HEALTH Inc works in remote villages across the Himalaya. All of its projects adhere to 4 principles:

• The beneficiaries are partners in the work, designing, implementing and evaluating work according to their needs and goals.
• We train local interns to continue our work in the future.
• We provide universal access to information and education.
• We share our successes through ‘frameworks’ that other NGOs can copy freely.

All project funds are matched at least 7:1 by the Government of India and we receive generous support from the British and Canadian governments, and philanthropic groups and individuals around the world. Less than 10% of all funds are spent on administration.

All of our work is in remote villages (no road access, often cut off by snow for 9 months each year) and in conjunction with the local governments. We work with the most vulnerable people: women and children, areas affected by war and drought, and where other agencies have pulled out. Based in India, all staff (save one) are locals and 8 months each year we are out in the villages we serve.

How you can help:

HEALTH Inc depends on the contributions of our friends to meet its objectives. For example, we are providing our partner villagers with “Magic Boxes” for children who have often never seen a book or coloring pencil. A box contains primary school books (in the local languages), teaching aids, school supplies and activity-based learning guides for teachers. Partners also receive teacher training, help in building schools and have direct input into curricular design for the entire district.

HEALTH Inc projects in 2006 include:

Women and children's development program

An integrated program designed by 11 women's co-operatives in some of the remotest villages in Ladakh. Their goals are to address global climate changes affecting their agricultural self-sufficiency, as well as nutritional/developmental deficiencies in 0-14 year-olds in their villages.

The women work on new crops and technologies (greenhouses, solar-electric fencing), construct solar-heated centers in their villages and establish a life-skills education and nutrition program for all based out of those centers. They have united as one group to enhance income from their micro-enterprises, giving them their own money to develop future programs for themselves.

Future leaders program

Young Ladakhis, who have been forced to end their own schooling as they take responsibility for their extended families from the remotest and most disadvantages villages in Ladakh, join our team for 3 years. During this time they work with us on all our projects, gaining practical skills in community development.

We also support them in completing their education and place them in special training programs across India, where they acquire specialized skills needed here in Ladakh. At the end of their internship, we place our young people in the government system, where they can support change from within.

Life skills education

We are continuing this 7-year program as the only NGO in the region providing universal access to information and literacy in all the 3 languages of Ladakh.

Whether a picture book set for illiterate farmers who are growing vegetables at altitudes over 4,000 meters (over 13,000 feet), an adolescent health game discussing high-risk behaviors, or a children's comic book about disabled kids, our materials reach an audience of over 125,000 in Ladakh and tens of thousands of others through partnerships across northern India