Isle of Man Scholar for 2011 - 2013
Friends of the Pestalozzi Village Isle of Man Group
Dechen Yangkyi
To mark the 40th anniversary of Friends of Pestalozzi Isle of Man, the committee embarked on an ambitious project to identify one student at Pestalozzi Village in Sussex, fund them through the two-year IB and follow their progress during the course and beyond. Three weeks before the 40th anniversary the Manx Overseas Aid Committee(MOAC) confirmed they would match the amount raised by Friends of Pestalozzi, up to £10,000 to fund this one student.
We are pleased to name Dechen Yangkyia first year Pestalozzi student from Tibet, as the Isle of Man Scholar for 2011-2013. The money raised by the Isle of Man Group, with support from the Manx Overseas Aid Committee, will cover the cost of her two-year scholarship.
Dechen escaped from Tibet with her brother and younger sisters in 2000, arriving at the Tibetan Refugee Reception Centre in India after a frightening and dangerous walk through the snowy Himalayas. Her parents and three of her sisters still live in Tibet, where they struggle to find work, but they were determined that Dechen and her other siblings should escape poverty and persecution. Dechen was educated at TCV Selakui, in Dehradun, India, and she writes: ‘I am indebted to them. So, in the future I want to pay a good service to my community too. This inspires me to give an extra effort in everything I do.’
Dechen writes of the significant obstacles in her life so far: ‘At the age of seven, I was sent to India to study, by leaving all my dear ones, but the real obstacle came when I had to cross the steep snowy mountains in such harsh weather. We were closely watched by the Chinese so we covered the distance mostly at night. My sister and our friends almost left at the side of the river, so deep was it to cross or carry one another. But having overcome this obstacle changed my life forever.’
Dechen is delighted to have the opportunity to further her education in England as it will place her in the best position possible to make a wonderful difference in society. Knowing that her parents are illiterate and took the great risk to send her to India for an education and a brighter future, Dechen is incredibly grateful for every opportunity that she receives, working hard with the motivation to bring pride to her family and community.
Pestalozzi mission statement
"Our unique two year scholarship programme in the UK offers academically bright, but economically disadvantaged 16-19 year old students from developing countries the chance to develop their potential using the Pestalozzi principles of educating the Head, Heart and Hands"
Contact Daxa Patel 07624 452791