In early September 2023, I traveled to Ladakh for two weeks with the goal of evaluating the inclusion of a new region in the adult education project. Nawang Palden, the new project coordinator, had already visited several villages in spring 2023 and interviewed local residents about their needs and interest in adult education. Based on the positive feedback and strong interest, the Zanskar region became the main destination of this year’s trip.
Zanskar – A Former Buddhist Kingdom
The remote high-altitude valley lies 320 km west of Leh, the geographical center of Ladakh, at an average elevation of 3,500 meters above sea level. The region covers an area of approximately 7,000 km². The population is estimated at around 20,000 inhabitants. Padum, with nearly 2,000 residents, is the largest settlement in the valley and serves as the administrative center of the region.
The Zanskar Valley, bordering the Senge La region, is accessible via the newly developed “Wanla–Lingshed–Padum” road connection, as well as through a connecting route from Kargil. During the winter months, the population is cut off from the outside world and can only be reached via the “Chaddar Trek”—a route along the frozen river of the same name.
Starting the Education Project in the Lungnak Valley
One of the defined goals of the EAL association is to expand access to adult education in additional regions of Ladakh. In the winter of 2023, a friend put us in contact with Nawang Palden. He lives with his family in Sheela, a mountain farming village in the Lungnak Valley, Zanskar. After several phone calls with him, the EAL board decided to appoint him as the new project coordinator for adult education.
We are pleased to have gained a competent and experienced partner in Nawang Palden, whose many years of experience as a secretary of an NGO make an important contribution to the further development of the adult education project in Zanskar.
The Lungnak Valley is an 80 km long side valley of Zanskar and runs southeast from Padum towards Darcha. The area includes 18 villages, with around 1,400 people living there. Thanks to Nawang Palden’s preparatory work, the village communities were already informed about the EAL association. During personal meetings with the villagers, EAL and its philosophy and goals were presented again.
In September 2023, the communities of Sheela, Pipcha, Mune, Raru, and Anmu were included in the adult education project. In the coming winter, 96 women from these villages will participate in the lessons. The EAL board has hired nine teachers for this purpose.
The future students all share one common wish: to be able to read and write the Ladakhi language Bhoti. Bhoti is written using the Tibetan script. The written language Bhoti is close to classical Tibetan.
Organizational Information
In Ladakh, it is traditional for a married couple to move into the groom’s parental home. Some women have completed higher education, but due to the remote location of the villages, it is almost impossible for them to find work nearby. Nawang and I have decided to give priority to women with a degree when recruiting teachers. Five women immediately agreed to take on teaching roles when asked.
The winter lessons will start on January 1, 2024, and last for two months. Classes will be held six days a week, with two to three hours of instruction per day. EAL will provide each newly enrolled participant with a notebook and pen. For the teachers, in addition to the employment contract, a curriculum and a duties manual have been developed. By enrolling in the winter lessons, participants commit to attending the entire course.
Start of Winter Lessons 2023/2024 for Adults in Five Villages
Anmu
Anmu is located on a hill surrounded by barley fields in the middle part of the Lungnak Valley. Due to the village’s remoteness, the 50 residents live largely independently. The children attend the public school in the village. Stanzin Sampel, a government-appointed teacher, teaches the schoolchildren during the summer months. We were able to recruit Stanzin as a teacher for the education project. Seven women from the village are participating in the winter lessons.
Sheela
Sheela is located on the valley floor at the beginning of the Lungnak Valley. The village is lush and green, standing in stark contrast to the barren landscape of Zanskar. Twenty-seven families live in the village, each with an average of three children. Fifteen women are participating in the winter lessons.
Raru
The mountain village of Raru is the largest community in the Lungnak Valley, situated at 3,800 meters above sea level. A cluster of houses forms the village center around the prayer wheel. Approximately 180 people live in Raru. Three female teachers instruct the 34 participants.
Pipcha
The village of Pipcha is built terraced into the steep hillside. It consists of 24 houses with around 145 inhabitants. For the lessons, we were able to recruit a monk from the neighboring Bardan Monastery as a teacher. Additionally, a former government teacher has volunteered. Twenty women are participating in the classes.
Mune
The village of Mune comprises 22 households and has a population of 120. Twenty participants attend the classes.
Senge La Region
Winter Lessons 2023/2024 for Adults in the Villages of the Senge La Region
On the return journey to Leh, I stayed for three days in the villages of Senge La. In conversations with the participants, there was a clear desire to attend the winter lessons for another year. Six nuns from the Lingshed Monastery continue to serve as teachers. The teaching positions in Skiumpata and Yulchung are currently vacant. Around 78 women benefit from this program in the Senge La region.
Winter Lessons for Students in the Senge La Region
During the winter season, public schools are closed for three months, from December 2023 to February 2024. The winter lessons are organized to strengthen and improve academic progress and to help students advance in their studies.
Additionally, the state education ministry has introduced Hindi as a compulsory subject from grades 1 to 8. To advance to grade 9, students must pass exams in Hindi. Only those who successfully pass these exams are admitted to grade 9.
For winter 2023/2024, the project coordinator Sonam Dorje is organizing the additional learning program in seven villages.
The curriculum includes Hindi as well as subjects like Mathematics, English, Bothi, and Science. A total of 145 young people benefit from this support. Twenty-four teachers are instructing in total.
The EAL association provides financial support for six teachers.
Hockey Camp at 4,000 meters above sea level
Since 2019, the EAL association has supported sports activities for children and students. Through the fundraising campaign “Hockey Equipment for Ladakh,” EAL donated ice skates, helmets, gloves, as well as sticks and pads to the local project coordinator Lobzang Rinchen. Last winter, Schuh- und Sporthaus Joos from Schiers donated 20 kg of hockey equipment to EAL.
A heartfelt thank you to Schuh- und Sporthaus Joos Schiers!
The SINGELA PARTNERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION, based in Leh, was founded on January 5, 2020. The association aims to promote and spread ice hockey among youth in remote areas.
In the winter season 2022/2023, Lobzang Tsultim, president of SINGELA PARTNERS, organized the first hockey camp for children in cooperation with Lobzang Rinchen.
Report from President Lobzang Tsultim:
We had eight participants in the village of Neyraks. For all these children, it was their first experience with ice skating. Both the children and their parents were very happy about the opportunity to discover a new sport. The camp was conducted by the organizers for seven days. Afterward, we provided the children with ice skates and other equipment so they could practice on their own for a month.
