In 2003 Dutch and English educational volunteers founded Sikkim Himalayan Academy at Buriakop in Sikkim. This is a primary school of about 70 pupils. It was funded by a Dutch Trust Stichting Kinderen van Sikkim and in England, The Friends of Sikkim Himalayan Academy. Volunteers from all over the world were organised from UK to assist the Sikkimese teachers and give the children a wider horizon.

Now, The Friends has become a Trust, The Children of Sikkim. With the Dutch Trust we concentrate on supporting children from about 10 years old through the whole of secondary education and into college or university. They must be from Sikkim from families for whom such education is otherwise impossible.

In this way we are able to directly change a child’s life prospects. For example, in 2022 Samjyor is practicing as an advocate in Delhi, after completing a master’s degree in law, having been sponsored from 2003.

We also think this will indirectly help Sikkim. We believe cultural and family ties will draw these young adults back, where they can contribute to the development of Sikkimese society.

Sikkim is the least most populous and second smallest among Indian states.

A part of the Eastern Himalaya, Sikkim is host to Kanchenjunga, the highest peak in India and third highest on Earth. Rugged, remote, beautiful, High Himalaya, mysterious, colourful, poor – all these words describe Sikkim.

It is a cauldron of ethnicity – with 11 official languages including English. The main groups are Sherpa (Nepali), Lepcha, Gurung and Bhutia.

Since 2003 we have paid for the education and board of ​more than 50 children aged from 5 to 12 years, through the donations of some 65 sponsors made through the UK.

Most of these were at Sikkim Himalayan Academy at Buriakop, with a smaller number at Mayel Lyang Academy, Dzongu.

Because the boarding schools in Sikkim are primary only, we have had to look over the border to West Bengal, where there is a very long standing school at Kalimpong. Dr Graham’s Homes school was founded in 1900 by a Scottish minister, and has developed into one of the best boarding schools in India. Faithful to its roots, it retains a proportion of places at low cost for disadvantaged children.

Although low cost, education and board at Dr Graham’s is a much more expensive proposition than the primary education at Sikkim Himalayan Academy.  Some children have been supported by a single sponsor, but mostly each child has several co-sponsors. In 2022 we and the Dutch Trust were supporting 7 children.