Sonam Wangchuk raises Rs 1.8 crore for his vision for HIAL

BANGALORE: Everything around us has changed drastically in the last 150 years. But our education system has not evolved much. With the focus still on theoretical teaching with very little that prepares the students for real life in the real world. No wonder graduates coming out of most our colleges and universities finish a ritual and get their degrees but are highly unemployable, according to various studies. Often employers end up re-educating the fresh recruits at their own expense.

In Ladakh, there are no functional universities in the region. As a result, there is a mass exodus of youth to cities like others. Where they live like educational refugees learn little that is of relevance to lives and return as misfits for the mountain environment.

Sonam Wangchuk, an innovator and educationist is working to solve issues faced by people like education, culture and environment through this university. He wants to break down the conventional way of thought process and make people understand the practical application of knowledge. He wants to use his experience and scale up the impact he created at SECMOL, the Student’s Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakhand start an alternative university for mountain development called the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh.

The University is being spearheaded by the renowned social entrepreneur which will need funds of Rs 7 crore in first phase.

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Sonam stated, “We will build HIAL which will engage youths from multiple Himalayan countries in Research & Development to tackle the issues faced by mountain people, especially in the domains of education, culture, and the environment.”

Anoj Viswanathan, Co-founder, Milaap added, “We will ensure that we highlight this cause to our network of donors from past campaigns and urge everyone out there to contribute whatever amount they can towards this initiative of practical education which makes a difference to society.”