Dharma Drum Mountain Supports the Completion of a Buddha Hall at Huai En Elementary School in Northern Thailand

After several days of heavy rain, the skies over Banlaofo Village in Mae Chan District, Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand, finally cleared on the morning of July 27. Bathed in sunshine, the inauguration ceremony was held for the newly renovated school buildings, Buddha Hall, and retaining wall at Huai En Elementary School-- all made possible through the support of the Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation. The occasion brought warm blessings and renewed hope to this remote mountain village school. 

The ceremony began with a Buddha image consecration and installation, followed by the official opening of the Buddha Hall, conducted by the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association Thailand (DDMBA Thailand). Prayers were offered for the peace and safety of the school, as well as the well-being of its teachers and students. The children of Huai En Elementary School then welcomed the distinguished guests, who traveled from afar, with a heartfelt performance of the song “Listen to Me Say Thank You”. Their innocent voices echoed across the campus, expressing sincere gratitude and creating a warm and moving opening to the celebration.


Among the distinguished guests were Taiwan's Representative to Thailand, Peter Sha-li Lan (藍夏禮), and his wife; Venerable Chang Yuan (常遠法師), Managing Director of the General Association of Dharma Supporters of Dharma Drum Mountain; Venerable Chang Ju (常炬法師), Guiding Dharma Teacher of the DDMBA Thailand; Mr. Yan Xieqing (顏協清), President of the Yunnan Association of Chiang Rai Province; Mr. Wang Shaozhang (王紹章), Chairman of the Chiangrai Chinese Language Teachers Association; along with local village leaders, members of the school board, parents, and community residents, all gathered to celebrate this important milestone in the school's development.

During his opening remarks, Principal Zhang Xiaozhong (張曉忠) reflected on the tremendous support that the school had received throughout its journey. As he spoke about finally providing students with a safer and more complete learning environment, he became emotional and was moved to tears several times. He expressed his heartfelt appreciation, saying that these precious resources had only been made possible through the loving care and companionship of all walks of life. Thanks to this collective support, the children can now study and grow in a much safer environment. This kindness will forever remain in the hearts of the school's teachers and students.

Mr. Lin Chih-Tsung (林志璁), Executive Director of the Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation, then introduced the development of the "Huai En Elementary School Educational Support Project." He explained that while the Foundation was engaged in post-disaster reconstruction work in Chiang Rai in 2024, it was introduced to the needs of Huai En Elementary School through Taiwan's Overseas Community Affairs Council and local partners. Beginning with improvements to campus safety, the Foundation gradually expanded its efforts to include support for Chinese-language teachers, teacher professional development, educational assistance for students, and spiritual care. The goal, he emphasized, is to make education a sustainable force for rural development rather than simply providing one-time aid.

Mr. Yan, President of the Yunnan Association of Chiang Rai Province, noted that education shapes the future of society, and nurturing children means nurturing a nation's future. He expressed special appreciation to the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and to all sectors of society for their long-standing support of Chinese-language education in Northern Thailand. He hopes that continued investment in education will not only equip children with knowledge but also help them develop strong character and broad-mindedness in a sound educational environment, enabling them to contribute to society in the future.

Representative Lan emphasized that quality education requires the combined efforts of government, civil society, and local communities. Every improvement—from campus safety facilities to the construction of the Buddha Hall—has been made so that children can learn with peace of mind and confidently pursue their dreams. He also praised Dharma Drum Mountain for integrating the resources of its Foundation, as well as the General Association of Dharma Supporters and the DDMBA Thailand for assisting rural schools through tangible actions. Taken together, these collective efforts demonstrate the enduring commitment of nonprofit organizations to education and underserved communities.

"Everyone is thanking Dharma Drum Mountain today, but Dharma Drum Mountain would like to thank Huai En Elementary School even more," said Venerable Chang Yuan. He explained that Dharma Drum Mountain follows the vision of its founder, Master Sheng Yen: "To uplift the character of humanity and build a pure land on earth." The organization seeks to bring the kindness of society to those who need it most. It is precisely because of Huai En Elementary School, its teachers, parents, and students that Dharma Drum Mountain has been given the opportunity to practice compassion and cultivate blessings. Therefore, he said, the greatest gratitude belongs to this community and to everyone who continues to safeguard education. Looking ahead, he expressed the hope of bringing together even more goodwill and resources to support student assistance, teacher development, and educational services, thereby allowing this cycle of kindness to continue.

Located in the remote mountain region of Northern Thailand, Huai En Elementary School has long carried the important mission of promoting Chinese-language education. Due to its isolated location, however, the school has faced longstanding challenges, including aging facilities, limited educational resources, and a shortage of qualified teachers. The completion of the Buddha Hall, retaining wall, and campus renovations-- made possible through the support of the Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation--symbolizes not only renewed public attention to this rural school but also a lasting commitment to protecting education and accompanying children as they grow.

The Foundation stated that it will continue working closely with the DDMBA Thailand, Taiwan's Overseas Community Affairs Council, the Chiangrai Chinese Language Teachers Association, and local partners to strengthen Chinese-language education, teacher development, student assistance, and spiritual care. Through these ongoing efforts, post-disaster reconstruction will become more than simply restoring physical buildings—it will cultivate hope through education, support children as they grow in a safe and caring environment, and allow the seeds of compassion to take root, flourish, and bear fruit throughout Northern Thailand.



◎ Original text inChinese: 林志璁
◎ Photos: 黃興育
◎ Translation: Patricia Yang 
◎ Editing: Keith Brown