We are grateful you joined us in celebrating this unforgettable moment! Our anniversary event was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our journey and honor this important milestone. The many guests, great interest, and heartfelt encounters made the evening truly special.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported our project with their generous donations. Your contributions mean a great deal to us and enable us to continue our work.
We also extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated volunteers. Without their commitment and hard work, this anniversary celebration would not have been possible.
We look forward to the years ahead and to seeing how our project will continue to grow and evolve.
A Special Year — Celebrating 10 Years of Commitment to Education for Children, Youth, and Adults in Ladakh, Himalaya
Ten years ago, Lobzang Rinchen laid the foundation for the adult education project in Ladakh. Since then, many adults have learned to read and write, opening up new perspectives for their lives. At the same time, children and young people have been able to strengthen their academic skills through targeted winter lessons. We look back with joy on the positive development over the past years and thank everyone who has contributed to this journey.
We celebrated the 10th anniversary with our valued partners and friends at the student hostel in Choglamsar.
Sonam Dorje opened the evening with a warm welcome to all attendees. This was followed by an entertaining and engaging speech by Lobzang Rinchen, who took the audience on a journey through some of the most moving moments of the past 10 years. In the second part of his address, he focused on the important topics of education and cultural preservation.
Lobzang pointed out that the remote mountain regions are facing major challenges. External influences are changing the living conditions of the people. The arrival of electricity brings televisions and electronics into the villages; improved road access introduces luxury goods and the accompanying waste problems. Lobzang encouraged the students to pass on their knowledge about environmental protection to the adults and children in their families.
A festive dinner rounded off the evening and provided an opportunity for personal conversations. We were especially delighted to reunite with former students we had met during our visit to the boarding school in Kalthse in the winter of 2018. They have grown into confident young women and men.
A chocolate cake, specially made for the occasion, was the perfect highlight of the celebration.Sonam Dorje presented a certificate of appreciation.Geshe Ngawang Jangchup honored our commitment with a Thangka. He explained its philosophical significance. Thangkas are scroll paintings printed on fabric, depicting Buddhist motifs.
We sincerely thanked everyone for the wonderful evening, the many gifts, and the warm hospitality we received. It was an unforgettable moment that we will cherish fondly.
History of the Hostel in Choglamsar
Geshe Ngawang Jangchup is the founder of the hostel in Choglamsar, which he has been leading for over 30 years. Born in Lingshed and raised in the local monastery, he left his homeland in 1968 at the age of 14 to continue his studies at the Tibetan monastic university Drepung in South India. In 1990, he passed the final exam for the Geshe Lharampa degree in Varanasi, the highest academic title in the Gelug tradition.
When he returned to Ladakh in 1991 after 23 years, he realized that the level of education in the region had hardly improved. He understood that education was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
His wish was to provide children from the remote Senge La region with a modern education as a foundation. The best way to achieve this goal was to build a hostel near the educational centers in Leh. During the summer semester, children and youth aged 10 to 24 live there and attend nearby schools. During the school-free winter months, remedial lessons are offered, conducted by Sonam Dorje and Lobzang Rinchen.
The launch of the adult education project in Lungnaktal, Zanskar, was successful, although fewer women participated than initially planned.
In the Zanskar region, winter lessons were held for the first time, with around 60 women attending. During my visit, I was impressed by how many participants were already able to read simple texts.
By Road from Delhi to Ladakh
Zanskar district, part of the union territory of Ladakh, was long accessible only on foot. In recent years, continuous efforts have been made to connect this remote region and its people to the outside world. Trekking routes have gradually been converted into jeep roads. Since this year, the entire route from Darcha to Wanla is officially passable by vehicle, and Padum, the administrative center of Zanskar, can now be reached directly by car from Darcha.
This year, my husband accompanied me to Ladakh, and we traveled by land from the bustling metropolis of Delhi to the “Land of High Passes.” The journey took us from the hot Indian lowlands, where May temperatures before the monsoon were almost unbearable, up to the arid high mountain region of Ladakh. Along the way, we passed through the foothills of the Indian Himalayas—from the green, lush forests with curious monkeys to the snow-covered Shinkula Pass at 5,053 meters altitude, which leads directly into the Lungnaktal valley near Padum.
The newly opened road crosses the Shinkula Pass (5,053 m / 16,578 ft) from Darcha into the Zanskar Valley, saving the approximately 500 km detour via Leh.
Project leader Nawang Palden met us with his car shortly after Darcha, and we were both happy to reunite. The five-hour drive gave us plenty of time to catch up on news. In the evening, we arrived in Anmu, one of the five villages participating in the adult education project since last year. We stayed overnight at the home of the teacher Sampel.
Visit to the villages Anmu, Raru, Mune, Pipcha, and Sheela: impressions and progress
The participants from Anmu.
In the village of Anmu, six adults participated in the winter classes. Thanks to the small class size, they were able to benefit particularly intensively from the learning program. The teacher, Stanzin Sampel, a government-employed instructor, teaches the village children during the summer. For him, it is a rewarding change to work on the EAL project during the school-free winter months. The participants learned to read in the Ladakhi language Bothi and in English, write their names, as well as acquire basic mathematical skills.
Jampel Sherap was the only man attending the winter classes in the Lungnak Valley. I was especially interested in his motivation, as Sherap comes from a remote mountain village not yet connected to the road network. In a personal conversation, he shared with me his reasons.
Sherap is 38 years old and grew up in Shade. About 12 families live in his village. It lies at almost 4,000 meters above sea level and can only be reached via a three-hour walk from the nearest road. Sherap never had the opportunity to attend school. Last winter, he worked on road construction in the Lungnak Valley and stayed with relatives in Anmu. When he heard about the project, he immediately signed up for the winter classes. For Sherap, this fulfilled a long-cherished wish.
The teachers from the village of Raru reported how challenging it was at first to gain the attention of the participants. The question arose as to how listening as a skill can be learned and placed at the center of teaching.
At the gathering in the village of Raru, there was a lively exchange about the difficulties of learning to read and write.
We arrived in Mune in the afternoon. The women eagerly read texts aloud and showed us what they had written in their notebooks during the past winter. Unfortunately, the news of the meeting did not reach half of the women working in the distant fields in time, so they were unable to attend the gathering.
Participants from the village of Mune.In Pipcha, the gathering with around 30 people took place in the evening.
The teachers reported that after initial difficulties, the participants are now making progress and are feeling increasingly confident in reading, writing, and arithmetic. It was remarkable to see how much they had learned in such a short time.
Afterwards, the village community prepared a communal dinner for everyone. On such occasions, men and women share the tasks: the men take care of the fire outside and brew tea in a large pot, while the women are responsible for preparing the food. The homemade beer (Chang) is an indispensable part of every gathering.
Yangdol served the freshly prepared momos, which were very delicious, creating a cozy and pleasant end to the gathering.
In Sheela, no classes took place last winter because four people passed away at the beginning of the planned school program. As a result, the teacher was occupied with funeral ceremonies for more than a month.
Ichar, another village in the Lungnak Valley, is interested in participating in the winter classes.
The village of Ichar is situated on a plateau high above the river. The fields cultivated there are widely scattered and difficult to access.
Ichar comprises approximately 50 households, with around 150 people living there. Most of them are self-sufficient. The village is located 50 km from Padum and is one of the larger villages in the Lungnak Valley. Through word of mouth, the community learned about the winter classes in the neighboring villages. On the way from Anmu to Padum, we visited Ichar, where about 30 interested women and men participated in the meeting. Nawang introduced the EAL adult education project along with its philosophy and goals. The women showed great interest. The EAL association has decided to include Ichar in the adult education project starting next winter. The teachers will be organized by the villagers themselves.
Meeting in Ichar
Winter Classes 2023/2024 for Children and Youth in the Senge La Region
Winter Classes for Children in Neraks: A small stove tries to raise the room temperature.
In the villages of the Senge La region, winter classes were held with around 150 students.
We are very pleased that, thanks to donations, we were able to provide six teachers from the Education for Adults in Ladakh association. The children received academic support in subjects such as Mathematics, English, Hindi, Bothi, and Science. At the end of the course, exams were conducted, which all students successfully passed.
The children greatly enjoyed the recreational activities and programs that took place alongside the lessons. With great enthusiasm, they built snow sculptures.
Lingshed
The nun Tashi accompanied me to visit Stanzin Dolma.
Stanzin Dolma lives alone in her house. Her husband died many years ago in an avalanche, and her five adult children have since moved out. Her day begins at 5:00 AM. Before taking care of the sheep and working in the fields, she reads philosophical texts from her prayer book for 30 minutes every day.
She says that the morning reading ritual gives her strength. However, sometimes she stops while reading because she doesn’t understand the meaning of the text. She gratefully accepted the offer to receive individual tutoring. Together with the nun Tashi, I agreed to provide her with up to 50 hours of occasional one-on-one lessons.
Skiumpata
In Skiumpata, winter classes for adults continued to take place.
Hockey is becoming an increasingly popular winter sport in the mountain villages of Senge La.
Last winter, a hockey camp was once again held in the villages. After five days of training, the children were already moving quite confidently on the ice.
A group of children stands proudly on the ice — they are the winners and were honored for their achievement.
Outlook
The winter classes for adults in the Lungnak Valley will continue this year in the same format as last winter. Nawang Palden will visit the villages during the winter to support the teachers. The EAL association will finance the salaries of 11 teachers for the 2024/2025 winter classes.
For the 2024/2025 winter classes in the Senge La region, project leader Sonam Dorje is organizing additional learning opportunities in the villages. EAL provides financial support for five teachers.
The children greatly enjoy playing hockey. If conditions allow, a hockey camp will be held again next winter. Tsultim, president of SINGELA PARTNERS, organizes the camp in cooperation with Lobzang Rinchen.
In Skiumpata, winter classes will continue regularly, while in other villages of the Senge La region, they will take place only sporadically.
Support the teacher salaries for the winter lessons 2023/2024 for youth in the villages of the Senge La region, Ladakh – Himalaya, with CHF 20.-
During the winter season, public schools remain closed for three months, from December 2023 to February 2024. The winter lessons are organized to strengthen and improve academic progress and 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 the exams are admitted to grade 9.
For winter 2023/2024, 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 youth benefit from this support. Twenty-four teachers provide instruction.
The EAL association provides financial support for six teachers.
Thank you very much for your donation!
The Board
Trudi Vetsch, Anja Zobrist, and Olivia Vetsch
Donations over CHF 100.- are eligible for a tax receipt.
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.
Phuktal Monastery is built on a cliff ledge around a natural cave.
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.
A spectacular gorge connects Zanskar with the Senge La region.
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.
Nawang Palden, the project manager on site.
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 during the harvest season.
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.
Meeting with the village women and teacher Stanzin Sampel.
Sheela
After the harvest, the barley is spread out in square-shaped patterns to dry.
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
Meeting point in the village.
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.
Visit to the village community in Pipcha.
Mune
Gathering with the participants in 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.
In Skiumpata, classes are held outdoors when the weather is sunny.
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.
Group photo of the children from Neyraks.
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.
Support teachers’ salaries for the winter lessons 2022/2023 for students from the Senge La region in Choglamsar, Ladakh – Himalayas with a contribution of CHF 20.–.
Your contribution will go entirely to the project.
During the winter holidays, around 80 students will be taught by four teachers over the course of two months. The goal of this additional learning opportunity is to deepen students’ grammar skills in the foreign languages of English, Tibetan, and Hindi. In addition to academic lessons, hockey training will also take place again this year. EAL is contributing financially to support the trainers. The equipment was sponsored by EAL through a fundraising campaign in 2019.
In July 2022, I traveled to Ladakh for three weeks and was delighted, after two years of border closures, to meet the project leaders as well as familiar friends and participants from the villages.
Tea Party
EAL has been active in adult education in the Senge La region for eight years. In 2022, the board set the goal of assessing the current status of the project. Through personal interviews with project participants, we aimed to evaluate their educational level, development potential, and interests regarding the continuation of the educational offerings.
Status Assessment
The meetings for this assessment took place in training rooms or at private homes in the villages of Lingshed, Skiumpata, Gongma, Yulchung, and Neyraks. Information from the participants in the remote village of Dipling was provided to me by Sonam Dorje, the project leader. In total, 89 women using EAL’s educational program took part in the survey.
Four central questions were the focus:
Testing reading skills by having each woman read a passage from a book aloud
Age of the women present
Knowledge level before joining the EAL project
Exploring plans for the upcoming winter: their motivation and the learning content they want to be taught
Evaluation Results:
90% of the women surveyed can read fluently. The average age of all participants is 47 years. 11% of the women knew the alphabet before joining the project or had attended school up to grade 10. 80% of respondents wish to continue attending winter classes. The majority desire to deepen their reading comprehension. Subjects such as writing, arithmetic, or English are currently of lesser importance to them.
Participants of the Lingshed Group
Development of Personal Skills
EAL’s goal of providing education for adults has been far exceeded, thanks to outstanding results. The strong motivation, determination, and willingness to learn to read formed the foundation for this success. Furthermore, literacy has significantly boosted the women’s self-confidence.
The status assessment revealed that:
The project participants strongly wish for EAL’s program to continue.
There is a clear desire to deepen reading comprehension, particularly of Buddhist texts.
Yulchung
The women of the mountain village Yulchung have developed self-initiative and a sense of ownership. Last winter, they met several times a week in the craft room to read and knit together.
During my visit, they proudly shared that they now manage without a teacher. Knowledge is passed on among themselves. More experienced participants support those with less experience. “It’s a give and take,” explained the village leader. The guiding principle of EAL — help for self-help — is being fulfilled.
Congratulations on this encouraging step toward independence!
After the meeting, we cook together in the craft room
Boarding School in Lingshed
Primary school student Lingshed Hostel
In March 2022, after two years of pandemic-related closure, the boarding school in Lingshed reopened. At the start of the school term, not all government teachers were able to begin their assignments, as training courses and exams were scheduled for April and May.
Project leader Sonam Dorje responded by organizing private teachers to cover the missing subjects such as mathematics, science, social studies, and Tibetan grammar. At his request, EAL provided financial support for six teaching salaries at the Lingshed boarding school and one salary each for the village schools in Yulchung and Dipling.
Reading Glasses Initiative
During my last visit in 2019, I noticed that many older students were experiencing presbyopia (age-related farsightedness). Salgina Optik in Schiers generously donated 150 reading glasses in five different strengths. The demand was high, and almost all the glasses found new owners.
the oldest participant testing glassesa welcome gift
Many thanks to Marcel Marchion.
Salgina Optik shop in Schiers
Winter Classes 2022/2023
Winter classes will continue in the villages of Lingshed, Skiumpata, Gongma, Dipling, and Neyraks in the upcoming winter. As before, the participants themselves are responsible for organizing the teachers.
In Ladakh, it is traditional for newly married couples to move into the groom’s family home. Women who move into the villages appreciate the educational opportunities offered by EAL. They are interested, motivated, and enthusiastic about participating in the classes. The number of participants is expected to increase by 12 to 15 women.
We are very pleased that, thanks to your support, we were able to maintain the winter classes during the pandemic. Thank you very much for your donation!
In the villages of the Senge La region, winter classes for adults took place in 2020/2021, following all safety measures. Approximately 120 adults from six different mountain villages participated.
For young people aged 14 and above, an additional learning program was also offered in winter 2020/21 in Choglamsar, a suburb of Leh.
Looking ahead to the new year, thanks to your generous donations, the winter classes can continue and the teachers’ salaries for the coming year are secured.
On behalf of the children, students, and adults of the Senge La region in Ladakh, the board and local project coordinators would like to sincerely thank you for your valuable support.
We wish you a great start to the new year 2022, along with a heartfelt Julley, Julley.
Current Situation in Ladakh Although Ladakh was repeatedly affected by lockdowns, the majority of the goals were still successfully implemented. This is thanks above all to our local project coordinators, Sonam Dorje and Lobzang Rinchen.
EAL is proud to have two such committed and responsible coordinators on the team.
A heartfelt thank-you at this point for their tremendous efforts!
Winter Education for Adults in Lingshed Thanks to the strong commitment of the nuns at Lingshed Monastery, adult education classes were able to take place again last winter. As in the previous year, around 80 women participated. Over the course of two months, the Ladakhi language Bhoti was deepened through weekend classes held on Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to the lessons themselves, social interaction is also of great importance to the women.
Project Coordinator Lobzang Rinchen Visits the Nuns in Lingshed
Winter Classes for Youth from the Senge La Region in Choglamsar A special thank-you goes to Sonam Dorje and Lobzang Rinchen. It is thanks to them that the winter classes in Choglamsar were able to take place. As in the previous year, they organized accommodation, teachers, and a cooking team for 105 students. This important supplementary education during the school-free winter months was received by the students with joy and enthusiasm.
9th Grade Class Session
Workshop and School Building Extension in Yulchung: Indoor Temperatures Above Freezing! The buildings constructed in 2017 feature insulated walls and double-glazed windows. At the time, the EAL association covered all additional costs for the wall and window insulation. On sunny days, the rooms are naturally heated by direct sunlight. The insulated walls are able to retain the heat for several days, allowing for a pleasant indoor temperature even under cloudy skies.
Gathering in the Workshop Room
The winter classes for adults take place in the workshop room. It is also actively used by the village community as a meeting and communal space.
In March 2020, schools and boarding facilities in India were closed. As a result, students returned to their home villages.
Teachers from the Senge La region took the initiative to request a special permit from the authorities so they could continue teaching in the villages.
The Students Are Taking Their Final Exams in the Newly Constructed School Building Extension
School Supplies Sponsored by EAL for the Youngest Students
