India - Tong-Len offers new programs in Dharamsala

The state of Himachal Pradesh, located in northwest India, is home to many displaced families, particularly in the area around Dharamsala. These families, coming from some of the poorest regions of India, live in slums on the outskirts of Dharamsala. They struggle to survive by relying on begging and waste collection. As non-residents of the state, they have limited rights and receive minimal government support.

Founded in 2004 by Therchin Gyaltsen (Jamyang), Tong-Len Charitable Trust is dedicated to uplifting impoverished communities in the Dharamsala region. Its core mission is to provide children from these underserved areas with access to quality education. Tong-Len has established its own school and hostel, offering both learning and a safe place to live.

Beyond education, Tong-Len also delivers essential healthcare services to the local slum populations.

Today, Tong-Len’s hostel houses 150 children, its school educates over 300 students, and nearly 200 young people benefit each year from its vocational training programs — creating real pathways out of poverty and toward a brighter future.

Fontana Foundation has maintained a long-standing partnership with Tong-Len. The first project in 2014 was the funding a hostel for children from Dharamsala’s slums.

Since 2020 we've been supporting the vocational training program for young adults who have completed Grade 10 at Tong-Len School, as well as for other youths living in the slums and in the Dharamsala and the Kangra districts.

Current course offerings include electrician training, tailoring, embroidery, waste management, and driving classes. Starting in 2026, cookery classes will also be added.

The electrician and cookery courses follow the standards set by NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling), a national educational board in India. Students who complete these programs successfully will receive official NIOS certification.

Fontana Foundation funds the entire operational cost of the Vocational Training Center and ensures that appropriate facilities are available. At present, a new building is under construction, which will house the new school kitchen and the upcoming cookery classes.

For more information go to www.tong-lencharitabletrust.org