17000 ft Foundation

17000 ft Foundation works to improve the quality of education in government schools in the remote frontier villages of the Indian Himalayan Region. It was set up in response to families leaving mountain villages. Because there are no good schools nearby, children as young as three are sent to boarding schools in distant towns, and families often end up moving to the cities to be with them. The foundation's position is that geography and distance should not be barriers to equal learning opportunities. Its approach is to bring quality education to children close to their homes, even in the most isolated hamlets, so that the social fabric of these heritage villages is preserved. It currently works in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Major Areas of Work

• School quality improvement: Strengthening government schools in frontier villages so children can get a good education without leaving home.

• Digital access: Bringing digital learning resources to schools in villages that are off-grid and off-network.

• Teacher development: Training teachers in current teaching methods in schools that are too remote to get regular training.

• School infrastructure: Building learning and play spaces in schools in high-altitude areas with harsh winters and difficult terrain.

• Community engagement: Working with Village Education Committees and local communities to support their schools.

Major Initiatives and Programmes

• DigiLab cum Library: A combined digital learning lab and library set up in partner government schools.

• Playgrounds: Play spaces built for children in remote schools.

• Local-language storybooks: Children's books in regional languages such as Bhoti, made to be easy for young readers to understand.

• Take-home tablets: Tablets that students can take home so they can keep learning outside school hours.

• Winter Learning in Ladakh: Support that lets children keep learning during the long winter months when schools in Ladakh are closed.

Impact

17000 ft Foundation states that it works in more than 450 remote schools and has given more than 150,000 children access to quality education near their homes in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The organisation reports a 50% fall in dropout and migration in the schools it has adopted. It also reports a 30% average increase in enrolment in the government schools it has adopted.

The foundation's work takes place in some of India's most remote places, including high-altitude border villages with extreme weather and little connectivity. Staff work closely with government schools, teachers, village committees and local administrations, which gives them direct experience of public education delivery and community-led change. The work suits people who care about fair access to education and who can work well in tough field conditions. It also suits people who want to see clear results in schools and communities.