The CED (Children’s Educational Development) Society is unique in creating a family environment where the rescued children feel safe, experience love, and are nurtured. Since its inception, Lama Tenzin’s vision and commitment never wavered that these special children must remain in an environment where homage was paid to their rich Tibetan culture while adapting to modern times. As a result, the CED Society is a wonderfully large family of brothers and sisters with no possibility of outside adoption. The older children are kind, protective, and caring of the younger ones, while similarly aged older children support and encourage each other.

Lama Tenzin established the first of four pillars to be spirituality. These pillars serve as the CED’s foundation to guide and help the children grow into adulthood. The children practice by chanting prayers in the meditation room for one hour each morning and again each evening to honor their Tibetan Buddhist faith. Another practice is to speak Tibetan at home, so the children continue to be immersed in their native language while learning and speaking Hindi and English. As part of their Buddhist faith, vegetarian meals are prepared and served with love. For some, the distant memory of eating poorly and going to bed hungry is assuaged as they gather around the dining table to give thanks for all the blessings bestowed on them.

“When you educate a girl, you kick-start a cycle of success. It makes economic sense. It makes social sense. It makes moral sense. But, it seems, it’s not common sense, yet.” – Queen Rania of Jordan

The second pillar is education. Lama Tenzin’s commitment to disrupt and dispel the archaic beliefs that a boy’s education is the better investment for societies’ continuance. Ignorance breeds ignorance; and, in most cases, the perpetuation of injustices. Well-informed and educated girls are the path forward to creating justice for all people. Education balances societies and cares for those that cannot care for themselves without prejudice. Each of the CED children has a profound commitment to educating themselves in a field of their passion. They know that they will positively impact others with their education, including those living high in the Himalayas.

The third pillar is compassion without barriers. The CED children have grown up in an environment that naturally supports compassion among themselves. They care for one another; they help one another, all without question. Lama Tenzin is a genius at teaching them compassion through action. While he champions the CED children through love, education, and spirituality, he quietly does so for the community at large. On many occasions, someone from outside the CED has needed his help. If it is within his power, he gladly responds. Through gentle instructions and lively discussions, Lama Tenzin encourages the children’s collaboration to find solutions to many situations and problems so they, too, can begin to include the world that surrounds them. One of the many lessons Lama Tenzin has taught them is to lead your life with compassion. As human beings, we all crave it, and we all deserve it.

The fourth pillar of the CED Society supports giving back and serving others. Each child has been engaged in an environment that teaches them to give of themselves from their early childhood. They have learned this lesson from the teachers surrounding them, including Lama Tenzin and his family. If you’ve ever spent time with Lama Tenzin, he will tell you that it is essential for his children to see that they, like all people, deserve everything life has to offer. So humble is he that he demonstrates this by sleeping on the floor of his office, stating he is but an obedient Buddhist monk, is honored to serve and guide the children, and doesn’t require more. Therefore, everything he does is for them, from providing a loving home, first-rate education, nourishing meals, health checkups, and fun adventures to engage in as a child should fully. Additionally, he teaches the children to observe the community and provide solutions to their challenges or problems.