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Charity Challenge: Ladakh, India

Friday 8th July – Saturday 16th July 2022

So here I go again…!

I am absolutely delighted to have signed up for another Gulf for Good challenge! After becoming a Freelancer a few months ago, I wasn’t sure a challenge this year would be on the cards.

This time I am off to India, trekking the Markha valley, through the Hemis National Park, home of the elusive snow leopard, which is known to be one of the most popular treks in Ladakh.

The trek will be a tough one, reaching altitudes of 5260m. We’ll be staying in traditional home-stays, which will provide us an excellent opportunity to discover the everyday life of locals, but also leaving ourselves open to the elements with a couple of nights of ‘wild camping’ and we’re not talking the Glastonbury kind!

This trek passes through beautiful villages tucked in the deep valley surrounded by towering mountains, and from the high pass of Kongmaru La (5360m), we’ll get to take in spectacular views of the Kang Yatse peaks.

https://www.gulf4good.org/challenges-adventures/2022-ladakh-india/ 

I am so looking forward to getting out into nature again and channeling my inner mountain goat (if only!), but as usual there is another side to why we're going. We are doing it to raise money to provide a better future for the children and families of Ladakh. 

THE CHARITY PROJECT: Tibetan Children's Villages, Leh-Ladakh, India

This challenge will support Tibetan Children's Village, Ladakh to install 23 individual kitchens in family homes as well as upgrading the village’s central kitchen, study and dining area. At present children in the village cook on the floor and study on their beds. This project will benefit more than 1,550 students currently under the charity’s care, 500 students under our further study programme and 300 senior citizens, in addition to providing better resources to deal with the severe winter weather conditions.

Tibetan Children's Villages or TCV is an integrated community in exile for the care and education of orphans, destitute and refugee children from Tibet. Formally registered in 1972, Tibetan Childrens Villages, is a registered, non-profit charitable organisation with its main facility based at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, North India. Across its Indian network, TCV cares for more than 12,000 children. Tibetan SOS Children’s Village Ladakh looks after 1861 orphan and destitute Tibetan and local Ladakhi children who come from all parts of Ladakh. 

https://www.gulf4good.org/charity-projects/tibetan-children-s-villages-leh-ladakh-india/

FUNDRAISING:

Each participant is tasked with raising a minimum of AED5,000 (USD1,360) to support this project and, together, change the lives of these children and families.

This challenge is held in association with local not-for-profit Gulf for Good, whose purpose is to change the lives of underprivileged children around the world.

The breakdown of how donations are distributed are as follows:

- 75% of funds raised go to the Tibetan Children's Village

- 15% of funds raised go to Gulf for Good (not-for-profit in the UAE and registered UK charity) for their sustainability

- 10% of funds raised go to International Humanitarian City for their emergency response work

To learn more about Gulf for Good and what we do: https://www.gulf4good.org 

This Charity Challenge is approved by the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department, License No. 21879

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