We don't do charity. In any village, in any project, at any time. We support the villagers to decide to be willing to be partners in their own development. Government departments loan staff to develop materials, test them and train field staff in teaching-learning techniques. Everyone contributes, and every contributor feels total ownership of the project.

Women's co-ops

"I've never seen an apple except on the chart at the Lingshed school."
12 year-old child from Dipling.

These are the heart of our village work. Each village joins as a partner for 3 years and forms a co-operative with every house in the village. The women determine their own needs, potential for micro-enterprises and how to reinvest profits in development. (The men almost always ask to become 'honorary women' and join the co-op as junior partners.)

Women, through their co-op, have:

• Changed the agriculture in their village, growing drought resistant and more productive crops which improve nutrition for everyone.
• Used greenhouses to introduce vegetables to remote, high altitude villages, improved nutrition and provided valuable money.
• Used their organization to build schools, day care centers and vocational training programs, supported by the Government of India. They have used their energy to encourage young people to go for training (to become a health worker and serve the village, learn more about animal health and improve their herds, or start a small business, or to finish their education).

Women's co-ops help us design all our adult literacy materials. Most women from remote villages remain illiterate and innumerate. They have little time to learn, yet they are clear in their needs and what kind of learning works for them. With their help, we have an expanding basic literacy project which will be given to the entire district in 2006.

We currently have women's co-ops in 7 villages, together with a partnership with a Ladakhi NGO to provide training and experimental fields to co-operatives covering an additional 16 villages. To sponsor a new co-op that wants to join our program costs Rs.25,000 (approximately £350, US$585, C$660).

0 to 6 year-old Crèche program

"When the remote village kids reach Class 1 in our
school they are so far behind. Most never catch up."
Lingshed school headmaster on the impact of malnutrition
and lack of child development programs in remote villages

Recent surveys show up to 95% moderate to severe malnutrition among 3-12 year olds in Ladakh's remote villages. When children are weaned, their health status plummets. When mothers are in the field, there is no warm place for children to stay. Women, who want access to family planning but often cannot access it, still average 6-12 pregnancies. Nutrition programs are often absent; Schools are often single-roomed adobe structure, well below freezing for 5 months of the year.

In 2004 we started a 3-year research project to design appropriate crèche programs for remote villages. The program provides a warm, stimulating and safe environment for all village children. It provides nutritious meals, based on improved local agriculture rather than imported rations. It trains local girls and mothers to be crèche teachers, training them in all skills needed to operate child development programs. And finally, it provides culturally appropriate learning materials, games and activities. Once tested, the program will be made available to all government crèches across both districts.

We also produce highly successful adolescent health games and educational materials in local languages (the only agency to do so).

Our women and children's health program provides information in all 3 local languages on issues ranging from pregnancy and family planning, to accidents and hygiene. Two of our graduate interns now serve in the Department of Health, helping them to continue this work throughout the district.

In 2004, we started a disabled children's program in response to the high number of disabled children and youths in our villages. Until now, there were no trained physiotherapists in the district and no support offered for families of disabled children in remote villages. They were excluded from school, with their mothers carrying a heavy burden.

Working in partnership with 2 local organizations and a German group, we are helping to train barefoot physiotherapists and to provide services to all families with disabled kids.