Help Kunsang bring education to the Himalayas

Hello everyone,

I am Kunsang, Shree Mangal Dvip Boarding School (SMD) student, from a remote village in the mountains of Nepal.

Currently, I am in the last year of my IB diploma at the International Community School Zurich (ICSZ). I was very lucky to receive a full scholarship to complete Grades 11 and 12 at ICSZ.

I recently received a conditional offer from the Stenden University of Applied Science in the Netherlands for a four-year B.Sc. degree in International Education. This is a unique opportunity to obtain high-quality qualifications that I can use to help my community back in Nepal in a meaningful way. However, studying in the Netherlands is a huge investment and I would like to ask for your support in this. But before that, I would like to share Why I chose to be an educator.

There is a shortage of teachers in the Himalayas because of the poor infrastructure condition and low pay. Therefore, very few people are educated. For example my village has no proper education, healthcare facilities, transportation, or electricity. It is the remotest place in Nepal and the driest which makes farming difficult. However, my family and other villagers have no choice but to try and live off the land as there is no other source of income or food.

The day I was admitted to SMD was life-changing. SMD provide free education, full boarding and healthcare to almost 600 children from deprived Himalayan regions. I regard SMD as my second home. I was no longer on the farm; instead, surrounded by children and books, beginning a new journey. This experience helped me reflect on the power of education and how it changes people's lives.

After Grade 10, I gave a year of service teaching at SMD, which was an excellent experience. That helped me to observe that if there is a guide, people are always eager to explore. Thus, I acknowledge that we require more educators to provide education to remote parts of Nepal such as my village to bring changes. This is something that other SMD students who graduated from ICS have done too for their villages! Teaching is like turning on a light in a dark room. It makes a real difference.

I am extremely grateful to SMD for the rewarding school experience and for giving me hope for the future. I am also equally thankful to ICSZ for helping me complete my studies in an environment beyond my wildest dreams and for gaining valuable life experience. I'd like to thank my teachers and host families for always helping me believe in myself. I am also grateful to the ICSZ Parents' Association for their support and for giving SMD graduates a financial award towards first-year university fees. I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of my journey. I am here because of all of you.

I am now reaching out one last time for your support to achieve my dream. Any contribution you can make towards my university expenses will make a big difference. It will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. I’ll also try to find a job to support my studies but your help will make my journey smoother and less risky.

Please find below the detailed cost breakdown in CHF per year (converted from EUR).

The full degree will cost four times that amount. This information comes from the university and insights from other SMD graduates studying in the Netherlands.

Thank you so much for reading my story and for your consideration. I wish you all good things to come your way.

Sincerely,

Kunsang