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Revitalizing Tibetan, Help Us Build Free, Modern Fonts

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Hi, my name is Thupten Chakrishar, and I’m working to preserve and adapt the Tibetan script for future generations. Together with my father, master Tibetan calligrapher Jamyang Dorjee, I’ve launched Terma Foundry—a project to create free, learner-friendly Tibetan fonts that will empower the next generation to engage with their written language confidently.

To learn more, please visit http://termafoundry.com/

The Problem:
While many Tibetans born in exile can speak their language fluently, many struggle to read or write it. Why?
  • Traditional fonts are visually complex, making reading and writing intimidating for children, new learners, and semi-literate individuals.
  • Current Tibetan fonts are not optimized for digital platforms, making them harder to use on websites, apps, and educational tools.


  • This disconnect threatens the transmission of our language and cultural heritage to future generations.

Our Solution:
At Terma Foundry, we are designing three Alternate Contemporary Tibetan Fonts:

A serif font for everyday readability.
A sans-serif font for clean digital interfaces.
A child-friendly font to support younger learners.

These fonts are not replacements for traditional designs but modern, accessible alternatives—created with cultural integrity in mind. They will:

  • Simplify reading and writing for children and beginners.
  • Adapt seamlessly to digital platforms like apps, storybooks, and websites.
  • Be completely free and open source, ensuring accessibility for all.



Why This Matters:
If we act now, we can bridge the gap between tradition and modernity, ensuring that Tibetan remains a living, vibrant script. With these fonts, we will empower young learners, inspire pride in Tibetan identity, and create tools for educators, artists, and the wider Tibetan community to engage with the written word more confidently.

How You Can Help:
We need to raise $58,500 to bring these fonts to life. Your support will help us:

  • Design and develop the fonts under the guidance of master calligrapher Jamyang Dorjee.
  • Test the fonts with Tibetan schools, educators, and learners.
  • Make them accessible to everyone, for free.
  • Every contribution—big or small—brings us closer to creating tools that will make learning Tibetan joyful and achievable for all.

Join Us:
By supporting this project, you are not just funding fonts—you are helping to safeguard a cultural treasure and empower a new generation of Tibetans to connect with their language.

Together, we can ensure that the Tibetan script thrives in the modern world.

Thank you for being a part of this journey!

We are proud to share that this project is fiscally sponsored by the Himalayan Elders Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means all contributions are tax-deductible.

Let’s make this vision a reality, together!

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Donations (2)

  • Robert Wilson
    • $10
    • 2 mos
  • Jennifer Tuss
    • $108
    • 2 mos
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Organizer

Thupten N Chakrishar
Organizer
Elmhurst, NY

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