The Punya Foundation (PF), a charity based welfare forum formed by resettled Bhutanese in different western countries and those still living in Nepal in the memory of those who sacrificed lives during the struggle for human rights and democracy in Bhutan, has announced at least six scholarship for students in camps and host community of Jhapa and Morang.
- Head Teachers of secondary schools of the camps and Bhutan Media Society’s Vidhyapati Mishra discuss scholarship program at Damak, Jhapa/picture courtesy : Alice Verheij
A statement issued by its chairman Tek Bir Chhetri from America said, the Foundation called for applications from among the camp students and the local communities of the refugee-hosting districts as it intended to assists the children of martyrs, political prisoners and vulnerable children throughout the globe.
“At least four students from the camps and two disabled students from Jhapa and Morang will be selected as scholars for 10 plus two course in this academic year,” said Chhetri in the statement.
Of the two local students, one would be funded by Indra Rizal resettled in Australia for two years and priority would be given to a blind student of the refugee-affected areas.
“One of the scholarships to the Nepali student of 10+2 shall be reserved to a disabled child. Indra Rizal, a Bhutanese blind scholar and a gold medalist from the Tribhuvan University is sponsoring a disabled candidate for the academic year 2011/2012 and 2012/2013,” added he.
According to chairman Chhetri, the Foundation shall award a scholarship equivalent to 200 USD to each scholarship recipient, on a renewable basis based on the academic performance of the candidate. “The scholarship is based on generous contributions from its well-wishers.”
The Foundation said, it also aims to organize empowerment programs targeting vulnerable, widows and victims.
It already organized a three-fold martyr’s salvation program in accordance to Hindu, Buddhist and Christian methodology in Atlanta (USA), Nepal and Washington (USA) respectively in 2010 remembering Bhutanese martyrs.
Registered in Australia, the Foundation operates with a slogan – justice seeking through education and empowerment and assists widows of martyrs and rendered vulnerable children and works to preserve Bhutanese culture, added the statement.
Chhetri also called the defenders of human rights to join its mission to assist vulnerable children and victims with their education thereby empowerment and justice seeking.
