Holistic Child Wellbeing Initiative

Holistic Child Wellbeing Initiative (HCWI)

Focus Area: Foundational Learning Years (Nursery to Grade 3)
HCWI is rZamba’s response to the foundational education crisis in Ladakh. We work alongside teachers, local youth, parents, school administrators, village education committees (VECs), and the education department to co-create solutions for better learning.

Key Strategies:

Child-Centered Pedagogy through Project-Based Learning (PBL)

Community Leadership through parent and village engagement

Strengthened School Systems through improved planning, communication, and teacher capacity-building

1. Improving Learning Experiences

💡 rISE Educator’s Fellowships

We support local youth (from the communities) to create engaging, inquiry-based classroom experiences and for them to develop as exemplary educators for their villages. They also develop local school libraries as community learning hubs.

❄️ Khangrtsa Yontan – Winter Community Classes

Since 2019, these community classes have bridged learning gaps for rural children during Ladakh’s long winter closures and limited internet connectivity.

2. Community & Parent Engagement

🏘️ Village Education Committees

development and educational outcomes.

🌸 Mothers’ Wellbeing Pilot

Recognizing that children thrive when mothers thrive, we pilot community-based solutions to address maternal nutrition and overall well being.

3. Strengthening School Processes

🧑‍🏫 School Head Leadership

We support headmasters and headmistresses in developing stronger school cultures, teacher mentoring systems, and data-driven decision-making.

🤝 Parent-Teacher Meetings

By regularizing and strengthening PTMs, we create space for trust-building, feedback, and shared responsibility for children’s learning.

Education Initiatives – Learning at Doorstep, Winter Learning Spaces, School Program

In 2024, Rzamba organized the Winter Community Class (Learning at doorstep) to provide students with meaningful educational experiences during the harsh winter months. This initiative was spread across multiple communities in Kargil, ensuring that children remained engaged in both academic learning . Our efforts aimed to create an inclusive and enriching learning environment despite the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions.

Community	Number of Students
Styankung	49
Tambis	35
Kukshow	49
Shelikchey	29
Apati	37
Tumail	24
Sharbat Gound	58
Chulichan	39
Mundiq	49
Lalung	68
Sharchey	45
Karchaykhar	49

Fellowship Program – rZamba Fellowship details, alumni impact.

The Rzamba Fellowship Program is a remarkable initiative that empowers local youth in Kargil by equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed for teaching. Organized annually, this fellowship serves as a platform for aspiring educators to receive hands-on training, mentorship, and exposure to innovative teaching methodologies. By recruiting passionate individuals from the community, the program not only enhances their professional growth but also strengthens the education system in the region. Through this initiative, Rzamba aims to foster a new generation of dedicated educators who can bring meaningful change to classrooms and inspire young learners.

Alumni Impact of the Rzamba Fellowship Through Project-Based Learning

The Rzamba Fellowship Program has been instrumental in transforming education in Kargil through Project-Based Learning (PBL). Alumni like Riyaz, Ghulam, Zaheer, Kaneez Fatima, and others have actively implemented PBL in schools, making learning more engaging, relevant, and student-centered.

During their two-year fellowship, these educators designed projects that connected classroom concepts with real-life experiences. Whether exploring local water sources, documenting traditional stories, studying plant diversity, or mapping historical sites, they encouraged students to ask questions, investigate, and present their findings creatively.

Through this hands-on approach, students developed critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, making education more meaningful. The fellows witnessed remarkable growth—not just in the students, but also in their own ability to design impactful learning experiences.

Today, as Rzamba alumni, they continue to advocate for experiential and community-based learning, ensuring that education in Kargil is not limited to textbooks but extends to the real world. Their journey stands as a testament to how Project-Based Learning can empower both educators and students to become active learners and changemakers.