Zuluk Hostel

High in the Himalayan foothills of eastern Sikkim at 9430 feet lies the village of Zuluk. Once a pit stop on the ancient Silk route between Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan and China it is now home to less than 600 people from approx 6o families. They are ethnic Tibetan and Nepali having migrated here in the 1960‘s in search of political and cultural freedom and the promise of a better life. They were given work in road construction which ended in 2002. Now the only work is road maintenance which employs 12 people per year. The children and elders do menial tasks for the soldiers in the army border camp in exchange for foods and oil. They are not citizens of any country.

In 2007 under the leadership of Lama Paljor and the assistance of the Shambhala Association of New Caledonia, funds were raised and an educational hostel was built in Padhamchen Village 10 kms beneath Zuluk. This allows for 50 boys and girls to regularly attend secondary school.
TCEF joined forces  with Lama Paljor in 2008 and began sponsoring the education of these children. Without this hostel and the sponsorship program, these children would not be able to attend school. These kids are eager to learn and they understand the importance of their education to break the cycle of poverty. Sponsorship is critical to maintaining the hostel.

The children come from dire poverty and their families DO NOT have the money to pay for their children’s education. Sponsorship provides school fees, room & board, clothing and  basic medical care.

The hostel is a two story building. The boys dormitory and a small functional kitchen are on the first floor. The second floor holds the girls dorms. Each dorm has toilet facilities and COLD running water. At this time the children still eat, sleep and study in their beds. The good news is that in partnership with the Trans Himalayan Aide Society based in VanCouver Canada, TRAS and TCEF have funded construction on the much needed third floor . It will be a dinning hall  study hall and general recreation room and it is in progress. The next project is THERMAL SOLAR WATER, to enable the children to have hot showers for the first time in their lives.
Currently the Zuluk Hostel in Padamchen has 52 children. There are two staff members , one man and one woman who all cook, clean and care for the children. The children are provided three meals a day of mostly dal, rice and vegetables. Zuluk Hostel is home away from home for these children while they become educated. Your sponsorship dollars make this happen!

Please consider sponsoring a child in need.

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