The “Education for Adults in Ladakh, Himalaya” project is on course!
Extension of the school building and a new handicrafts building
For the village school in Yulchung, permission for the addition of two classrooms has been granted by the government in Leh. Furthermore, the application for the new handicrafts building has also been approved.
School building
The school building is to be constructed according to traditional design. This means that the windows have single glazing and the building’s facade has to be made out of single-layer masonry. As a result, room temperatures in a hard winter can go down to ‑30° C and, even for people used to the cold climate, can only be used under difficult conditions. The state only covers the costs for this traditional design. Structural insulation measures such as double glazing, double-layer masonry with appropriate insulation material and a corrugated iron roof for reliable impermeability are missing.
Handicrafts building
Ever since the women have become acquainted with felting, a room in which they can also work in winter at outside temperatures below zero is one of their greatest wishes.
Moreover, the common workspace is of great importance for the women since they can discuss together routine topics such as work in the fields, family matters and domestic animals without being disturbed.
For the construction of the new handicrafts house, the identical government conditions apply as for the school building.
In Leh, Trudi Vetsch met Sonam Dorje (Government Agent for the development of infrastructure, education and health in the area of Senge LA). He presented the projects planned to her. Thereupon she proposed using the association’s donations to cover the extra costs for double-glazed windows, double-layer masonry and covering the traditional roof with corrugated iron sheeting to make it waterproof.
The additional costs for the handicrafts building were paid for from the association’s account.
For these additional costs for the school building extension, double-layer masonry, insulation materials and the double glazing of the windows, the association is now calling for further donations.