Mobile School "Building" at Tarsar Lake, Kashmir in June

As a part of our Education Initiative, we are supporting Mohammed Bashir's school at Tarsar Lake, near Pulwama, in Kashmir. In winter, the school shall shift to Treyat,Rajouri. Bashir, 30, has continued his family tradition of raising livestock - a tradition that goes back four generations.

Mohammed Bashir belongs to the Bakkarwal(shepherd) community of Jammu & Kashmir. They are almost entirely nomadic, spending approximately six months each on the plain and mountain pastures. Every year, around the end of May/early June, they cross over to the Valley via the Mughal Road and other corridors in the Pir Panjal.They migrate along with their animals and travel a distance of almost 300 Kms on foot over a period of  one month. They camp at Tarsar Lake for four months and set out for Rajouri in October end.

Bakkarwals are a poorly represented people in the State - socially, economically and educationally - and have been increasingly marginalized owing to their nomadic lifestyles.

Bashir has studied till Higher Secondary level and realises the significance of basic education, particularly for the girl child. He has been homeschooling his own children and since the last 2 years, he has been helping the people of his community by imparting Primary School Level education to the nomadic children.

DEEP Foundation is providing a 16'x14' tent to Bashir to run classes uninterrupted, round the year, providing the children shelter from rain and cold winds. Soon we propose to extend the facility to the ladies of the community, most of whom are illiterate. We are in the process of identifying a resource from within the community who could be trained and empowered to take this initiative forward.

Proposed Launch date : June 16, 2010

This project is being supported by A Ray of Hope - UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace and David Tyler Trust, UK.