Indo Swiss Buddhist school is managed by the Greater Himalayan Buddhist welfare society in Manali. This charitable society is directed by Ven. Yongzin Rinpoche. One of his great wish is to establish an institute for disadvantaged children belonging to different region. Yongzin Rinpoche has visited Manali in the year 2004.Manali is one of the most popular tourist place in distt. Kullu. Best part of this place is that it is centrally located with pleasant weather for health and education for the children coming from backward areas. That’s why he selected manali for establishment of an institute to provide them better education and healthy lifestyle. To fulfil this great objective, he organised a society with the help of local people in Manali. In the year 2005, under the centre and state societies registration Act of Indian government a society named greater Himalayan Buddhist welfare society was formed and registered with a number of aims and objective regarding conservation of Buddhist culture, upliftment of poor and backward children and providing an education to under privileged children etc. The above society preferred to focus on educating the poor and needy children and started running a school named Indo – Swiss Buddhist school.
Initially it started with 5-6 kids from Zanskar region in two rented rooms in Manali. But that was not sufficient to fulfil this requirement. So, with the kind and generous co-operation of Mr.J.P Dentan we could purchase for Bighas of land with a small building at a suitable place called Kalath near Manali in 2008. On 18th of April 2008, foundation stone of the school was laid down by the forest minister Mr. J P Nadda in the presence of Kullu MLA Mr. Govind Singh Thakur. On this exclusive occasion, a seminar was conducted keeping in mind the 108th birth anniversary of DR Bhim Rao Ambedkar. The seminar was attended by delegates and scholar from different corners like Delhi, Shimla, Sarnath, Jammu and Goa.
The school started providing modern education with lodging ,boarding and all the facilities to not only the Buddhist children of Ladakh, Zanskar ,Lahaul Spiti and Chamba but all to the children of different religious background of Kullu, Manali and Mandi etc. who are either without parents, with single parents or with too large families with in sufficient sources but increasing number of this children in the school demanded for more accommodation , food ,classrooms and other basic facilities. By the grace of the great Almighty, many sponsors came forward not only from Switzerland, France and Germany but we started receiving donations from different parts of India also. We used this fund for further improvement of the school such as arrangement of library, toilets and separate kitchen etc.
Nearly 14 years have passed since the school has been established and it is going well with its welfare objective. At present there are 74 students in the school. The school and sponsors have continued to support those children who have graduated from the school with excellent marks and have shown their sincerity towards their learning process. Since the school is affiliated to the education board up to 10th grade only, so after qualifying 10th grade from the school children are sent to nearby higher school and colleges by receiving Hostel and other facilities provided by the school.
Till now 4 batch of students graduated from the school. Three of them are serving in the Ladakh scouts' regiment of Indian Army and 11 students are pursuing higher education in different colleges all over India. the society has decided to stay neutral in terms of any political involvement and doesn’t seek any aid from government or administration. In short, the school has reached so far with the selfless support of all the sponsors donator members teachers and children, and it hopes to continue with its welfare aims. Anyone who wishes to support this society can contact through the phone number and email provided on the website.