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Tenzin is an 11 year old boy, who is physically disabled and can’t talk nor move properly. When the earthquake struck Nepal, he was in his family’s small tea house very near Langtang. The avalanche fell on top of them and his parents, three bothers and two younger cousins died immediately, but he was alive. From where he was he could see his mother at his feet, but couldn’t move to help her. Next day a boy came down from Kianjing Gompa, saw him and told him not to move and that he would come back with help as soon as possible. He left him a bottle of Chang so he could drink while the help arrived. During two more days rocks fell and it was very dangerous to be in the Langtang area. They had seen many people die and didn’t dare leave their shelters. The third day the avalanche of rocks stopped and some men decided to go up to Langtang to look for their loved ones. Dawa Tamang, the boy that had crossed Tenzin two days before went up with the group. he hoped to find the boy alive. Luckily, he was and the boy had survived during three days among the rubble. They got him out of there and a helicopter then took him to the Yellow Gompa camp in Kathmandu where the rest of Tibetan refugees are. His sponsor then came to look for him at the camp and took him to a special school where he will be well looked after. Many children are not so lucky as to have a sponsor who is willing to look after them when something like that happens.
Tenzin explained to us later on in the refugee camp that the first day he had a bad time, he was very thirsty and his back hurt a lot where the rock hit him, but that the second day after drinking the Chang that Dawa gave him, he was able to sleep all night very comfortably without feeling any pain. Chang is non alcoholic drink they do there very similar to beer but done with maize.
3 Comments
We met Tenzing and his mother Dawa while trekking five years ago, on the way from Chyamki to Gumba. My wife and I were deeply moved by the meeting and we made company uphill. I helped Tenzing´s walk. Coming up we were invited inside for a cup of tea. We met some of their relatives and talked. We agreed that we should try to meet again. Before leaving I knelt before this boy, something I have never done before anyone else. When we came out of the house there was a full rainbow over the upper valley. We didn´t know then but have learnt later that a rainbow is an auspicious phenomenon. With time it has become important for us as well.
We felt a desire to help this boy and his family and with the help of a friend i Kathmandu we managed to send a messenger to ask the family if they wanted our support.
Two years later he moved to a special school, DRC Nepal in Gokarna. He has been living there for two whole years. I suppose it was some relatives and other Langtangpas that took him back to the DRC family. An example of the cooperative and caring spirit of the Langtang community.
He is the sweetest boy, so helpful and considerate. In the school they sat that every time they need someone of the children to do some task, he is the first to report that he is willing. He has been making great progress in these two years, learnt to read, his speech has improved and regular physiotherapy has improved his mobility. It is so incredibly sad that he lost his whole family, such loving people. But Tenzing is meant to live, and he is a very brave soul.
I wish i could be with him this time, so difficult for so many. My comfort is that I know he is well cared for at the DRC.
http://www.drcnepal.com/
Hello Hans, thank you so much for sharing your moving contact with Tenzin. And I want to let the whole world know that although Tenzin is physically handicap he is very strong mentally. Thank you Hans for giving this charming boy a light to his darkness. You are amazing.
Tenzing is an amazing child. The real gems are hidden beyond appearances.