The owner of Dreams of Tibet, Karma Bhotia, opened a second location on Main Avenue to help support villagers in Nepal.
Half of the profits from the new location at 658 Main Ave. will support programs started by the Karma and Jyamu Foundation, including day care centers and a public school lunch program in Chyamtang, a village in northeastern Nepal. It will also help support women’s health education, including family planning.
The Bhotias’ foundation built the school in Chyamtang, their home village, in 2014 and established the lunch program, which has attracted more students, he said.
The lunch program was inspired by the couple’s own experience at the school, he said.
“In our childhood, we never had enough food,” he said.
The new store, opening in the space formerly occupied by Serenity Spa and Boutique, will ensure the foundation has stable funding to support the programs.
The space is a bit larger than the original Dreams of Tibet and is located across the street from the Strater Hotel, so Bhotia expects to draw more tourists.
Additional funding will also help the foundation expand, he said. The foundation has started four day care centers, and five other villages are interested in similar day care programs.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
