Buddha Smiles: Lotus Outreach Celebrates 12 Years of Partnership to Educate Vulnerable Children in Tamil Nadu

Lotus Outreach, a non-profit organization founded by revered Bhutanese lama, filmmaker and author Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, announced 12 years of successful partnership with Guru Krupa Foundation and Garden of Peace School in Tamil Nadu on the Buddha Smiles project to provide holistic after-school education to underprivileged and at-risk children.

Lotus Outreach is dedicated to improving the lives of women and children in developing countries, particularly in Cambodia and India. Founded by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in 1993 and working on issues such as education, health and human trafficking, Lotus Outreach International’s programs aim to empower children, girls and women to break the cycle of poverty and improve their communities.

“The Buddha Smiles project provides holistic after-school education to underprivileged children in the heartland of Tamil Nadu, amidst the rural landscapes of Vellore, Arni and Tiruvannamalai districts,” Lotus Outreach explained in a recent announcement.

“Buddha Smiles is a project conceived and managed by our brilliant partner, the Garden of Peace School, founded by Dr. Manivannan. It was when the founder of the Guru Krupa Foundation, Mukund Padmanabhan, connected with the Buddha Smiles project in 2012 that he became a strong supporter of Buddha Smiles and Lotus Outreach…” (Lotus Outreach International)

The Guru Krupa Foundation is a private foundation, incorporated in New York, that funds a range of charitable causes, from basic needs such as food, shelter, health and basic education, to higher education, arts and culture, spirituality and the environment.

“Garden of Peace’s mission is to bridge the educational gap for underprivileged children. To this end, the school has established 15 evening study centres, which it coordinates across the region,” Lotus Outreach said. “These centres are sanctuaries and educational hubs for the children of stone quarry workers, landless agricultural labourers, small farmers, daily wage labourers and weavers’ families. In these communities, quality education is a distant dream due to various socio-economic factors. Lack of parental guidance, financial instability and social pressures seriously hamper the academic progress of these children.” (Lotus Outreach International)

Lotus Outreach helps poor students and families around the world, in parts of India and Cambodia, and through partnerships in Brazil, Guatemala, Vietnam and the United States, by ensuring they have access to education, clean water, counseling, and health and nutritional support for the future. Other Lotus Outreach outreach programs include providing scholarships to girls to attend school, building schools and community centers, and providing job training and microfinance to women.

“For these young learners, education will likely be their only way out of the cycle of poverty in their families. They face daunting challenges along the way,” Lotus Outreach noted. “Illiteracy is prevalent in their homes and the lack of parental support further compounds their plight. Moreover, gender disparities persist, with girls often deprived of educational opportunities and relegated to domestic chores, while boys are forced to work to supplement the family income. As a result, the dropout rate among these children, especially after primary school, is alarming. The vicious cycle of poverty seems unbreakable, perpetuating generational disadvantage.” (Lotus Outreach International)

In cooperation with its partners, the Buddha Smiles project strives to: ensure that children from rural and marginalized communities have access to free, quality education; enable first-generation learners to address educational challenges and break the cycle of poverty; promote gender equality and encourage girls to pursue their academic aspirations; reduce school dropout rates; build strong partnerships with local communities, parents and stakeholders to garner support for educational initiatives; foster ongoing relationships with public schools in a shared commitment to improving education.

“By resolutely pursuing these goals, the Buddha Smiles Project strives to transform the lives of underprivileged children, instill in them hope for a better future, and contribute to the socio-economic development of the communities it serves,” Lotus Outreach said. “Buddha Smiles Education Centers serve as educational havens for a total of 570 children throughout the year (as of August 2024) in the regular centers as well as for 82 children in the coordination centers that provide individualized attention and support to children in need.” (Lotus Outreach International)

What began as a small project to help Tibetan refugees in 1993 has grown into an international organization with branches in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia dedicated to helping some of the most forgotten, neglected, and suffering groups on this planet. Lotus Outreach believes that true change begins in the hearts and minds of individuals. By transforming individuals, Lotus Outreach programs transform communities in ways that will resonate for generations. (Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche)

Click here to learn more about the Buddha Smiles project

Born in Bhutan in 1961, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is the son of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and was a close student of the Nyingma master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991). He is recognized as the third incarnation of the XNUMXth century Tibetan. terton Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892), founder of the Khyentse lineage and immediate incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (1893–1959).

In addition to Lotus Outreach, Rinpoche's projects include the Khyentse Foundation, established in 2001 to promote the Buddha's teachings and support all traditions of Buddhist study and practice; 84000, a global nonprofit initiative to translate the Buddha's words and make them accessible to all; Siddhartha's Intent, an international collective of Buddhist groups supporting Rinpoche's Buddhadharma activities by organizing teachings and retreats, distributing and archiving recorded teachings, and transcribing, editing, and translating manuscripts and practice texts; and the Lhomon Society, which promotes sustainable development in Bhutan through education.

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Lotus Outreach International
Holistic Education for Youth of Tamil Nadu (Lotus Outreach International)
Guru Krupa Foundation

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The article Buddha Smiles: Lotus Outreach marks 12 years of partnership to educate vulnerable children in Tamil Nadu appeared first on Buddhist News Global.

Buddha Smiles: Lotus Outreach Celebrates 12 Years of Partnership to Educate Vulnerable Children in Tamil Nadu

Click here to learn more about the Buddha Smiles project

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