Through an education that is grounded in the Himalayan culture, children will grow up to be proud of their roots, while still being in touch with the modern-day development. The Druk White Lotus School has been doing just that.” - His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa
The Druk White Lotus School (also known as Druk Padma Karpo Institute) provides a modern education, grounded in Ladakhi culture, that prepares the Ladakhi children to lead happy and productive lives.
The school is named after the Fourth Gyalwang Drukpa, Kunkhyen Pema Karpo (1527-1592), a greatly admired scholar in the entire Tibetan Buddhism, who traveled extensively in the Himalayas.
About Ladakh
Often described as ‘Little Tibet’, this is one of the few remaining mountain societies where a traditional Tibetan Buddhist way of life is practiced. It is sparsely populated and remote, and the only road that connects it to the plains to the south is frequently cut off for 7 to 8 months each year by snow.
A Culture Under Threat
Ladakh is experiencing:
- A shift away from traditional agriculture, with young people drifting to the towns
- A focus on rote-learning in schools, which ill-equips young people for the modern world
- A resulting ‘culture of failure’, with around 70% of students in Leh (capital city of Ladakh) failing the end of school matriculation exam
- Over-dependence on government jobs, which have become very scarce
- A weak economic private sector, resulting in increasing youth unemployment with associated social risks
Ladakh Education Reform
At the request of the local people and with the support of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual leader of Ladakh, the creation of a new educational community is focusing on the needs of young Ladakhis.
Award Winning Buildings
The school, designed by international architects at Arup Associates, has won the World Architecture Awards in 2002 for being the Best Asian Building, the Best Education Building and the Best Green Building. Arup was also named "Large Consultancy Firm of the Year 2003" for their work at the Druk White Lotus School. Davina Rooney was awarded the Sinclair Knight Merz Award for Achievement in Development for her work in Ladakh in 2004. Davina helped prepare a successful application to the European Union for a grant to research job opportunities for young Ladakhis and to design a more appropriate school curriculum.
Education In Other Parts of Himalayas
The problems encountered by Ladakhis are not unique. It is happening in many parts of Himalayas. While the first priority is to help the Druk White Lotus School, a certain portion of the donation for educating the Himalayan children will be set aside for awarding scholarships and financial aids to Himalayan children studying in other schools.
