In the remote, mountainous area of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, no one faces more obstacles to education than girls from poor rural families.

Many towns and villages do not have their own schools. Some children trek five miles a day through rugged terrain just to get to school. Others are too far away to make the trip.

Distance is not the only barrier. The high cost of school supplies prevents many from going to school. In a region where a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line, these expenses are more than most families can afford. As a result, many girls stay at home and never get the chance at education.

Since 1994, the Lamdrak School has been helping the most disadvantaged children – girls from poor rural families – overcome the many obstacles that keep them out of school. The girls receive a free education that includes food, housing and the all of the supplies they need to learn.

More than a free education, the Lamdrak School offers a quality of learning unparalleled in other schools. The students study in their native language in small classes. The curriculum – which includes vocational training – gives girls the tools they need to study, live and work in the modern world without sacrificing their traditional culture.

NetAid World Schoolhouse and The Bridge Fund are helping the Lamdrak School grow by supporting the construction of a new dormitory for students and teachers. 

With support from the World Schoolhouse, the number of disadvantaged girls accessing education is increasing; attendance at Lamdrak School is up by 30% already. One new teacher has also been assigned to the school to meet the increasing educational demands of the expanding school.

The community has been the key to the success of this project. Not only did they donate land for the new building, but helped in the construction.

Support for the Lamdrak School has done more than put girls in school – it gives poor rural communities a powerful tool to lift themselves out of poverty.