About Us

Layla Paterson

Secretary and Trustee

Layla Paterson Layla’s first visit to Nepal was in 1992, when she visited her daughter Kate who was working as a volunteer for Dorje Namgyal (see below). He had just taken over the then failing Buddha Academy. Layla was astounded by the daunting task he faced and has worked to support him ever since.

She has also been involved with other charitable activities: in 1996 she organised an air lift of 1,000 kilos to the flood victims of Nepal, and in 2000 collected and delivered into Myanmar money to support two monks with their work building hospitals and schools. After her retirement to Spain, having worked for 15 years running the exclusive holiday letting agency Blandings, she is now able to spend the majority of her time working, as before, voluntarily, for bmcht.

Caroline Yardley

Trustee

Caroline Yardley Caroline worked as London Area Organiser for Save the Children for nine years. During that time she visited some of their schools in North Africa as well as raising funds for specific projects in Asia and Africa. She then trained as a social worker, and for ten years worked for the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. Caroline now works as a freelance social worker for a number of London boroughs. She is a trustee of a local nursery which was started to help refugee and asylum seeking families coming into the area.

Kate Paterson

Trustee

Kate Paterson Kate was invited to help Dorje Namgyal by Save the Children offices in Delhi in 1992. Whilst working at the Buddha Academy she gave talks to raise funds and generally helped with the running of the children’s home and school. Since then she has had considerable experience in the charity field.

For the Tibet Foundation in London she organised appeals; prepared proposals to institutional donors and grant making trusts: obtained EU funding for projects in Eastern Tibet; and was Events the Programmes Manager. She was EA to the Refugee Council’s Director of UK Asylum Support Sevices and EA to the Marketing Director and Financial Director of CARE International UK.She is currently working for The Fair Trade Association.

Our Partners in Nepal

Mr. Ang Tsering Lama

All Nepal Himalayan Buddhist Society Member

Chairman Sherpa Children’s Welfare and Education Trust

Head of the district of Bamti Bhandar and previously a government minister, Mr. Ang Tsering Lama has devoted more than 25 years to social work amongst his people. He founded the Sherpa School giving both his house and land for the purpose, and continues to oversee its running and progress. He is revered in this area where he is known to everyone, and his help and advice are sought and freely given. Indeed his whole family subscribe to his commitment of service to his people. He spends his time between Bamti and Kathmandu. As a member of the All Nepal Himalayan Buddhist Society he is a part of the Buddha Academy management.

Mr. Dorje Namgyal Lama

Principal – The Buddha Academy Boarding School

Mr. Dorje Namgyal Lama Dorje Namgyal Lama, having previously worked for 25 Years in one of the largest Tibetan Children’s Villages in India, was asked to take over the Buddha Academy Boarding School in 1992 then on the point of closure. Conditions were dire. His brief was to save the home and this he had done with starling success. His remarkable qualities of determination and leadership, kindness, devotion and absolute integrity have been rewarded by honours from the late king, government and religious leaders. Since he came more than 1,200 children have passed through the school. Appromimately 600 children attend the school now.

Ang Nuri Tsering Lama

Director The Sherpa School

Ang Kandy and Ang Youton

Trustees

The rest of Ang Tsering Lama’s family are also totally Committed to the Sherpa School. Ang Nuri Lama, Ang Tsering’s son, having been educated in Kathmandu and India is now the full time director. His wife, Lakpa, educated in England and a qualified nurse, supports her husband and runs the infirmary. And Kandy, his mother, works side by side with her husband looking after the secular needs of the school and Ang Youton, Nuri’s sister, after graduating from university in the USA, is involved with development and planning. After taking her masters degree in international relations and development she intends to return to Nepal to work amongst its people, whilst continuing to work for the Sherpa School.