“I like eggs and fruit and I would like to eat them every day.”
Tenzin 8 years, THF Happy Valley, Mussoorie
How does it work?
The Tibetan nomad community in India lives on the Changtang Plateau in Ladakh. It is one of the most isolated areas in the world. The altitude is over 4,400 m above sea level, the summers are short and the winters are very harsh with temperatures below -35℃. The people are scattered in several villages, where mainly the elderly live. The younger nomads roam the plains with herds of goats and sheep.
In order for the nomad children to receive an education that was not available to the older generations, the institution TCV – Tibetan Children Village has provided 3 schools high in the mountains, which have been operating for 40 years. They are currently attended by a total of 400 Tibetan nomad children aged 3 to 12 (kindergarten and 1st to 5th grade).
Let’s indulge them.
All three schools in the villages of Sumdho, Nyoma and Hanle also have boarding houses. Children live here from the age of 3-4. Their parents roam the surrounding highlands with their herds and the children are looked after by foster mothers – “adoptive” mothers. Their work is very demanding, especially when it comes to caring for the youngest children.
Let´s fill their bellies with some vitamines and proteins
TCV is an NGO that provides these children not only with education but also with basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. As Changtang is relatively isolated and 300 km away from the main center of Ladakh through the mountains, its accessibility is very limited. This leads to a lack of basic services, health care and adequate nutrition. During the short summer in the mountains, only a few vegetables and barley can be grown. For 8 months of the year, the children mainly live on rice, lentils and pancakes. They have vegetables and fruits very rarely and only in the summer. They also lack a source of protein, which is essential for their healthy development.
TCV approached us with an urgent request to support nutritional nutrition and provide a food program for these 400 children who are currently facing great deprivation. This will improve their health and also physical and cognitive development, which is extremely important at an early age. There is not enough funding in the basic budget of this institution for nutrition.
With support, TCV will work with local farmers in central Ladakh to distribute fresh food to remote Changtang. In the long-term, it will create a sustainable supply chain that will further engage the local community.
Our support can bridge the gap between deprivation and adequate nutrition, ensuring a healthier and brighter future for these children.
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