Empowering Monks Through English Education
I was inspired to take up this project because I wanted to contribute to something meaningful. Seeing how limited access to basic English skills affected the monks’ ability to communicate outside the monastery made me want to help. Being part of their learning journey felt motivating and fulfilling.
The project was implemented at Dhokhachu Monastery, where the monks mostly studied religious texts and had little exposure to English. To support them, a small group of students from Chapcha MSS visited the monastery every Saturday for nine months.
We focused on:
- Basic reading and writing
- Simple conversational English
- Building confidence through practical exercises
The sessions were informal but consistent, which helped the monks gradually become more comfortable with the language..
The monks gained foundational English skills that allowed them to communicate more easily with visitors and connect with the world outside the monastery. Their confidence improved, and they became more open to learning new things. The project also strengthened the bond between the monastery and the local school, showing how community support can create real, positive change.
From this project, I learned how powerful education can be in connecting people from different backgrounds. I also understood how patience, consistency, and simple teaching methods make a big difference for learners who are starting from scratch.
To improve the project in the future, I would:
- Add more structured learning materials
- Include interactive activities like storytelling or group discussions
- Invite more volunteers so each monk gets more personal attention
