Over the years, our experience has shown that children from marginalized backgrounds often possess deep dedication, discipline, and a hunger to learn—especially when given the right opportunity. This has strengthened our belief in music as a transformative force, and it continues to drive our commitment to reaching those who need support the most.

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A Turning Point: Global Support, Local Impact

One of the most significant milestones in our journey was made possible with the support of Peter C. Langendorf. Thanks to his generous guidance and encouragement, MusicArt Society was able to secure a major project from the Green Leaves Foundation in Switzerland. This collaboration opened new doors for us and enabled dozens of underprivileged children to receive formal training in music, some for the first time in their lives.

This international partnership marked the beginning of a more expansive and impactful chapter for MAS, reaffirming that music knows no boundaries—and neither should opportunity.

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New Horizons: Vocal Lessons for 27 Children

Our growth has continued with the unwavering support of individuals who believe in our vision. With the recent support of Julian Russ, MAS is now able to facilitate vocal lessons for 27 children. These lessons are not just about learning to sing—they are about self-expression, healing, confidence-building, and belonging. For many of these children, it is the first time their voices are being heard—literally and figuratively.

We are immensely grateful for Julian Russ’s belief in our work and for investing in the next generation of vocal talents from communities that are too often overlooked.

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Music for the Nation: A Vision for the Future

To amplify our impact, MAS is now launching a nationwide initiative titled ‘Music for the Nation.’ This bold project aims to extend our free music education programs to underprivileged children across Nepal. By doing so, we hope to:

• Reach more communities where musical opportunities are rare or nonexistent

• Discover and nurture hidden talents

• Promote cultural preservation through Nepali music traditions

• Build a more inclusive and harmonious society

We believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves the chance to learn, create, and thrive through music. ‘Music for the Nation’ is not just a campaign—it’s a movement toward a more just and joyful future.

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Join Us

The journey of MusicArt Society would not be possible without the generosity and kindness of supporters like Peter C. Langendorf, Julian Russ, and organizations like Green Leaves Foundation. Together, we are proving that music can be a bridge between hardship and hope.

As we look to the future, we invite individuals, institutions, and partners to join us in expanding this mission. Whether through financial support, volunteering, or simply sharing our story—you too can become part of this beautiful harmony.

Sumit Pokhrel Chair person of MusicArt Society

After my graduation, my professional journey unfolded in the software development domain. Over three months at Thimphu Techpark, followed by a year at Yang Khor Private Limited, and eventually two years at Bhutan Insurance Limited, I honed my skills in software documentation, client system training, web hosting, system deployment, and application development. Concurrently, I co-founded "Webdyno Bhutan" with Tandin Wangchuk, located in the heart of Thimphu town, Bhutan.

In August 2023, a new chapter opened as I embarked on a postgraduate journey in the United Kingdom, pursuing an MA in Virtual and Augmented Reality at York St John University. Hailing from a developing country like Bhutan, my vision is to introduce Virtual and Augmented Reality solutions that revolutionize tourism, education, health, and insurance sectors, propelling economic development.

Currently engaging in research on "The Impact of VR/AR in Post-Occupancy Housing," my objectives include exploring immersive technologies' effects on residents' comfort and satisfaction, alongside identifying challenges and opportunities in integrating VR and AR in residential settings.

My research includes collaborations with construction companies, envisioning offsite construction with AR-guided assembly. My aspiration is that this study will play a pivotal role in fostering economic development in Bhutan. I aim to align my exploration of research studies with the government's vision of Gross National Happiness (GNH) for a technologically equipped nation BHUTAN.

Thank you, Ugyen Rangdrol

In seinem Dorf im Norden Senegals träumt Yao dank seiner Lektüre von Reisen und Abenteuern. Als er erfährt, dass Seydou Tall, sein Lieblingsautor, bald in Dakar sein wird, macht er sich auf den Weg, um ihn zu treffen. Und Seydou, der ein Kind so weit weg von zu Hause nicht allein lassen kann, beschließt, es zu begleiten. Dann beginnt eine wundervolle Reise, auf der Erwachsene und Kinder einander kennenlernen und sich gegenseitig dabei helfen, die Geheimnisse ihrer Welt zu entdecken. Eine Reise, aus der eine tiefe Freundschaft entstehen wird ... und eine Berufung als Schriftsteller.

Vision and Goal:

Enhancing quality education of the children at rural part of Nepal and architecting pathways to build their better future.

Then gradually addressing the need of the Nepalese rural communities at the level of livelihood, health and rural infrastructures.

Dhanyawaad - For more information, please visit https://suknepal.org

In 2017 when I was in Grade 7, I joined HMG (Himalayan Makers Guild) robotics club as a member and after a year I was selected as a leader. This project is related to Technology and we have Code Club too. It was founded by Harry Pigot with graduated with a biotechnology engineering degree from Canada. One day Harry organized two projects which were a solar project and a car project. My members got a chance to do the car project - the car follows a black line drawn on a flat surface. It was the best achievement I ever gained in that club and I led them as a project manager.

I joined an eco-club in 2016. In 2017 I participated in The Voice of S.M.D (for singing competition), House Debate, house quiz competition, typing competition and art competition, and many more. I joined Root & Shoot (koryug) as a new member in 2019. And I also got a chance to be a Room Captain in the hostel for two years. I also got a chance to teach prayers to the juniors for 2 and half years. In 2019 the school administrators appointed me as the School Captain. That experience gave me the opportunity to build my confidence level and learn leadership skills also.

As for my hobbies, I enjoy playing football as well as basketball. Mostly I spend my free time making art, painting, reading books and enjoying most of the indoor games. I like to play musical instruments like the Tibetan guitar (Danyern), Flute, western guitar, madal (drum), piano and others. I also love to sing as well as making beats. I am interested in graphic designing and I also illustrated the digital art of our root guru Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche whom I admired for his generosity, and our school. Furthermore, I made a personal website by using websites designing languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Not only that, I love Videography and photography, as well as editing.

In 2020 COVID-19 Virus spreading continuously around the globe and times were and still are very challenging for all of us. Because of the pandemic, my school shut down so I went home to protect myself from the pandemic. I continued my studies by attending online classes. Lockdown was the best opportunity for me to learn and explore new things. I'm interested in graphic designing, coding, videography, and photography. So I utilize my free time to become more productive rather than wasting it. Through the internet, I started learning about graphic designing, coding, editing, and arts. I took my final government exams online. I did my best and my results were as expected. I am a recent graduate from SMD and I am very happy to give a year of service in Thrangu institutions. After that I am planning to continue my education by taking computer studies.

In the future I want to be a graphic designer and a social worker. I will preserve my Rinpoche’s' aims by preserving our Himalayan language and traditions and by helping the Buddhist way of life to flourish. I will support my school as much as I can and I hope to be a good exemplar in my community. I want to help my villagers as well.

I joined SMD School in 2010 and now it has been 10 years. SMD has taught me how to stand on my own foot. I have learned about different cultures, languages, and traditions and received both Buddhist and secular education. SMD has given many of us the strength to be a future pillar for the needy children of the Himalayas. I learned Buddhist way of life, love and compassion. Firstly thank you our Thrangu Rinpoche and school sponsors for you love and kindness toward us and also thank you school administrators, supporters, teachers, Staffs, friends and each and every SMDers.

I decided to move forward with my studies and get a Bachelor’s degree. However, one teacher who was supposed to teach in Ku fell sick and I was requested by the villagers to teach their children. This left me in a real quandary: should I pursue my studies or return to my village as a teacher? Even asking my friends for advice did not help in this difficult decision-making process.

As a native from Ku I felt responsible and understood that a lot of hope rested in me at the village. Was I the right person to help them? In the end, I decided to go back home as a local volunteer teacher. After ten days of hard trekking,I finally arrived in Ku.

A teacher’s life in Dolpo is hard since there is not only a lack of educational resources such as textbooks, notebooks, pencils and classrooms but also a lack of food and adequate clothing. Additionally, we have to do the cooking; both for the students and ourselves. There is no time for a private life. Yet, when I started teaching,I fell in love with the children immediately. Their enthusiasm and energy for everything we were doing made me enjoy every single lesson and happiness filled my heart.

After some months, it was time for me to leave my village and return to Kathmandu. I wanted to find a way to provide the students with food, shelter, clothes and to establish a better education.

When the day came for me to leave, all the children surrounded me and one, sitting on my lap, asked, “Pema, Sir, are you coming back next year or not?” Shedding tears I promised to return with many books, notebooks, pencils and school uniforms; enough for every one of them. I`ll never forget the joy in their eyes.

On reaching Kathmandu,I had various projects in mind. Finally, I founded “The Rising Ku.” This project is to protect a child`s right to education that not only plays an important role in reducing poverty and child labour but promotes democracy, peace, tolerance, development and economic growth alike. I have made it my

mission in life to take care of the children from Ku. I want to share their journey into a brighter future.

However, this project cannot move forward without your support.Please, become a friend and supporter of “The Rising Ku“. As little as the price, you pay for your daily cup of tea or coffee will enable a child to go to school and be provided with the basics.

We therefore always need your support, either individual or collective, to be able to support the children’sof the Himalayas region.

100% of the donations received by The Rising KU are donated to the kids of Himalayas region in their education and health sector.

In August 2017, I visited Lhasa to see a long time friend and business associate, Massimo Taddie. We had arranged the hotel and logistics support in Tibet for Massimo who flew into Lhasa from mainland China with a group of 16 Italians. After our meeting in the Kichu hotel in Lhasa, I planned to visit a destination that I had not been to earlier. Immediately Lake Namtso came to mind, one of the holiest lakes and considered to be the largest one in Tibet.

The day trip to Lake Namtso (4,718m) was indeed a memorable one as it was a scenic drive through natural beauty, pasture land and occasional sighting of nomads’ tents en route. Interestingly there was a significant number of domestic travelers from mainland China which almost gave a feeling that the lake was all set to be a destination for over-tourism.

On the way back, I checked with our guide, Tashi if we were allowed to visit a nomad family en route. He was more than happy to arrange that. I was excited and looking forward to learning more about nomadic families and their lifestyle. We were welcomed with a genuine smile inside the tent which was warm. We were immediately offered with a hot cup of ‘Yak butter tea’ which I thoroughly enjoyed although the smell of butter was rather very strong.

The family appeared to be very simple and fully satisfied with their nomadic lifestyle. Our guide helped us communicate as he translated our conversations. However, their warmth itself was enough to feel the genuine hospitality. An hour passed away in fleeting moments as we conversed and tried to understand their lifestyle better.

My key observations were:

• There was no private land ownership of pasture

• They had complete freedom of movement in the gorgeous landscape as they wished

• The tent was made out of natural materials and took only a few hours to pack & pitch.

• They were hospitable out of kindness, no plastic smiles

• They were in a remote area, at the mercy of nature.

The more I talked to them, the more I understood how nomadic lifestyle was influenced by mother nature leading to zero waste. It was impressive to see how little things they owned

(Travel light : you only carry what you need). I could only wonder whether the minimalism movement in the western world was inspired by Tibetan nomads.

Their philosophy strongly believe that they are just passing through this life, people come and leave naked, why build and get attached to house when your life expectancy is less than 100 years? Instead better to invest in tradition, heritage and seize the opportunity of living the moment.

It is a simply profound insight leading to true form of freedom. Nomadic philosophy would work out the best for a sustainable way of travelling when global tourism restarts significantly post pandemic.

I am sure that the nomadic family near Lake Namtso must be one of the few lucky people who are least affected by the ongoing pandemic, probably they have little or no idea about how badly the world is suffering at the moment.

Needless to say, just an hour of conversation and experiencing life in their shoes be it for just some moments made me realize how at times ignorance can truly become a bliss. We tend to curse nature when things go south. However, we rarely realize that the only way we can live in harmony with nature is to take it as a blessing rather than a barrier.

I am so excited to publish Binod Baral’s opinion here:

I’m very proud that I’m from the top of world, Mt. Everest, and, moreover, a chef representing 128 communities. I am a born-in-Nepal, made-in-the-UK chef. I am currently based in Great Britain and work globally.

The country with the strongest trekkers, the Sherpa, the bravest soldiers in the world, the Gurkhas, and coolest people from any religion, the Buddhists. The Himalayas are famous for their high peaks, with more than 110 jutting into the sky at 24,000 ft (7,315m) above sea level. Mount Everest soars to elevations of 29,035 ft (8,848m). We have 8 out of the 10 tallest mountains in the world.

The lowest point in Nepal is 59 m above sea-level in the Terai region.

We are very rich in natural water sources, the second-richest in the world.

The population is about 29 million people, with 2.5 million alone in Kathmandu. The country measures 55,348 square miles and, within this area, 128 communities are settled.

Being a small, landlocked country, the only thing we don't have is the sea.But we do have 10 heritage sites, 7 of which are in Kathmandu valley. What is even more interesting is that all of these 7 World Heritage Sites are within a 12-mile radius. Kathmandu is the city with the highest number of World Heritage Sites in the world, when compared to any other city. These cultural sites have been nominated as World Heritage Sites based on their cultural and natural values.

We have China in the north and the rest of our border is with India. They have most the popular food in world. We are in the middle, so I don't see any boundaries to globalising Nepali Heritage Cuisine. We are the country of yarsagumba, Himalayan Caterpillar Fungus Viagra, Jimbu Himalayan Chives, and Timur Nepali Sichuan Pepper, just to name few things.

Just pick a few national identities from above and connect with food, recipes, and cooking techniques from 128 communities, using produce, pairing and marrying herbs and spices with local organic produce from the Himalayan range, the highest region in the world, whose mountainous part is organic and wild and whose lower part, the Terai region, makes our food not only special, but also unique on the global food map.

And food can be a new tourism product for Nepal!

It was 26th of July and heavily raining season. The relatives and people of my village, who reside in Kathmandu, had to travel to village to attend and manage the puja. It was the puja of senior citizen who passed away one month ago. As it was rainy season, there was no buses to my village, even small private jeeps were not willing to go due to bad condition of the road. So we had to manage 4W tipper which transport construction materials like bricks, sand, rod etc..We were around 25 people from Kathmandu to travel to the village. And our journey start in the morning 8:30 am. After we crossed Kathmandu, the off-road start and journey on the tipper was not smooth. It was rainy and always shaking, jumping and throwing here and there at back of the tipper. Two to three times we were stuck in muddy and had to push the vehicle. Somehow we were able to make it to village without any unexpected accident. Though journey was rough, we were happy to reach our destination safely.

Next day, the day starts with preparation for the puja. Our monastery were destroyed during earthquake, so we had to make temporary puja hall. We also had to prepare foods, drinks and place to sit for the guests. Around 400-500 guests were expected to attend the puja.

Main day : On the main day of the puja, people started to gathering from early morning. So we had to prepare breakfast, lunch and snacks. Cooking and serving all had to do by people of our village. So it was a whole busy day.

As expected we received more than 500 guests from our neighbour villages.

This puja is to perform after 21 days of the death of the deceased. It is performed for well being and well rebirth of the deceased. The puja ended well and we returned back Kathmandu. - OM MANI PEDHME HUNG !

It has been part of human life in the Asian continent to expect floods and landslides along with monsoon. Apart from the disaster, for agriculturally rich continent like Asia, monsoon also determines the food production. Monsoon rains are in fact the livelihood for farmers up in the hills in Nepal and China where irrigation system is no so abundant. Despite that large chunk of Asian population have to face the problem of potable water access. Rain water harvesting during the monsoon has become fashion from the slums to riches of Bangladesh. So monsoon waters are life saving for many either.

Tourism during the season is quite low. But other advantages are the price of hotels and tour operators come to the lowest during this season. And the view across Asia, be it China, Cambodia, Nepal, Bangladesh or Pakistan has the best one to be offered as the rain washes the air and the abundant lush greenery is a picturesque view one can gather. The tourists are quite low during this time. Only few MICE types of tourists and other pilgrimage, Bol Bom and Kawad is one mass pilgrimage( considered as touristic activity) that occur annually during monsoon across Nepal and India.

Noting the silver lining in the dark cloud, monsoon season has been an agonizing and appalling one yet appealing either. Asian Monsoon is just a time to watch out. In spite of the treacherous news and stories about the devastation that happens, this season is a lifeline for the people here either. The smiling sky and reflection of earth at the horizon is felt at it's best post monsoon and then the start of festivals joy and happiness all across Asia. Thus, life goes on!!

Her journey takes her on toy trains, luxury trains, Mumbai's infamous commuter trains and even a hospital on wheels. Along the way she meets a kaleidoscope of characters and discovers why the railways are considered the lifeline that keeps the country's heart beating. Most of all, she hopes that these 80 train journeys will lift the veil on a country that has become a stranger to her.

This is a tale of trains and tourists, of the British and the Swiss, of a Victorian traveller and a modern-day Englishman abroad. It is the story of a tour that changed both Switzerland and the world of travel forever.

Arthur Kilian Vogel, der Autor von "Eine Weltreise durch die Schweiz", lebt in Bern und schreibt auch Reisereportagen. Außer Australien, Grönland, Kamtschatka, Madagaskar, Nepal und Norwegen, die noch auf seiner Wunschliste stehen, hat er alle in diesem Buch dargestellten ausländischen Destinationen bereist.

Kurz nach seinem (vermutlich) einundzwanzigsten Geburtstag hat Enaiatollah seine Geschichte zu Ende erzählt. Sein Geburtsdatum wurde vom Einwohneramt festgelegt: Es ist der 1. September. Er hat soeben erfahren, dass es im Meer tatsächlich Korkodile gibt.

Madagaskar. Die Insel im indischen Ozean hatte Millionen von Jahren Zeit, eine ganz eigene Pflanzen- und Tierwelt zu entwickeln. Vor keinen 2000 Jahren liessen sich Menschen nieder. Sie kamen aus Indonesien, brachten ihre Sprache, Kultur und Gastronomie mit.

Im Laufe der Jahrhunderte gelangten Menschen aus Afrika nach Madagaskar und brachten die Rinderhaltung mit. Sie drückten der indonesisch-madagassischen Kultur einen entscheidenden Stempel auf. Auch Leute aus Indien, China und Europa führten neue Elemente in den madagassischen Alltag ein. Am meisten wohl die Franzosen durch ihre Kolonialherrschaft. Madagaskar unterlag Einflüssen aus allen Richtungen des Windes.

PRIORI. Die Reiseorganisation , die Nepal Travels and Tours kennt, nahm vor über 25 Jahren ihren Anfang in Antananarivo und ist fest in Madagaskar verankert. Sie organisiert Touren und Trekkings in ganz Madagaskar. Das Piratenmuseum ist einer der kulturellen Beiträge der PRIORI für Madagaskar. Das PRIORI-Madagaskarhaus in Basel ist das Informations- und Reisezentrum für Madagaskar.

Sehr empfehlenswert !

„Bruderherz“ ist eine Hommage sowohl an das Reisen und diese Welt, als auch an den „besten Bruder überhaupt“.

Auf seinem Blog »GeoMarian« schreibt er über seine Reisen und gibt Tipps und Tricks für andere Weltenbummler:

Nachdem mich meine Mutter 2013 mit nach Kambodscha genommen hat und ich dort meine erste „richtige“ Reise unternehmen konnte, habe ich mich unheilbar mit dem Reisefieber infiziert. In meinem Fall kann man vermutlich von einem besonders schwierigen Fall dieses Fiebers sprechen, denn es ist stark – sehr stark. - Ich liebe das Fliegen an sich, interessiere mich sehr für die Luftfahrt, obwohl ich manchmal sogar ein kleiner Schisser bin, wenn es doch mal wackelt.