Read Now- Sharmila’s Himalayan Reading Program

by Sharmila Pal in Jammu and Kashmir

  • 180

    Books Goal
  • 219

    Books Received
  • 0

    Days to go
Raised Percent :
100%
The fundraiser is successful.
Leh- Ladakh
Impact: 200 Children

Who we are

I have constructed a children's library in my neighborhood in Ladakh. The children (age range: 7-15 yrs) living here are first-generation learners from Nepali migrant workers and middleclass/low income Ladakhi families. Though they attend "English-medium" schools their reading level is very basic. My goal is to improve their reading skills and ignite a love for books, that is beyond their classroom. We are in desperate need for children's books for the library. The children especially desire English books at various reading levels. Help our Himalayan children become readers for life! As Margaret Fuller said, "Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader."


Our work and its impact

I came to Ladakh seven years ago as a volunteer teacher for six months in Lamdon School in Leh, Zanskar (Stongde) and Sakti. I taught Mathematics, Chemistry and English. By the end of my term, I fell in love with the children and the mountains, and I never left. Ever since then, I have been doing teaching programs at various Ladakhi Schools to help children develop their reading, writing, and thinking skills. My goal is to create libraries and Reading Programs in remote Himalayan villages, in both Ladakh and beyond, and implement a Himalayan Mobile Library where I can serve the local children in remote mountain areas where there is no road access with books.


How we will utilise these books

My goal is to inculcate a reading habit among rural children at a younger age. I have worked with the libraries at various local Ladakhi schools and implemented a rigorous daily reading program. Every hour (Mon-Sat; 10:30-4 PM), a group of 45 children come to the library for various story-telling, reading, writing, and creative projects related to reading. I have also established a Reading Club at the schools, where thrice a week, senior students (who have been trained to become a Reader) sit one-on-one with a junior student to do a reading session. Exam reports show that the children's English marks and reading comprehension have greatly improved. I am aim to set-up and run my neighborhood Children's Library by mid July and also in-tandem run a Mobile Library to take books (on horses and mules) to children living in remote Himalayan areas where there is no road access. The collected funds will be used to buy children's books in English, and Hindi. These books will be lend to each child for a week. If they return the books in proper condition, then they are eligible to check out a second book.



Supporters

Name Donate Amount Date
Shruti Sharma 2,500 July 09, 2017
Anonymous 2,500 July 02, 2017
Menaka Raman 2,500 June 25, 2017
Anonymous 1,200 June 19, 2017
Sandip Paul 500 June 19, 2017
Anonymous 250 June 18, 2017
Atal Saha 1,000 June 15, 2017
Anonymous 500 June 14, 2017
Name Donate Amount Date
Shruti Sharma 2,500 July 09, 2017
Sharmila Pal 2,500 July 02, 2017
Menaka Raman 2,500 June 25, 2017
Sharmila Pal 1,200 June 19, 2017
Sandip Paul 500 June 19, 2017
Sohan Ullal 250 June 18, 2017
Atal Saha 1,000 June 15, 2017
Sujit Pal 500 June 14, 2017