Tibetan Medicine Scholarships:
Current Students
KARMA PHUNTSOK, MENTSEEKHANG, DHARAMSALA, INDIA
Karma Phuntsok was born in Tsum Valley which is not far from Manaslu, one of the world's highest and most dangerous peaks. His mother and father are semi-nomadic subsistence farmers and without our support, Karma Phuntsok would not be able to afford his education to become a doctor of Tibetan medicine.
Karma Phuntsok is was accepted into the Tibetan Medicine and Astro-Science Institute (Mentseekhang) in Dharamsala, a school founded by the Dalai Lama in 1961. Because of this financial need for support and because of his particular aptitude for scholastics, classical Tibetan language, and interest in Tibetan medicine, we decided unanimously to set aside funds for his full tuition, room, board, school supplies, and stipend, while he undergoes his studies for the next 5 years.
Once Karma Phuntsok has graduated, Himalaya Project will pay his salary for the first 2 years of his practice in Tsum Valley.
PRINCESS SHAH, SOWA RIGPA INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE, KATHMANDU, NEPAL
Princess Shah comes from the Syangja district of Nepal and is in her second year of school at the Sowa Rigpa International College in Kathmandu. Princess comes from a small farming family and was first introduced to Tibetan medicine by her father, who received some Tibetan medical training himself.
Inspired by her father, Princess herself participated in a Tibetan medicine training in Illam district of Nepal, very far from her home village and family, soon after completing high school. This then inspired her to apply to the Sowa Rigpa International School in Kathmandu.
Before receiving sponsorship from Himalaya Project, Princess and her family endured several hardships just so she could attend school; in addition to the significant economic strain on her family paying for her tuition posed, Princess had to learn Tibetan as a second language and she had to move far from her home village to attend school.
It was Princess’ perseverance despite several challenges, that our board decided to provide her with a scholarship for 100% of her tuition, and a rent stipend, for the remainder of her academic career.
After Princess has graduation, Himalaya Project will provide for her salary for 2 years of clinical practice in her home village.
Tsering Lhamu Lama, sowa rigpa international college, kathmandu, Nepal [november 2020-November 2021]
Tsering Lhamu Lama is from the remote district of Rasuwa, Nepal, an area adversely affected by the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
After completing her high school education focusing on Travel and Tourism at Amardeep Secondary School in Punjab, India, Tsering Lhamu returned to her village where she met the prominent doctor of Tibetan medicine, Dr. Tenzin Darke Guge. At that time, Dr. Tenzin Darke Guge was providing introductory Tibetan medicine training to the villagers there, which Tsering Lhamu participated in. This experience piqued Tsering Lhamu’s interest and was her inspiration to apply and subsequently attend the Sowa Rigpa International College in Kathmandu, where Dr. Tenzin Darke is chair-person / director.
Tsering Lhamu states, “I love traveling and I love helping people in need,” and is the first in her family to attend college. Her family has made many sacrifices to allow her to attend elementary and secondary school and we are happy to be able to support her on her educational journey.
Due to Tsering Lhamu’s dedication to education and healthcare, along with her stellar academic performance and financial need, Himalaya Project chose to fund the remainder of Tsering Lhamu’s amount owed to the university, so that her tuition, room, and board were fully covered.
kungyal lama, sorig bumshi medical college, kathmandu, nepal
Kungyal Lama hails from the rural district of Dolpo, Nepal where he was born to a semi-nomadic agri-pastoralist family in the company of 7 siblings in the valley of Dho Tarap.
Kungyal Lama studied at the Crystal Mountain school in Tarap up until the fifth grade and currently is attending the Sorig Bumshi Medical School where he is now in his third year.
The degree Kungyal Lama is pursuing is that of the Kuchapa degree and after completing this course of study, Kungyal Lama plans to return to his home village where he intends to continue his family’s tradition of providing care to their community through the practices of Tibetan medicine.
Kungyal Lama states, “As my father is an Amchi I should continue his linage so I will try my best to fulfill his wishes and make myself a good Amchi. Without your love and support, it seems impossible so humble request for your kindness towards me. Thank you so much.”
Due to Kungyal Lama’s aptitude and economic need, Himalaya Project has agreed to provide funds for Kungyal Lama’s books, school supplies, clothing, and travel expenses to see his family in rural Dolpo, for the remainder of his course of studies.
URGYEN JIGTAK GURUNG, SOWA RIGPA INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE, KATHMANDU NEPAL
Urgyen Jigtak Gurung is from Tinje village of Dolpa which is located at the top of Nepal and shared border with Tibet.
Urgyen Jigtak comes from a family whose livelihood is dependent on farming and animal husbandry, similar to most families from the region. Additionally, Urgyen Jigtak’s father is now a monk who lives simply and looks after an old monastery in the area which is rewarding, yet does not provide income to the family.
In Tinje village, though the tradition of Tibetan medicine has a long tradition of practice, there is only one remaining Tibetan medicine practitioner remaining who is nearing retirement.
Urgyen Jigtak’s wish to study Tibetan medicine stems from the wish to be a part of the long history of cultural practice in his place of origin and his wish to serve his community directly.
It was Urgyen Jigtak’s rooted desire to assist his community directly along with his exceptional academic performance prior to pursuing his college degree and his need, that prompted our Board to agree to sponsor Urgyen Jigtak’s tuition for a period of 5.5 years at 100%.
Additionally, Himalaya Project will provide funds for his salary for a two-year period of time after Urgyen Jigtak graduates, provided he practice in a clinic near his home village.
Kunchok Wangmo, Rural Health Education And Services Center Institution College
Kunchok Wangmo Lama is from Tsum Valley of Gorkha District, a far-flung village in the Himalayas where basic amenities are lacking. Her parents are farmers.
She moved from her home village at the age of four in pursuit of education, and with help from her uncle, became the first person in her family to receive a high school education.
On a visit to her home village after her studies concluded, Kunchok noticed that most villagers had back pain, knee pain, and insomnia due to the intense physical labor of farming. After witnessing these physical maladies, Kunchok enrolled at the Rural Health Education And Services Center Institution College, where she is learning acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion. Kunchok is currently attending her first of three years of study.
After completing her acupuncture certificate program, Kunchok is eager to serve and enhance healthcare in her home village.
The Himalaya Project has provided a scholarship to Kunchok Wangmo to cover her tuition for two years.