Our Support Through The Years
for Pema T’sal Sakya Monastery and the Boys There
ON-GOING EFFORTS
Nurse Sponsorship
Since 2019, Sharing Hearts in Nepal has sponsored a nurse to care for the monastery boys. Having a resident nurse in the monastery was critical for providing urgent care when needed with limited funds. The boys often get injured in the playground, with no access to doctors. Mukhui Brathwaite, one of our donors, began to provide a nurse’s monthly wage so that the boys could always get quick treatment in the event of an injury and regular checkups. Since 2021, our Vice President Jeffrey Wong has personally supported the nurse’s monthly wage.
Nutritional Needs
Since 2015, the monastery boys have received one egg, twice a week from Sharing Hearts in Nepal. As an immediate corrective measure, one egg a day would at least provide them with a sufficient amount of protein they need to stay healthy. The children also receive pocket money for Christmas and New Year’s Day, which is the time when they miss their parents the most. Receiving this pocket money, they feel loved and cared for.
2020 EFFORTS
Monastery Renovations
One of our board members, Jeffrey Wong, his sister Ariana, and his mother, Helen, graciously donated funds for the monastery to build a dedicated school building and a library for the boys to study and attend classes. A large, new kitchen was also constructed. Previously, the kitchen and dining room were small, and the boys had to rush through meals in shifts. In this new space, boys can eat together, and they no longer have to eat in a hurry to make room for the next group.
Small kitchen before renovations
Another view of old kitchen
Eating area prior to renovations
Building after kitchen and library renovations
New eating area
New kitchen and eating area
2019 EFFORTS
Like the previous year, SHIN’s fundraising efforts were again able to cover the cost of the Nepal acupuncture trip. Additional funds were used to purchase 87 brand new blankets for the boys and gas burners and cooktops for the monastery kitchen.
2018 EFFORTS
In partnership with Bastyr University’s student council, Sharing Hearts in Nepal held another benefit concert. Kyung’s daughter, son, Dongbin Shin, and their musician friends performed in the Bastyr university chapel. Proceeds from the event covered all costs associated with the acupuncture clinic that year. Additional funds raised went to the purchase of refrigerators, dishes, clothes and toiletries for the Pema T’sal monastery.
2017 EFFORTS
To encourage the boys to cultivate self-confidence and improve their writing and drawing skills, Sharing Hearts in Nepal held a writing and drawing competition. All participants received a small amount of pocket money while contest winners received a larger monetary prize.
2014-2015 EFFORTS
Kyung’s daughter Haeyoon Shin performed two benefit concerts to raise money for a large water filter for the monastery. Clean water can be very difficult to access in Nepal and monastery boys frequently suffered from gastrointestinal infections in the summer months. The principal of Pema T’sal Institute reported that illnesses reduced dramatically after the installation of the water filter. With leftover funds, a few new bicycles were purchased and donated to the young monks. There was a long line of boys waiting for their turn to ride a bicycle, with the older boys teaching the younger ones how to ride them.
