Bhutan

FFM’s involvement with Bhutan began in 2011 following a meeting between FFM Exco members and Dr Tashi Zangmo, Founder of the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF). Established in 2009, BNF seeks to improve the quality of life and education of all Buddhist nuns throughout Bhutan regardless of sectarian difference.

Since 2012, FFM in collaboration with BNF has participated in a number of initiatives including the Bhutan Nuns sponsorship programme and construction of nuns’ living quarters. FFM has also provided support through financial contributions for a number of projects in Bhutan including the 1st International Buddhist Nuns Conference held in Paro, Bhutan in December 2013 and the first ever large-scale Nuns ordination ceremony held in Punakha, Bhutan in May 2014.

FFM volunteers have made a total of three trips to Bhutan in 2013 and 2014 and experienced firsthand the challenges and difficulties in reaching nunneries located in remote areas. In addition to the difficult geographical terrain, there are also accommodation constraints, thus limiting humanitarian visits to Bhutan to small groups.

Focus of Our Mission
Dhammaduta

  • Nuns Sponsorship Programme
  • Construction of Nuns Living Quarters
  • Support of projects on ad-hoc basis including 1st International Buddhist Nuns Conference in Bhutan and Nuns Ordination Ceremony
  • Nuns Healthcare Fund

 

Project Updates & Recent News

Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF)-FFM Meeting via zoom

We have conducted the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF)-FFM Meeting over the cloud on 2-Oct-2021. It had been more than 2 years since we last met in Bhutan. It was a very warmth reunion & updates from the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Our meeting started with a summary video, revisiting ...

Opening of Training & Resource center (Bhutan Nun Foundation)

Lekso Lekso Lekso (Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu) to our partner in Bhutan, The Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF) on the opening of the Training and Resource Center for Nuns at Tshalumaphey in South Thimphu. We congratulate the Patron, Her Majesty the Queen Mother Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck and wishing Her Majesty the Queen ...

Covid-19 Relief Project 2020

Since the beginning of 2020, the spread of Covid-19 has impacted the lives of millions of people worldwide. While Singapore has its fair share of Covid-19 infections, overall, what most Singaporeans suffer are mere inconveniences as a result of restrictions in our daily lives. In comparison, for many marginalized communities, ...

Bhutan Projects 2020 Report

This report summarizes Firefly Mission's projects in Bhutan in year 2020. Background Since 2011, Firefly Mission has partnered with Bhutan Nuns Foundation for various projects in Bhutan. In 2020, our project updates as follows: Bhutan Nuns Sponsorship programBNF Nuns Training Centre- Classroom block and Dining blockBNF Training Centre’s Labourers’ Children ...

Bhutan Humanitarian Trip

Day 3 (26-Feb): part 1 Ugyen Thegchoi Yangtse Goenpa, Pemagatshel Travelled more than 2 hours to visit Ugyen Thegchoi Yangtse Goenpa (UTYG) @ Pemagatshel. We presented the Nuns Sponsorship Fund to UTYG and Gibkha Goenpa. Due to poor road conditions & time constraints, we had to request Ven Nuns from ...

Support Program for Children of the workers who help in building the Nuns Training Center (Bhutan)

together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation we are running program to feed, educate & care for children of builders & contractors that help us to build the Nuns Training Center in Thimphu ... together we light up the world ...

FFM Support building of the Bhutan Nuns Training Center

After much support for the basic needs of Nuns in Bhutan since 2012, now FFM are ready to work with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF) in their long-term mission to enable and empower Nuns, so that they could practice and serve their communities better We had just committed to support ...

Official handover of Anim (Nuns) Hostel @ the Samten Choling Nunnery

The official handover of the Anim (Nuns) Hostel @ the Samten Choling Nunnery is another FFM's successful joint project with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF). We were very happy with the progress made by BNF to the living & practice conditions for nuns. In coming months, we are planning to ...

Bhutan Nuns Sponsorship Programme

Bhutan Nuns Sponsorship Programme 不丹比丘尼 赞助计划 The Bhutan Nuns sponsorship programme helps to provide food and basic essentials for nuns from 7 nunneries.  These nunneries are located in remote areas where the surrounding communities are poor and have limited resources, the nuns are therefore vulnerable as their living conditions are ...

[Bhutan] Nuns Healthcare Fund

Project Summary: The Nuns Healthcare Fund was established to enable nuns to seek necessary medical treatment. Period: since May 2013 Project Description: FFM volunteers learnt on their visit to remote nunneries that many nuns could not afford to seek medical treatment for their various illnesses and pains. The Healthcare Fund ...

 

Voices From The Heart

Lama Yeshi Dorji

To keep running the nunnery is challenging. Some nuns get discouraged and leave. Likewise I get discouraged. Each time BNF came, the nuns and I are re-energized. I feel more encouraged with FFM’s support and in their valuing us. This has encouraged us and planted the seed in our mind to make the best of what we have …

--Head Monk Teacher Lama Yeshi Dorji of Shedrup Choling nunnery who founded the nunnery 10 years ago at the request of the local community, and who had compassionately donated one of his kidneys to his friend’s mother so that she could continue farming and earn a livelihood

Lama Yeshi Dorji

Yoesel Choling Nunnery - By Lopen Tashi Choden

It is beyond our imagination that anyone would come half round the world to support us. Our spirits are uplifted and we are humbled.

Spiritual Teacher Lopen Tashi Choden of Yoesel Choling nunnery

Samten Choling Nunnery - By Ani Kunzang

I am relieved that from the money we received from our Singapore supporters will help to buy cooking oil, salt, eggs and lentil for the nuns’ nutrition. I never realized that when Meme (our late Spiritual Teacher) was alive, there was so much mental comfort; I never worried much about where the food items would come or anything like that but after he passed away, it worried me. Also before Firefly’s funds came in, we did not have money to buy sugar and milk for tea. The younger nuns like to drink tea with milk but we were not able to provide them the milk and sugar for their tea. But after we received the support from our Singapore donors, I was happy to be able to buy sugar and milk for the tea for the nuns and they were happy to have tea breaks. I thank our unknown donors from other side of the world for their kind support. Please tell them that the only way we can repay their generosity is by saying prayers for their well being.

Ani Kunzang Choden, Head Nun of Samten Choling nunnery

 

See more random voices here.

Comments are closed.