Flagship Campus:
Tergar School Yolmo
About
As the Tergar Schools flagship campus, Tergar School Yolmo is envisioned as a naturally pristine learning environment in which students can explore both their inner and outer worlds. Embracing Mingyur Rinpoche’s profound vision in every aspect of development, Tergar School Yolmo will imbue its physical setting with an approach that reflects the truths of interdependence and impermanence.
Campus
The vision for the campus is to house roughly 500 girls and boys in home-style living spaces, staffed with dorm parents that develop strong relationships with the students in their cohort. These spaces will each contain kitchens and communal living spaces to ensure that the children have an opportunity to experience a home-like living environment.
Our campus design will embrace the natural contours of the mountains and landscape within which it is situated. Using cutting-edge technology, we will create learning spaces that provide easy access to the natural environment, allowing students to develop a strong relationship with the natural world. Additionally, we will include resources, such as a clinic and performance space, that we will share with the local villagers, ensuring a strong sense of community.
Project Phases
Phase 1 (2023-2024): Infrastructure and Design
- Foundational Infrastructure
- Reliable water: In order to execute the building of the campus, we must secure a reliable water supply. We will do this by installing a water transportation system from a nearby mountain spring, as well as industrial tanks to ensure continual water supply.
- Stabilize electrical infrastructure: While the property abuts state-sponsored electrical lines, we will need to enhance these to serve our purposes.
- Reinforce and rebuild roadways: We will work with the local municipality to implement improvements to the rural roads leading to the property to ensure that construction equipment can access the property effectively.
- Build perimeter wall: In order to ensure the safety of equipment and residential construction staff, we will construct a retaining wall around the property.
- Rigorous Design
- The second area of focus will be a rigorous design process. Given the rural nature of the campus and the breath-taking mountainside where the school will be built, there is an increased need to plan. In turn, we will bring in world-renowned experts to help establish a solid design plan for the future. This will include engineers and architects, as well as educational experts to help anticipate the needs of the campus community.
Phase 2 (2025-2029): Building the Yolmo Campus
With Phase 1 successfully completed, Phase 2 marks the next step of our vision: a fully contained campus in Yolmo designed to embody the values of awareness, compassion, and wisdom at every level of its design, construction, and operation.
A Vision Taking Shape
Over the next three to four years, we will construct five main buildings of the Tergar Schools Yolmo campus, creating a vibrant learning environment that brings together education, community life, and contemplative practice. The campus will include classrooms, residences, a gompa (temple), staff and faculty residences, and shared spaces for learning, arts, and reflection.
Our approach is rooted in local wisdom and sustainability. By relying on locally sourced materials and by engaging local communities, we aim to move swiftly while honoring the environment and traditions of the region. This locally driven process also reflects our aspiration to make the Yolmo campus a living example of modern monastic education grounded in community collaboration.
Construction Timeline
Our timeline is ambitious but attainable, fueled by the deep inspiration of Mingyur Rinpoche’s vision and the excitement and support of his students.
- Year 1: Main school building
- Year 2: Residential buildings and staff accommodations (Part 1)
- Year 3: Residential buildings and guest accommodations (Part 2)
- Year 4: Medical block, staff and faculty housing
During this phase, we will also begin hiring and rigorously training the educators and staff who will serve the Yolmo school. Drawing on the experience and leadership of our pilot school in Kathmandu, we are well-positioned to anticipate the needs of this new campus and ensure excellence from the very beginning.
Building Together
Realizing this vision will depend on the strength and generosity of Mingyur Rinpoche’s international community, whose shared aspiration is to make wisdom and compassion accessible through education. Supporters from around the world are coming together to help bring this vision to life—offering expertise, resources, and faith in the transformative power of learning grounded in awareness.
At the same time, we remain committed to collaborating closely with local officials, builders, and educators, ensuring that each step of construction honors the culture, landscape, and traditions of Yolmo.
Together, this union of global inspiration and local stewardship is shaping not just a campus, but a living model of wisdom, compassion, and joy for generations to come.
Administrative Staff
How to Help
In order to accomplish our goal of creating a transformative learning environment in this breathtaking location, we need your help! We currently have two campaigns focused our the Yolmo project – Brick-by-Brick and Yolmo Patrons. If you feel moved and wish to donate you can do so via either of these campaigns.
