Sikkim Himalayan Academy
Bhuriakop Busty
P.O. Bhuriakop
West Sikkim 737121
India

The School

Sikkim Himalayan Academy was founded in 2002 by Hedwig Bakker, and two local teachers, Jamayang Bhutia and MK. 

They decided that the school would cater for the poorest children and offer them:

• Sound education from qualified teachers
• Good health care
• Pastoral supervision
• Healthy varied diet and clean water
• Open and accountable funding accounts

It is funded entirely by charitable donations from Europe . The school’s motto – Education with Compassion – reflects the
non-denominational school’s social justice and holistic values.

More than 60 students attend classes taught in English from Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings. They are involved with art and music activities. The children feel extremely fortunate to be at such a school as normally only wealthy families can send their children to English medium schools.

The school provides free education and board for 30 of the most disadvantaged students from around Sikkim . They sleep two to a bed in the attic of the schoolhouse and after school and on weekends staff take them for walks, art classes, computer tuition, sports, singing, dancing, games and prayers.

In the future as funds become available, there are plans to buy some land and build a new school that can provide better facilities and cater for a greater number of students. It is also hoped that schools can be set up in other parts of Sikkim to offer education to more underprivileged children.