Mumbai: Chembur school keeps winter learning going for Ladakh students

While savouring Mumbairsquos local food and soaking in the cityrsquos energy 22 students from Ladakh are attending classes at Chemburrsquos AFAC English School as part of a threemonthlong study exchange programme Running from November to February the initiative helps students from remote villages like Turtuk continue their education despite the harsh winters back home The harsh winters in Ladakh forces schools to shut down for monthsHeavy snowfall and extreme weather force schools in Ladakh to shut for months disrupting learning To tackle this AFAC English School has been hosting Ladakhi students free of cost allowing them to study at its Mumbai campus The programme supported by crowdfunding and contributions from the Mandlecha familyrsquos network has grown into a lifeline for these childrenJitendra Mandlecha general secretary of the trust running AFAC SchoolBeyond academics the students and their eight teachers experience Mumbairsquos culture food and city life ldquoOur goal is to ensure they donrsquot miss out on crucial months of education due to extreme weather Here they not only continue studying but also explore a new world broadening their horizonsrdquo said a school officialFor the students this journey is nothing short of lifechanging ldquoBack home our schools are shut for months due to winter Here we study make new friends and visit places wersquove only read aboutrdquo said a student excitedlyFrom tour to transformationThe initiative traces back to 2018 when Jitendra Mandlecha general secretary of the trust running AFAC School visited Ladakh A trip to Turtuk Valley exposed him to the struggles of local schools prompting him to take action Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modirsquos appeal to support border communities he launched a teacher training programme in 2019 in collaboration with the Kotak Education ProgrammeWhen the pandemic hit in 2020 Mandlecha found an innovative solutionmdashencouraging trained teachers to form small groups and educate children in their villages As the programmersquos success grew parents requested a dedicated school In response he converted a guesthouse into classrooms giving birth to Turtuk Valley School which now educates 140 students A new school building is set to open in June 2025Students from Ladakh at Chemburrsquos AFAC English School PicsKirti Surve ParadeClassroom beyond bordersWhat began with just one batch of students in 2022 has expanded This year apart from students from Turtuk Valley School children from two other Ladakhi schoolsmdashthe Imamia Model School in Leh and the Army Goodwill School in Tyakshimdashare also part of the programmeldquoWhat has moved me for over these years is that these students come from simple and conservative rural families in Ladakh yet their parents trusted me and my team and on that faith they have been sending their children to Mumbai to learn and explore I would do anything to give them the best of education and not let their trust in me failrdquo Mandlecha saidNaeema Batul studentldquoThis initiative bridges the educational gap between remote border villages and metropolitan cities fostering a brighter future for young learnersrdquo said Mandlecharsquos son Siddharth ldquoThis is just the beginningmdashwe want to extend quality education to other border villages toordquo he addedldquoSome kids wished to see Mumbai and I wanted to make it happenrdquo Mandlecha shared After a 2022 Kaun Banega Crorepati appearance went viral interest grew Now apart from Turtuk Valley School students from Imamia Model School in Leh and Army Goodwill School in Tyakshi have also joined the initiativeSiddharth Mandlecha trusteeThe students stay within the school premises and after classes they explore Mumbai with their teacherMumbai and vada pavFor 12yearold Naeema Batul a resident of Thang near the LoC in Nubra Valley this is her first time outside Ladakh ldquoI was so excited I love the people here and of course the food We ate vada pav poha upma and many other delicious dishesrdquo she saidZeba Noor studentZeba Noor from Turtuk Valley School is equally thrilled ldquoI donrsquot even miss homemdashI have my teachers and friends here But I will miss vada pav when I leaverdquo she laughedThe students have visited famous Mumbai landmarks including the Naval Dockyard ldquoSeeing a submarine up close was like a dreamrdquo said BatulFourthgrader Wajahat Mirza now on his second Mumbai trip shared ldquoThe first time it felt so different Now Irsquove made many friends and will miss them when I go backrdquoHajra Bano a teacher accompanying the students called it a remarkable experience ldquoThis initiative has opened new dreams for these children They now know therersquos a whole world beyond Ladakhrdquo she said22No of students part of exchange programme