clean, and care for children. Even in the nunnery, they are taught to read classical Tibetan so they can do religious practice, but many cannot write their own names. Her school teaches them literacy, math, science, basic medical and nursing skills, and Buddhist philosophy.
Ani Kunchok, our first manager, Ani Tsering and Ani Dolkar, our teachers, have graduated from the Aarya Tara School. Also Ani Pema, Ani Tsultrim and Ani Tsewang, who are studying to become amchi (traditional Tibetan doctor) and who live with us at the school.