Tintale Village Teaching Center – Nepal

In 2009, the Playing For Change Foundation proudly partnered with our dear friend, William Aura, founder of the Aura Imports Sponsorship Project, in opening the Playing For Change Music program at the Tintale Village Teaching Center.  For the last four years, the teaching center has operated without classroom facilities; the children simply sit on a woven mat every day, enduring harsh natural elements during their lessons.  Donations from PFCF are used to help fund Aura’s transportation of supplies and equipment, plus teacher salaries for the Music Program.  A portion of PFCF funds also go towards Aura’s humanitarian aid in the village including food, medicine, school clothes, books, school supplies, gifts for the children, special school programs and contests, and other various necessities. Thanks to a private donation, construction is also underway on a permanent structure for the teaching center to operate out of.

A 20-year-old young man named Shyam runs the Teaching Center.  The Aura Imports Sponsorship Project sponsored Shyam’s college education and he has now returned to Tintale and dedicated his life to teaching the children of his village so they do not fall into a similar situation as he faced under harsh child labor conditions for almost 6 years.  Shyam is training two teachers, Bikram and Bijay, who are 18 and 15 years old, respectively.  There are approximately 65 students enrolled at the Teaching Center with many more eagerly awaiting sponsorship.  The gift of music and education is perhaps the greatest gift of all to the people of Tintale.  In Aura’s words:

“We can make a big difference in the lives of these humble and peace loving people.  To experience the villagers during a Puja celebration is a pure joy to watch.  Endless song and beats filled with laughter after a hard day of toiling in the fields.  The kids carefully study each musician with great enthusiasm and deep respect.  The blessing of learning how to play an instrument properly will bring a significant boost of self-esteem to these precious kids.”

Support from the Playing For Change Foundation will aid the PFCF Music Program and offer the students of the Teaching Center a more diverse education.  For more information on the Aura Imports Sponsorship Project and to learn how to sponsor a student, please visit: www.auraimports.com and click on “Sponsorships”.