They have highlighted the “Power of Community Work in bringing people together and positively impacting those in need.”
For our community work project this year, the two of us, Archana Giri and Sanu Maya Bholon Tamang decided to explore a part of the community that was less familiar to us in terms of culture and religion. Hence, we approached Tsoknyi Gechak School in Chobhar, Kirtipur which is a school for and by Buddhist nuns. With the help from Ms. Pema Choedon Lama, a senior Samaanta Fellow we were able to connect with the school and plan for our session on “Identifying Personality.” The school runs classes till 8th grade for nuns who come from places like Swoyambhu and Gwarko. The school has been a safe haven for these students, and it was evident that they were well taken care of. The session was designed for students from grades 5-8 and with help of some school teachers, we believe we were able to conduct an interactive and meaningful session. There were a total of 42 participants. Although it was our first time working with such a large group, the session went smoothly. We feel that we have gained more confidence after this experience.
This community work provided us an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others. We were delighted to be the first outsiders given permission to conduct such a session at Tsoknyi Gechak School. Therefore, we aspired to create a truly positive impact on our participants by sharing and exchanging our knowledge and opinions. This year’s community work allowed us to exercise our skills and provided a new experience. Hence, it was rewarding for both of us. As the two of us come from a Hindu religious background, this opportunity gave us exposure that has helped us appreciate a different culture and embrace diversity even more. We had the opportunity to engage with the nuns and the students at the school, and learn about their lives. The students were curious and inquisitive, and we had lively conversations about our cultures and backgrounds. The visit was a testament to the effectiveness of community work in bringing people together and positively impacting them.
One of the highlights of the visit was that everyone, regardless of their background, was united through their interactive behavior. It was a beautiful sight to see. Overall, visiting Tsoknyi Gechak was a life-changing experience we will always cherish. Despite the challenges, we connected with many new people and had a chance to interact with them. The memories and lessons gained from this visit will stay with us forever.