Chapter history 

The school is a quintessential Asha project. It was conceived as an idea at the Asha Timbaktu conference in 2003. It owes its origins to the efforts of a few dedicated Asha individuals (Raj, Jags, Sahadev, Mani, Menon, Ajay and Batra) who with a dedicated and committed champion of tribal education Mr.T.H.Joy, took up the challenge of starting a school in the remote tribal village of Leingangching Village in Manipur. Joy was very familiar with the ills of this remote region that borders Myanmar. This area is primarily a hilly terrain with poor agricultural prospects, compounded by tribal rivalries and social issues leading to dismal outlook for future of the children. Joy hails from this area and is a success story of a tribal native who has made his career in the city and wants more tribal children to have the same opportunity.

Project History

The concept of the school with a small number of voluntary teachers was started in late 2003 with about 30 students. It is situated in the proximity of 13 villages serving tribes of all ethnicities. Asha volunteers raised a small donation to start a school building which was functional with constructed classrooms in March 2004. Asha Stamford, CT got involved and offered to cover the cost of teachers’ salaries for 3 years starting in 2004. These efforts of incubation by Asha Stamford and the continued private donations by Asha individuals has resulted in the school growing from a concept to a fully functioning, enviable and much admired institution in that area. It today supports 519 students across grades K-7 and 11 teachers. In addition to educational instruction, the children are provided with uniforms and also have an opportunity to participate in organized sports like football, volleyball, carrom in a playground setting.

GOAL

To provide education to the underprivileged children in the remote area of Manipur and free them from the bonds of poverty. The area is ridden with communal violence making the means of livelihood through cultivation very unproductive. Education provides a very constructive alternative – taking the children out from the communal troubles; creating values for learning in a secular and tolerant environment; and also providing the platform for higher studies that lead to more lucrative careers.