A list of NGO's in Ladakh

davidp80

Hi everyone,

Here is the current spectrum of NGO's operating in Ladakh. I know that lists of this sort have been posted here on the forum before, but there I've listed a couple of organizations below that I personally have not encountered before.

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Ladakh Ecological Development Group
The Ladakh Ecological Development Group was initiated in 1983 to promote ecological and sustainable development, which blends with the traditional culture. The programs include information, education, handicraft, agriculture and cultural preservation activities.


Leh Nutrition Project
Leh Nutrition Project was founded in 1978 with the initiative of Save the Children Fund UK, and has been actively engaged in the most neglected, isolated and remote areas of Leh district in rural development, primary health care, education, agriculture, handicrafts, and so on. LNP is actively working on watershed projects in 25 villages. Child development, pre-school education, health education and nature conservation are its focus areas.

WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) has been working to promote harmony between humankind and nature for over three decades. Its mission is The Promotion of Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection as the Basis for Sustainable and Equitable Development. Today, WWF-India is recognized as the premier conservation NGO in the country dealing with conservation and development issues. In Ladakh WWF-India initiated a project called Conservation of High Altitude Wetlands of Ladakh. Under the project two field offices- at Leh and at Korzok village near lake Tsomoriri- were established. At present both these offices are actively involved in carrying out various conservation and capacity building programs. The major activities of WWF-India in Ladakh have been motivating key stakeholders, including local communities, tour operators and defense forces, institution building for conservation, developing communication and resource material, surveys and research.

Snow Leopard Conservancy
The Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) is dedicated to demonstrating innovative, grassroots measures that lead local people to become effective stewards of the endangered snow leopard, its prey and its habitat. SLC operates under the Cat Action Treasury (a US-based nonprofit charity), which supports projects of the Cat Specialist Group, World Conservation Union - IUCN.

SECMOL
Secmol is a voluntary organization of the concerned youth of Ladakh. It was founded in 1988 by some returning university students who understood the problems of the younger generation with modern education, their lack of focus and the cultural confusion. Their activities include occasional courses and interaction with village students to help inspire them at school, and awaken them to the problems stemming from inappropriate and insensitive schooling, preserve and strengthen their wisdom, cultural heritage and the unique identity of this land and its people. SECMOL might need assistance with their Solar Project--helping out and learning from the students at the new Shesyon Solar Earthworks school on the SECMOL campus. Making repairs and maintaining solar equipment on campus. (i.e. solar cooker, solar battery store house, hydro pump, solar showers...etc.)

Ladakh Heart Foundation
Ladakh Heart Foundation was started by Ven. Thupstan Chogyal, a few years back, realizing the never ending medical problems of Ladakhis who live in remote areas and cannot afford to go to Chandigarh and Delhi for their treatment, especially for lung and heart diseases.


Operation New Hope
ONH was started in 1994 to overhaul the primary education system in the government schools of Ladakh. The ONH movement has three arms working together, the government, NGO?s and the village communities.

Ladakh Women's Alliance
The Women's Alliance was established in 1991 by local women with the twin goal of raising the status for rural women and strengthening local culture and agriculture. A primary goal of WAL is sustainable development in rural Ladakh.

Rural Development and You
RDY is a non-profit organization, of concerned Ladakhis, which works to overcome the problems faced by the rural people in their daily life. Participation, health, education and development programs are organized to help and guide the rural people. The activities include seminars, trainings, workshops and interaction with rural people to understand their needs and problems.

Mahabodhi International Meditation Center
Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre was founded by the venerable Bikkhu Sanghasena in 1990 to fulfill its objective of socio-cultural, medical, moral and spiritual upliftment of the people of Ladakh as well as preservation and promotion of their great heritage and traditions. The centre is involved in meditation programs, education, healthcare, housing for the elderly, a nunnery, and a lot more.
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I'm currently signed up to volunteer with ISEC, but am also considering The Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG). Has anyone been in touch with them lately? I've had some difficulty getting through to them. Any previous experiences in volunteering with them? Thanks,

-Dave

mridula

Dave, pardon my ignorance, but what is ISEC?

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mridula

http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/

davidp80

Hi Mridula,

ISEC stands for The International Society for Ecology and Culture, the brainchild of Helena Norberg-Hodge. Check out the website at:

www.isec.org.uk

They may still be accepting applications for the summer season! Thanks for your interest,

-Dave

mridula

dave, thanks for the link.

NonIndianResident

SECMOL's website is www.secmol.org and they can sometimes take volunteers for solar heating building design help, solar electricity, media, and informal English teaching for youth who have failed out of the government school system. The cost is only your own room and board and there is no strict minimum time though they prefer longer staying volunteers.

lizziedripin

Hi I am travelling to leh with my 11 yr old daughter end July. We dont have a plan except that we wish to join a project for a week or so, doing anything, but I guess working with children would be ideal. we are in India for 3 weeks and apart from a couple of days in delhi and to see the taj on the last day we have no other plans.