The Buddhist Women’s Educational Society (BWES) was established in 1996 in partnership with Tibetan Nuns Project (TNP) to respond to the influx of nuns fleeing Tibet and arriving in northern India in search of education and religious freedom. By 2008, more than 1000 Tibetan refugee nuns had already arrived in Dharamshala.
The flow reduced considerably following the clampdown and heightened security measures imposed after the 2008 mass uprising in Tibet.
In recent years, many Buddhist women in the remote Himalayan areas of India such as Ladakh, Zanskar & Spiti have joined the Tibetan nunneries in exile, aspiring to gain an education in the Buddhist tradition. Our mission is to elevate the education standards and the status of Buddhist women practitioners. Our pioneering education system for Buddhist nuns is dedicated to preserving the unique Tibetan cultural heritage while empowering nuns through both traditional and modern education, enabling them to take their rightful place in an ever-evolving world.
BWES provides educational opportunities for over 1000 Buddhist nuns living in India. We have built two new nunneries and support nuns in seven nunneries by providing sponsorship which pays for their education, food and living expenses. We also pay teachers’ salaries and offer curriculum guidance to the seven nunneries.
Our Aims
To contribute to the preservation of the unique Tibetan Buddhist philosophical and meditational traditions endangered by China’s invasion of Tibet.
To provide education in Tibetan and Buddhist philosophy, as well as introducing modern and secular subjects.
To empower and improve the overall status of Buddhist nun practitioners particularly in the field of education, health and spiritual well-being.
Provide training and opportunities for Buddhist nuns to take their place as educated female teachers for the Buddhist community and the world at large.
