Boys' School
(Jigme Gyaltsen Welfare School)

　　Most of the Tibetan communities are located in remote areas, with residents scattering, and with harsh natural condition, so its education sector lags behind. After reform and opening up, the Party and the government gave great financial and policy support, however, there are still a large number of kids unable to go to school because of poverty in some of those areas. Jigme Gyaltsen worried a lot about this situation. He understood that the Tibetan kids living in remote mountainous regions are thirsty for knowledge and want to go to school. So he decided to use all his knowledge to repay this land which nurtured him. After careful consideration, he figured out that only by education can people in these areas get rid of poverty ultimately. Then he devoted himself in education cause. In August, 1990, he set up the first training program combining traditional Tibetan culture with modern science and technology in the dormitory of his own monastery. Most of the students were local youth. Because of several limitations, there were only about 40 students. The following two years witnessed the success of the school, with the number of students increasing, which gratified him greatly. So he began to consider establishing a school to help more children to realize their dreams.

　　 In 1994, Jigme Gyaltsen financed 130,000 RMB through private loans, bank loans, individual donation and other ways as launching fund, and officially founded Jigme Gyaltsen Welfare School in August with approval from Golok Prefecture Government. The school covered 333,970 m2, with only 10 or more rooms. It gave priority to admission of local orphans, children from poor family and retarded children. Except Principal Jigme, two Geshes, with the same devotion to education of ethnic minorities and the same unselfishness, from Gansu and Sichuan were also invited to teach here. With their concerted efforts, and with support from the government and society, the school kept growing. Hundreds of students came to apply for admission, but the school had to reject most of them due to lack of school rooms. After 12 years’ twists and turns, there are now 28 teachers and administrators, and 613 students. They all come from cities, prefectures, and counties of Lhasa, Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai. The unique feature here is that the teachers and students, monks and non-religious people alike, are of different ethnic groups, at different ages, and from different places, which is rare among schools in the plateau or all over the country. All students admitted into the school study here free of tuition. The living expenses and daily expenditures of orphans, children with disabilities, and children from extremely poor families are afforded by the school. There have been more than 10 million RMB invested in financing those expenses.