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Four villages, Rama, Kortse, Waka, and Gelsum with a total population of 1800 people have requested Munsel School. Local leaders have secured permission from the government for a school housing 200 children ages 7-18 with teachers, caretakers and staff.
Rama, Kortse, Waka, and Gelsum are located in Western Nangchen, an area in Eastern Tibet known as Kham. Its extreme altitude, climate and isolation make Nangchen among the most rural and its population the poorest in China. The school will be located near Waka, the largest village. There are hot springs at the school site which will be used for heating and hot water. There is a monastery located 20 minutes away by foot. The closest city with access to building materials, banks, phones and internet is Nangchen City 6-7 hours away. All building supplies must be trucked from Nangchen City.
Read the History of Munsel School's Beginning by clicking here.
Please click on picture to see larger sized
These pictures were taken by Khenpo Tsewang of the plans. A site inspection and survey will be done by an engineer. We will have the drawings and pictures of the site soon.
Building Costs for Munsel School
The concrete foundation will be 300 cubic meters in size at 65 yuan per cubic meter:
300 * 65 = 19500 yuan = $2460
31500 bricks will be required at 2.2 yuan per brick:
31500 * 2.2 = 69300 yuan = $8742
Shipping the brick to the final destination:
105 * 1200 yuan = 126000 yuan = $15896
There will be 98 wooden beams at 780 per beam:
98 * 780 = 76440 yuan = $9643
Steel reinforcement for the cement:
18 * 4150 = 74700 yuan = $9429
Costs for different types of metal:
metal #14 - 695 yuan,
metal #25 - 145 yuan
metal #20 - 145 yuan
metal #6 - 2.5 yuan
Additional wood for the ceiling beams:
2000 * 35 = 70000 yuan = $8831
Wood for making doors:
55 cubic meters * 1450 yuan = 79750 yuan = $10061
Roofing material:
40000 * 0.5 = 20000 yuan = $2523
Shipping for roofing material:
24 * 1200 yuan = 28800 yuan = $3633
Sand and small rock:
250 * 80 yuan = 20000 yuan = $2523
Glass Windows:
214 * 65 yuan = 13910 yuan = $1754
Double plastic to place under the roofing material:
1120 * 5 yuan = 5600 yuan = $706
Exterior white paint:
4 * 1050 = 4200 yuan = $529
Interior white paint:
46 * 38 = 1748 yuan = $220
Additional color #107 for paint:
5000 yuan = $630
Nails:
150 half kg * 7 = 1050 yuan = $132
Iron Wire:
150 half kg * 7 = 1050 yuan including shipping = $132
Locks:
46 * 30 = 1380 yuan = $174
Colored paint for the doors:
25 half kilograms *18 yuan = 450 yuan = $56
All labor costs:
1120 sq meters * 120 yuan = 134400 yuan = $16956
Total for material and labor: 753278 yuan = $95034
Permit/Tax: 75327.8 yuan = $9503
Final Total: 828605.8 yuan = $103537
Entire Size: 1120 sq meters
Water Powered Electrical Generator: 20,000 yuan = $2501.56
Motorcycle for Project: 5000 yuan = $625
Project Manager Khenpo Tsewang Expenses: 10707.14 yuan = $1339.23
Final Total: $108,000
Khenpo Tsewang went to a Chinese construction engineer, Gya Lotreng, and asked him to prepare a bid for the school. The bid was initially prepared by Gya Lotreng in Chinese and Khenpo Tsewang then translated the bid into Tibetan. Subsequently, we translated the bid into English. The bid consists of a breakdown of the funds needed to build the school. (Thank you Gerry Weiner for translating this into English and being a donor)
Costs Per Child For Furniture and Bedding In Room
| Yuan/$ | Bed | Mattress | Pillow | Blanket/Bedding | Chair | Table |
| Yuan | 200 | 100 | 30 | 100 | 100 | 150 |
| Dollar | Total for One Child is $88 | |||||
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Picture of Khenpo Tsewang's Information in Tibetan with English Translation $88 Will Pay for One Child's Room Furniture and Bedding |
Checks: Munsel School Project 111 South Highland #408, Memphis, TN 38111-4640 |
Language - These children must be able to speak, read and write Mandarin Chinese to be able to go on to higher education or compete in the marketplace. They need to study Tibetan grammar with writing and reading to continue their indigenous language and the language of their religion. Additionally, English will be offered, if at all possible, to prepare them for many other job possibilities or to study in other countries.
Mathematics - simple math and also vocational mathematics
Nutrition and Health Care - Studies have shown half of all children in the Tibetan region of China suffer from stunted growth, medical problems, and potentially impaired intellectual development as a result of malnutrition... Conclusions: In Tibetan children, severe stunting due to malnutrition occurs early in life, and morbidity is high.(New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 1, 2001)
Vocational Education - We will partner with local and other non-profit organizations working in the area to offer a range of vocational skills and education including midwifery, greenhouse construction and maintance, herbology and motorcycle repair.
Computers and Modern Communication including keyboarding
Physical Education including Tai Chi and Qi Gong or Yoga
Group sports and recreational activities - western and traditional
Mindfulness and Compassion: As an optional course of studies offered after school hours and on weekends. We will be teaching a course of Mahayana Buddhism including Meditation/Tonglen/Lojong. The heritage of these children is rich. Many great meditation masters and scholors came from their region. Using the knowledge gained by teaching Buddhism in the West to householders, Khenpo Gawang is creating this course of study for laypeople.
Greenhouse Project: These villages are above the tree line and have a very short growing season. It is too cold to grow most vegetables. Greenhouses allow kids to eat more nutritiously. Vegetables are expensive so a greenhouse producing vegetables for the children would supply needed vitamins and minerals and reduce costs. Two others schools in the area have greenhouses and from their knowledge a greenhouse allows one child to have vegetables for a year for under $5.00 US. Greenhouses would also allow a vocational skill to be taught to interested students.