17/07/2026
A Tribute to Mr. Tsering Samdup and Mr. Thupten: The Guiding Lights of Chharka Bhot
In the remote village of Chharka Bhot, one of the highest permanently inhabited places in the world, hope came in the form of two remarkable people—Mr. Tsering Samdup and Mr. Thupten. Chharka Bhot, in Upper Dolpo, Nepal, has long dealt with the lack of proper roads, reliable electricity, stable communication, and good healthcare. Even with all these challenges, these two men chose to stay and serve their community instead of taking easier opportunities elsewhere.
This journey was also made possible by kind friends and donors whose support helped turn things around. Among them, Ms. Barbara Euser and her team at ICDF have been with the people of Chharka Bhot from the very start. Even before the school reopened, they believed in the idea of giving quality education to the children of this remote village. Their support, generosity, and encouragement have played a big part in rebuilding and strengthening Chharka Bhot School.
Another important supporter has been Bambusschule and Mr.Bodo Peter, whose steady support has helped many lives. Through their regular funding and partnership, they’ve supported not just the school, but also its hostel program, making sure students from Chharka Bhot can keep studying beyond the village.
Mr. Tsering Samdup is one of Dolpo’s most respected and talented artists. He could have built a successful career in art, but instead he chose to give up that dream for the future of the younger generation in Chharka. Along with his close friend, Mr. Thupten, he saw the heartbreaking condition of Chharka Bhot School—a school that had been closed for years and left in bad shape.
Wanting to bring education back to the village, they started Dolpo Tomorrow, an organization created to connect Chharka Bhot with generous donors and well-wishers from around the world. Their goal was simple but powerful: reopen the school and make sure every child in Chharka Bhot could get a good education and a chance at a better future.
The road wasn’t easy. They faced plenty of challenges, money problems, and uncertainty. But they never gave up. They kept reaching out to donors and supporters, raised funds, and slowly brought the school back to life. They arranged proper classrooms, desks, benches, enough stationery for the whole school year, and hired qualified teachers to provide quality education.
They started in the simplest way possible—teaching children inside a tent. Today, the school has safe, well-built classrooms, many of them insulated with rock wool to help students survive the freezing winters of Upper Dolpo. This change shows just how determined they were, and how much the donors believed in their vision.
At first, getting parents to send their children to school was another huge challenge. After years of disappointment, many families had lost trust in the education system. During the four years the school was closed, government-appointed teachers would sometimes come just to mark attendance and then leave soon after. That kind of neglect broke the community’s trust in both the school and the authorities.
Most families in Chharka Bhot depend on a tough nomadic lifestyle and don’t have much money. Sending their children to schools in cities was simply not possible for them. Because of that, many children missed out on education and ended up following the same hard life as their parents and grandparents. Some families chose to send their children to monasteries, where they could at least get free education and meals.
Through years of hard work and honest service, Mr. Tsering Samdup and Mr. Thupten slowly won back the community’s trust. Today, more than 75 students attend Chharka Bhot School regularly. The school also welcomes children from nearby villages where education options are limited. In just a decade, Chharka Bhot School has become one of the most trusted and reliable schools in Chharka Tangsong Rural Municipality.
Knowing that education shouldn’t stop after basic schooling, Dolpo Tomorrow also set up a hostel in Kathmandu for students going on to higher education. The hostel offers free accommodation, educational support, and daily essentials, so students from low-income families can keep studying without worrying about money. This life-changing effort has been possible thanks to the continued generosity of donors, especially Babus Schule and Mr.Bodo Peter.
Dolpo Tomorrow’s impact goes beyond education too. The organization also runs a small health post inside the school premises, offering free basic healthcare to local villagers who otherwise have very limited access to medical services.
One of the many inspiring stories is Ms. Sonam Bhuti, a hardworking and dedicated teacher who became widely known through Herne Katha for her commitment to her students, her family, and her community. Dolpo Tomorrow also supported her Plus Two education, helping her continue to be an inspiration to many.
Today, the first batch of students from the revived Chharka Bhot School is studying in Grade 12, and many more are following behind them. This is living proof of the vision, sacrifice, and hard work of Mr. Tsering Samdup and Mr. Thupten, along with the generosity of the donors who believed in the dream of educating the children of Chharka Bhot.
Mr. Tsering Samdup gave up not just his artistic career, but also many personal comforts, to help lift up an entire generation. Together with Mr. Thupten, and with the steady support of dedicated partners like Ms. Barbara Euser and the ICDF team, Babus Schule, and Mr. Bodo Peter, they’ve given the children of Chharka Bhot something much bigger than buildings and classrooms—they’ve given them hope, opportunity, dignity, and a brighter future.
Their story reminds us that real change never happens because of just one person. It comes from vision, sacrifice, kindness, trust, and the generosity of people who believe that every child, no matter how far away they live, deserves a chance to learn and succeed.
To Mr. Tsering Samdup, Mr. Thupten, Ms. Barbara Euser and the ICDF team, Bambus Schule, Mr. Bodo Peter and all the donors of CBS—thank you for your incredible dedication to the children and people of Chharka Bhot. Your kindness and selfless service have changed lives and will keep inspiring generations to come.
Dolpo Tomorrow
Samdup Dolpopa
Thupten Dolpo
Forever grateful for your tireless efforts and selfless thinking👏👏
