With our first entering class of the Chungba Primary School newly graduated from grade six in June 2008, we faced a pressing need for a new middle school. There was only one middle school in Litang County and it was unable to absorb the graduating class of Chungba students. To compensate for the lack of local infrastructure, we worked hard to build a new middle school to serve Chungba and two adjacent rural communities. Drawing on the successes of the Chungba Primary School, the new middle school expands on existing practices implemented in the primary school - such as active parental involvement and promoting 50% enrollment of girls - and we are now exploring new avenues such as conservation education and the integration of digital media technology developed through our partnership with the University of Virginia and the Tibetan and Himalayan Library (THL).

CMS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Building a sustainable education system starts with bricks and mortar. Ground was broken on the construction of the Chungba Middle School complex in 2006 with seed money from Dr. Peter and Kathy Anderson of Lindsay, Ontario. Phase 1 of the Chungba Middle School Project involved leveling the construction site and building two student dormitory buildings. In an effort to build sustainability into the new CMS, storefronts were installed to provide an ongoing income-generating stream to help offset the operation costs of the school. This set of buildings also serves as general storage facility and as a garage for the school supply truck.

CMS at a Glance

The Chungba Middle School has now opened its doors.  At full capacity, the facilities serve the hygiene and washing needs for a residential community of nearly 700 people. It includes two major buildings: first, a 5-story teaching building that includes 16 classrooms, an assembly hall, a chemistry lab, computer lab, library and teachers' offices; and second, a 3-story facilities building that provides toilets, washing, solar showers and laundry facilities to serve both the Chungba Middle School and the Chungba Primary School.

CMS Library Project

In partnership with the Jolkona Foundation, we are building a new library for the Chungba Middle School. Please join us in this effort to bring books and resource materials to the first entering class of the first rural middle school in Litang County! Please visit www.jolkona.org