REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1170236

LOTUS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION TRUST -LCET

CURRENT PROJECTS

                              Current Activities (Brief Overview)

The core activities of Lotus Children’s Education Trust (LCET) include:

1) Running a Primary School

2) Running a Junior High School

3) Providing residential accommodation with food and essential wellbeing support

4) Monastic education, including a Pāli College, training programmes, and a public library

5) Environmental sustainability training to address climate change

6) Mindfulness training and capacity-building programmes

7) Computer literacy and music education for children

Lotus Children’s Home (LCH)

At present, LCET delivers its core activities through the Lotus Children’s Home (LCH).

We have constructed:

1)  Four residential dormitories (two for girls and two for boys), funded by the CHT Development

      Board, our own funds, and Firefly Mission

2) Two dinning halls donated by Ko Billy and Ma Khine Zar, and our own funds. 

3) Three school buildings (tin and brick structres):

a)  One for the primary school

b)  Two for the junior high school

These structures were built between 2018–2019. Unfortunately, their condition has deteriorated and they may become unusable within the next few years, especially the junior high school buildings.

Ongoing and Future Construction

1)  A new school building, funded by the CHT Development Board, is under construction and expected to be completed by 2027.

2)  A girls’ and female monastic residential building, donated by Firefly Mission, is also under construction.

3)  Pali College and Library is under construction. Construction was started in 2024. The first and second floor have been completed in April 2026, but the third floor is under construction.

At present, girls’ accommodation is severely overcrowded, with insufficient space for personal belongings. Many children are living in overlapping spaces. This new building is essential and is also planned for completion by 2027.

Support for Children

In 2024, we supported 255 destitute and underprivileged children, providing approximately 70% free support, including:

1.   Food

2.   Accommodation

3.  Tuition

4.  Educational materials

5.  Sanitary and essential items

The remaining 20–30% of costs were supported by parents where possible, often through donations of rice, vegetables, or occasional financial contributions. Many families are extremely poor, and some are unable to contribute at all.

In 2025–2026, we are supporting 70 orphaned children whose parents have either died or separated. These children are fully supported by the Trust.

Teachers and Staff

There are 19 teachers at Lotus Children’s Home:

12 junior high school teachers

5 primary school teachers

2 additional English teachers

3 caretakers

2 cooks

Of the teachers, 7 reside at LCH, supporting both education and children’s wellbeing, while 12 live off-site.

Due to limited resources, we currently pay 8,000–10,000 BDT per teacher per month (approximately £60), significantly below the government salary of 22,000 BDT. Many teachers are effectively serving as volunteers, motivated by compassion and commitment.

 Importance of Lotus Children’s Home

Without LCH, these children would have little or no access to education or safe living conditions. Most come from remote, hilly regions where schools do not exist, and families live in extreme poverty.  Alongside formal education, children receive ethical education, meditation, moral guidance, and environmental awareness training, helping them become responsible and productive citizens.

Growth of Our Programme

The number of supported children has grown steadily:

2012: 10

2013: 16

2015: 20

2019: 65

2020: 103

2021: 130

2022: 151

2023: 190

2024: 255

2025–2026: 285 children + 25 novices and monks under our care. 

To ensure quality care, discipline, and wellbeing, we aim to limit future numbers to around 300 children.

Sponsorship and Funding Needs

$30 USD per month sponsors one child’s food, accommodation, education, and essentials

$15 USD covers half a child’s monthly costs

$3 USD allows joint sponsorship with others

Key Funding Needs:

1)  Student care: $30 per child per month

2)  Teacher salaries: 8,000–10,000 BDT per teacher

3)  Four-storey high school building: estimated $70,000–80,000 USD

4)  Support for 25 novice monks studying Pāli and Buddhist philosophy

5)  Environmental and health training (twice yearly): $300 per programme

6)  Computer and music education:

1.  Each computer costs approx. 50,000 BDT

2. Currently only three students can be trained at a time

Donations

-- Donations may be made:

-- Directly to Bangladesh, or

Via our UK account (for EU donors), through:

1)  Monthly standing orders (£5 or more), or

2)  One-off donations

Every contribution, however small, makes a meaningful difference.​

 Contact: lotuschildrenhome@gmail.com

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