Building a school and clinic in rural India
I first got involved with the Odiyana Health and Education Project (OHEP) when I joined the Odiyana Sangha in Santa Barbara in 2023. There, I met Dorjee and Dolkar, founders of the Tibetan Aid Foundation, and was impressed with their work through the nonprofit. OHEP is an ambitious project to build a clinic and an orphanage school in rural Ruksin, India. This Project is a collaboration with the Odiyana Institute’s project to build a temple and monastery on the same land and is led by our teacher, Tulku Orgyen P’huntsok Rinpoche. As a nurse with a background of working internationally, I was naturally drawn to the Project. Something treatable here in the States, like a rash, infection, or a cut, can be disabling when there is no one to provide basic care, determine who needs a higher level of care, and coordinate care when a member of the community returns home after a hospital stay. That work is all done by nurses across the world.
Invited by Tulku Orgyen P’huntsok Rinpoche, I visited the Project Site in India in December of 2023. I am amazed at how much such a few people have been able to accomplish so far in Ruksin. From the people who donated the land, to the volunteer workers, to the benefactors in the US and members of the local Sangha, so much has been done in such a short time.
My teacher, Tulku Orgyen P’huntsok Rinpoche, is a true inspiration to me and all the people working on this project. We are so fortunate to have such an expert in Buddhist tradition constantly teaching us and providing real life opportunities to participate in this important work.
Odiyana Health and Education Project
Learn more about the Odiyana Health and Education Project
Ati Jangchub Choeling
Odiyana Health and Education Project Site
Ruksin, Arunachal Pradesh, India