Success in sustainable development, poverty alleviation and environmental protection is dependent largely on empowering communities with the knowledge to effect positive change in their day-to-day lives. Education is indispensable.

The Nielsen Education Fund has been created to provide the first link in achieving this vision, by building a sustainable future for the Children of Shangri-La, and supporting those schools and children most at risk from being marginalized due to poverty.

The Nielsen Education Fund is a sub-project within the wider ‘WWF, Shangri-La Sustainable Community Initiative’, which facilitates community-based environmental sustainability projects in schools, monasteries and nature reserves throughout the region.

The Nielsen Education Fund, sponsors children from Bazhu, Hamugu and Trini villages and two teachers at the Baimaxueshan Tibetan Community School

Bazhu Village
Bazhu village is made up of 265 households, or a total population of 1338 people. The main cash income of the villagers comes from the collection of mushrooms and medicinal herbs. The average annual cash income is 500 Yuan per capita (US$60). The Bazhu Village is an important partner of WWF and a demonstration site for community learning and action

One of the goals set by the Bazhu community is to be able to secure a full 9-year education curriculum for their children within the next three years.

The Nielsen Education Fund is a timely support for this Village. Two young people will be able to attend college, one to major in Tibetan language at Northwest Nationality University in Ganshu and the other in Tibetan medicine at Tibet University in Lhasa. In addition 17 children will be able to complete their high school education.

Hamugu and Trini Village
Hamugu and Trini Villages are located at Napa Lake, an internationally selected Ramsar site.

Hamugu Village, where 39 families are living, has been working with WWF on cultural and ecological protection projects for the past 4 years.

While Trini Village has been one of WWF earliest partners, working on various conservation, culture revitalization and community livelihood improvement projects.

The ACNielsen Education Fund will sponsor 6 children to high school and 3 students to university supporting these communities in their efforts towards building and showcasing a sustainable community.

Baimaxueshan Tibetan Community School
Two Buddhist Monks originally created the Baimaxueshan Tibetan Community School in 2000 to provide education to the orphans in the area. As the school teaches Tibetan language, it has become very attractive to the local communities who wanted their children to learn their native language. As a result, Monk Choeden, head of Baimaxueshan receives children from the Shangri-La, Deqin, Sichuan, and Yeri area. The Nielsen Education Fund will support the school by covering two teacher’s salary and the maintenance of school facilities.