SECMOL Campus Times Newsletter Volume 4 No. 6

On 5th of Oct We did an inspection for the responsibilities. All the students and VIS students participated in this inspection. All students did their responsibilities very well.

On 5th Oct. monthly meeting was held in our campus.

On 11th o f Oct. VISpas went for trekking in Changtang and Nubra.

On 12th of Oct. School students brought straw for the cows from Phey village.

On 16th of Oct.The SAI staff went to the Bangri ceremony of the grandson of Mr. Konchok Sharaf, Ursi Balay. He is one of the office staff. They returned in the afternoon of the 17th.

On 18th of Oct. Some students returned from exams, and Stanzin Gya came and showed a moviethat he made and was popular in ladakh in the recent years.

On 19th of Oct. Achay Youdon and Achay Lanzes came to Secmol. Achay Youdon is a Secmol ex-staff member and student, who returned to Ladakh from Laos. Achay Lanzes is a former Secmol student.

On 27th of Oct. Responsibilities changed .

On 30th of Oct. Bi-Monthly Presentations .

On 28th of Oct. Environmental day.

On 29th of Oct. Guest speakers came to talk about Ladakhi history

On 31st of Oct. We celebrated Halloween party with VISpas.

On 27 October all the students changed their responsibilities in our

Responsibilities

S.A.I. campus with the help of the campus staff coordinator and secretary. New students also took over the big responsibilities known as coordinator and secretary, which also change after two months with the regular responsibilities. Secretary Deachen Angmo became the new coordinator and the ex-coordinator Jigmet Tsering retired from the post. Therefore we needed to elect a new secretary to help the coordinator run our hostel very peacefully and smoothly.

 After changing the students responsibilities at night, we elected the new secretary. During that time we had 11 candidates and most of the students voted to Po Dorjay, who finally won by 25 out of 45 votes. After that the ex-co-coordinator gave a welcome speech to new co-coordinator Dechen. And she gave a most welcome speech for Po Dorjay the new secretary. Finally the new secretary gave a speech for all students, about what he can do for our campus with collaborations of staff coordinator & students. At same day after finished our election. We had a general meeting where all the hostel students and staff were present. We did not have meeting in the month of Oct because there were not much issues to be discussed. The general meeting was not long though because there were only small issues like changing time table, about activity, and to see well being of everyone, etc. Soon the meeting was over everyone dispersed to turn in on time.

VISpas On Trek

The VISpas visited Changtang and Nubra, staying in the villages of Shachukul, Relley, Tangyer, and Hundar

. Tsering Kunzes and Tenzin Angdus joined them during seven days of driving and trekking through these regions

Each home stay provided a warm and welcoming environment, and the group learned many things about the villages they stayed in and people they encountered. During the week, there were day trips to Pangong Lake, day hikes in Relley, and a fun day riding camels and rolling on sand dunes in Hundar. The VISpas will be taking another trip from November 1 - 4, to Rumbak and Stok, as long as the pass is clear.

Interview with campus manager

Campus times :- What was the purpose of your visit to Sweden? 

Acho Norgay :- A Swedish organization named Future Earth has one of the programmes called Learning from South in which the organization invites one person from their different member organizations. SECMOL has been and is one of member organiz ations for about 15 years, therefore this year we are invited again after ten year. Every time they chose a theme of the tour. For this year Climate and Alternative Energy was chosen. Because we use alternative energy like solar in our campus, I did many presentation on Alternative Energy in different schools in Sweden during the 15 day tour.

C.T :-  What did you learnt from Sweden something that you did not learn here? 

N :- I learnt the importance of preserving traditional monuments and artifacts.

C.T :- Can you share some differences that you saw between Ladakh and Sweden particularly the life style? 

N :- There is a big difference; their life style is digital and button based by using a lot of external energy like electricity. Without electricity the life in Sweden will stop. All the infrastructures like bridge, road, communication, transportation and water supply are much, much better than here in Leh. Facilities for students and teachers in schools are so tempting. They really have a rich lifestyle. There is hardly any farmer in Sweden may be 2 - 3 percent.

C.T :- What kind of animals do they keep? 

N :- In the city one can not see any animal except in zoo. But in the country side further to the west there are many cows, goats, horses in some big farms. There are wild animals in some forest like rain deer, elg, fox, wild goat even there said to have leopard.

C.T :- How long does it take to reach Sweden from Leh? 

N :- It takes 6 hours in flight without including 5 hours waiting time at airports.

C.T :- Any suggestions?

N :- All the students should apply for passport. It is worth.

Halloween Party

On 31. of October Halloween is traditonally celebrated in the United States, when people dress in scary or silly costumes and children go from door to door collecting candy from neighbors. At Secmol this Halloween, the VISpas brought pizza and candy to the main hall for a celebration, and some students dressed in costumes. Secmolpas and VISpas sung songs and danced.

Guest Speaker

On 29 October,Nawang Tashi and Mitze Nurboo came to Secmol after being invited byVIS,and spoke about the history of Ladakh. They covered- the early and recent history, and students had many questions answered during a very interesting and educational hour and a half.

Monthly presentation

On 30th of October we had a presentation. Besides the students, SECMOL staff and VISpas / volunteers there were few guests namely Colonel Bopindar Singh with his wife and son, and our director Tsewang Dorjay were also present.

 Kaga Tsewang Dorjey got married a few weeks ago, therefore all the VIS group, staff and students gave the traditional white scarf to him. During the presentation it turned out, that we had a problem with shopping goods. Colonel Bopindar Singh, solved it by saying that students could come to the army for supplies anytime. He also announced that if anyone would like to join Indian army could go to Tangtse on the fourth of November this year. In the end of the presentation prize distribution session took place where Mutup and Chouskit were awarded in honor of doing best responsibility for their great work during the two month service, and were presented with yellow scarves and a gift. Their responsibility was to clean the lower dinning hall. Jigdol gave the "funniest" presentation, according to Achay Becky.

Environmental Day
On 28th of Oct. We cleaned up the campus by breaking and piling sticks and raking leaves to make Secmol a more enjoyable place for everyone.On this special day, Binoy and Ishey made Pakoras for everyone on the Campus for afternoon tea.

Solar Water Heater
Solar water heater in campus was rebuilt on 18 November. It took few days to complete. It is hoped that this will help in reducing fire wood to be used to heat water. The capacity of this water heater is about 150 liters in winter so as to get hot water in short period. Later this month we will also make an insulated tank with VIS students that will function as to store the hot water in the mid-day to be used in the morning of the next day. So far the hot water for shower is only available during the day time.
After having the insulated tank we can have shower early in the morning. The earlier one can get up in the morning warmer the water in bathrooms will be. Water heater will raise the temperature of the water up till 42 Degree Celsius which is more than comfortable temperature to our body. Expected drop in temperature in the insulated tank is 10 degree Celsius throughout the night. Therefore the stored water temperature by the morning will be around 32 Degree Celsius. Still Not bad though….
Waaooo...Another new water heater is in plan to build in collaboration with VIS group in our campus.
Our hope is to encourage more people to take hot shower at a time.
Lets see how good the new water heater is and how hot can it make the water....

English and ladakhi words
Discuss            Sungdos
Information    Syanzus
Oath                 Aunakalchas.
Announce        Skakhab
Against            Gyabgal
Vice-president Thipa zjonba
Volunteers         Rangthatpa
Solar energy       Nyemayshuks
Library               Spayzotkhang
Concern Delwa


Someone Loves
Love is like a mountain-hard to climb.
When we get on the top of mountain, the
view is very beautiful.
By-Otzer.

My Friends
Count your life by smiles, not tears. Count
your age by friends, not years
By- Deachen Gyabtsar


Real life
There is happiness and at times sadness
sometimes there is a smile and at time the
eyes are moist. But live every movement with
a smile. You have to go through every kind
of weather just enjoy yourself.
By Stanzin

The Friendship
Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two
bodies. It is just like a diamond that shines
and is so precious.
I can't forget the day of our happy movement
we spend, even if we are in different
places. I am very proud of our friendship.
By ~Tsetan Tharuk

Teacher
You are the source of my knowledge.
you are the light of my life.
You are the one who shows me the right
parth-what is good and bad. I am very
grateful to you, you are the great.
By Dolma Tharuk.

Joy Forever
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. It's loveliness
increases. It will never pass into
nothingness.
By-Deachen (Nelung)

Friendship
Birth is start of life
Beauty is art of life
Love is part of life
But
Friend is heart of life
By-Rinchen (Upshi)

Suggestion
It gives me a great pleasure to go through the Campus Times. It presents before everyone that all happenings of the campus and campus relevant issues. Even
the biggest journey starts with a small step. I’m proud of your work and I hope you are making the most out of this oppertunity of publishing the newsletter.
One small thing I want to see in some corner of your newletter is about the weather condition. Just a little like max. min. temperature of the day. If the suggestion suits you.
I’m happy to help you in case you may need my help.
Thanks for all the editors for your great effort and dedication to this task..
Acho Konchok (Shachukul)

Announcement
We welcome comments and suggestions for the improvement of our newsletter. Send us your articles by Wenesday or put your articles in the box next to the suggestions box with your proper name.
If your articles come late then it will appear in the next issue. You can also write us a letter about previous issues.
If you bring sayings or other items from a book or magazine, please give the source.
Thank you!
                     From The Campus Times Editors

Editor of campus times

J-Angmo

 and

 T-Gyatso

Volume 4 No. 10 SECMOL ALTERNATIVE INSTITUTE FORNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER

NEWS HEADLINES

• On 15th Sept. a group called DRAGON came to visit here only for 2 and half hour.
• On 15th of September, here came a foreigner group called Carpe Diem. There were two teachers and six students.
• On 27th of September Vermont Inter-culture Semester (VIS) arrived, there are two teachers and seven students.
• Hostellers Congratulate Dadul and Gyatso for winning Gold and Silver Medal in Archery Competition.
• SECMOL and Pratham Conduct Annual Status of Education Report (ASER).
• Farewell Party for College Students.
• Big Building Interior Maintenance Finished.
• Manoj Gupta Donated two New Computers to Hostel.
• On 18th and 19th of September. Sea buckthorn juice
  

Secretary Election

On 3rd of September, we had election for Secretary. Actually there were nine candidates from the foundation group. The candidates were Deachen(Meru), Tashi Tundup, Tundup Angmo, Tsering chospal, Thinles Norbo, Tsewang Dorjay, Tsering Chorol, Stanzin yangdol and Karma Jigdol. Among them the leading candidates were Dechan Meru and Tashi Tundup. Everyone was excited to see the winner. Finally Dechan Meru won the election by securing 16 votes and Tashi got 14 votes.


Bi-monthly presentation
On 4th of Sept, we had bi-monthly presentation. Aba Tsewang Dorjay was there as the Chief Guest. He is an ex-additional deputy commissioner of Leh. He, also, was a SECMOL staff a long time back. There were other guest from Leh like SECMOL director Kaga Tsewang Dorjay, Office staff and some ex-students. In this presentation as usual we had two judges who choose the best presenter. The judges were Phunchok Dolma(staff) and Tsering Stobdan (ex-student). The best presenter was Stanzin Yangdol (Tangtse). Her responsibility was to keep lower dinning hall clean. During the presentation time we had some group dances performed by both girls and boys. At the end the chief guest gave us an inspiring talk to the students. After that we had a dinner party followed by informal dances. All the staff, students and volunteers in this campus took part actively in this presentation.



New coordinator
On 3rd of September, We had the secretary election. There were nine candidates, in this election majority went to Deachean Meru and she was elected as the new hostel secretary. Now Rigzen Norbu retired from the post of coordinator, Jigmat Tsering will be the new coordinator and Deachean will be the new secretary.

Building Interior Finished
In eighteen day long renovation of interior of the big building was finally finished with the help of 6 labors from Bihar. Re-varnishing the office wooden floor, library, girl's upper corridor and lower big side rooms come under the maintenance. Now the floor look much better and because of that if hostel can effort to make wooden floor in the boys' dormitory it is necessary as it make the rooms kept room clean. All the labors have left for their homes but it expected that they will come back finish the rest of the maintenance needed out side building.


Gold and Silver Medal in Archery Competition
Hosteller Congratulates Dadul and Gyatso for winning Gold and Silver Medal in Archery Competition. Gaytso and Dadu, who are school going students, had participated a 15 day Archery Coaching Leh. Final day there was archery competition. Gaytso played in under 19 age and Dadul in under 17.Gaytso won Silver medal and Dadul won the gold medal in the competition. During the final occasion both of them were awarded the medals. There were 49 participants from different schools in Leh District from which two of them were our friends Dadul and Gyatso.Therefore, we all the students, staff and volunteers congrtulate on thier sucess.

Field trip
On 21st of September, Carpe Diem, school students and foundation students went for a field trip to Chamday and Kharu. First we visited the CHAMDAY monastery and then we walked towards Kharu and had lunch at S.Chuskit (current student) and Gytso's (former students) house. After that we drove towards Mahabodhi Meditation Centre at Choglamsar. There we had a campus tour.

Farewell to College students
A grand dinner was prepared for the College students. They were seven in number and have been in the hostel for 3 years. Some of them were in campus for 5 years. In their presence all the students have been trying to learn one thing or the other since they are familiar with subjects that junior students did now know. Hostel can not forget their support for hostel in every sphere of life in campus. They have been really responsible people. All the students wished them in their short lecture during the farewell party to have a truly bright future ahead. Tear rolled down from everyone's eyes but in case of few people washing their face. That indicates how friendly and attached they feel.

Education survey
SECMOL and Pratham Conduct Annual Status of Education Report (ASER).All the foundation course students set off for doing survey about understanding the students' level of learning ranging the age from 3-16 years. They did the survey in the area around Leh after they got one long workshop with Vivek from Pratham a Delhi based NGO. The same organization did the same survey with Horticulture last time. All students were sent to different part of Ladakh to collect information regarding the ASER. This time 300 houses have been covered in a randomized way. All the students have arrived back from the survey within three days though they covered Nubra, Durbuk, Anle (in Nyoma) and Photoksar (Kaltse).

Two computers donated for hostel
Manoj Gupta from Delhi visited campus sometimes back and promised to donate two computers for hostel. He himself wanted to come to campus teach our students how to use computers. Promise is met and Manoj came back to campus and started teaching our senior students by using his own donated computers. He left for Delhi and all the students are wishing him have good time and also looking forward to see him in our world OUR CAMPUS.

SAI staff meeting
On 5th of oct, SAI staff had a meeting. In this meeting they distributed different responsibility and discuss different issues.

On 2nd of oct Sonam, Kunzes, Sangdup and T.Kunzes joined the quartile meeting at Leh office. They joined for first time in this meeting as SAI staff. They are all most seniors students. Now they are working as staff at SECMOL Campus Phey


Vermont Inter-culture Semester

Vermont Inter-culture Semester (VIS) arrived on 27th of September, there are two teachers and seven students. Acho James was also there last year as a VIS teacher. They will be here for two months.
Acho James brought us Piano and Guitar for hostel and started teaching to students. So on the behalf of all the hostelers going to say Thank for getting us instruments.We are really willing to learn how play them!!

Sea Buck Throne berry Juice

On 18th and 19th of September, early morning students went to collect the sea buck throne berries from our surrounding bushes. All the students were divided into small group and sent to collect the berries with a stick, plastic sheet and a bucket. On second day we made juice out of the berries.Every one enjoyed drinking the juice. Everybody winks when they drink juice because it is very sour.

Hostel Best Wishes

Hostel west wishes for all the Students who have Exam soon. Though the exam is nothings but testing our ability of memorization power until the exam is over, then we don't know what we have been memorizing. Students in our campus are now off to start prepare for the exam while maintaining the hostel daily activities. Some of the students forget to have meal because of the exam tension. What is tested in the exam is not even the 5% of what useful thing we know. But unfortunately many people started thinking that during exam the most important question in our life is asked. What is truth? Lets us find it out. Just discuss.




Oh! love you are the only one who can bind all of us. Oh! love you are the only one who can keep and bring peace. Oh! love you are the only one who can keep all relations.

By J.Angmo

FRIEND

Friend are those Who can understand our problem Who do not leave us alone when we are in trouble. Friend are those who love and care each other, So it's a true friendships.

By S.Yangdol

THOUGHT

“The world is round and the place whichmay seem like the end a[so be the begining.” “Doing nothing is very hard to do you never know when you are finished.” “No one know what he/she can do untill you tries.” “God gives every bird it’s food but doesn’t always drops it into the nest.” “A life without love is like a year without summer.” “An inch of gold will not buy an inch of time.” “It’s better in times of need to have a friend rather than have a money.” “With lies you may go ahead in the world but you can never go back.”

By Acho Sonam

LADAKH

Actually Ladakh is hot place,

But also cold. Actually Ladakh is desert place, But also green. Actually Ladakh is on earth, But it is in heaven.

By J.Tsering

MY BELOVED BROTHER

I love my brother so much. The time when God made you. But you never far away from me. Although you are still with me.

By Dolma

BROTHER

Oh! brother you are so cute You are the one Who understand me. Live along life Do all the things That suit in your life. Remember the lord in every way. So that evil will not lead you off track Never go one step off right way.

By Tsomo

Announcement

We welcome comments and suggestions for the improvement of our newsletter. Send us your articles by Wednesday or put your articles in the box next to the suggestions box with your proper name. If your articles come late then it will appear in the next issue. You can also write us a letter about previous issues. If you bring sayings or other items from a book or magazine, please give the source. Thank you!

Editorial team

Stanzen Shayok & Tsetan Dolma