It aims to help women pursue learning that is harmonious with their personal interests and unique Buddhist cultural background. The 165 students, aged 11 to 52, are women from remote Himalayan areas. They have had little, if any, schooling. Moreover, the only schools in the region teach another culture in another language. L ivng conditions in these remote mountain regions are incredibly harsh, with 9 months of isolation due to heavy snowfall.
Temperatures regularly dip far below freezing.
Food and drinking water are often in short supply. Education and medical facilities are practically non-existent. Women's lives are filled with perenial hardship. T o address these problems, students study math, health and hygiene, English, and Hindi, as well as Tibetan language, Buddhist philosophy, and meditation. After completing their studies, these women will serve as teachers, health care workers, community workers, and mentors to others.