What We Do
Basho Valley Schools Program
A Valley Frozen in Time
The Basho Valley is a remote alpine region located in the Skardu District of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and renowned for its dramatic landscapes and unspoiled natural beauty. Situated 45 kilometers from Skardu city, the valley rests at an elevation of 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) tucked away in the rugged terrain of the Karakoram Mountains.
Access to this secluded area is limited and challenging. Cut off from nearby cities and towns by its surrounding mountains and dense forests, a wooden bridge suspended high over a gushing river, and poorly maintained, steep, and winding narrow roads, Basho Valley has remained far removed from the social, economic, and technological developments that have reached its neighbors over recent decades. The region lacks basic infrastructure such as reliable roads, electricity, and modern communication networks, and suffers grossly inadequate access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. With a sparse population of less than 2,000, it is largely overlooked by the resource-strapped government, civil society, and private sector, its residents abandoned in the poverty trap.
Barriers to Education
Basho Valley schools face dire challenges including very low levels of teacher capacity, poor facilities and infrastructure, overall lack of funding and resources, severe shortages of local teachers, and – critically – inability to attract and retain qualified and capable teachers due to the area’s isolation and limited overall prospects.
The combined impact is catastrophic for the children’s future prospects. Learning outcomes are extremely poor, with below-average performance on standardized exams, low middle school completion rates, and even lower effective transition rates to secondary schools. Overall literacy and numeracy levels are low, and digital literacy is non-existent.
Investing in local human capital for a sustainable solution
Our strategic approach to teacher recruitment and training invests in local youth to provide a long-term solution to the challenges of attracting trained educators. During Phase 1, we recruit local individuals who demonstrate high aptitudes and are settled with strong ties to the local community, to serve as schoolteachers. We provide them with comprehensive teacher training to build their subject matter knowledge, skills in effective teaching methods, and ability to deploy digital learning. Phase 2 begins once we place the teachers at a designated school and they begin classroom instruction. During this period, we pay for their monthly salaries, conduct direct performance management, and provide each teacher with ongoing quarterly training to continue improving their instructional skills. By taking on the added operating costs for teaching, we relieve the cash-strapped schools of costs they can scarcely afford and allow the resources to be used for basic facilities and equipment needs.
Bridging the digital divide
Our digital learning program connects students directly to educational content via digital platforms such as Khan Academy. This data-backed approach is proven to boost educational outcomes by standardizing and improving the quality of instruction and building digital literacy. During Phase 1, we install Wi-Fi along with solar panels, batteries, and switchboards for power, which ensure access to learning materials in spite of unreliable electricity and limited internet. We also purchase classroom tablets for student use and laptops for the schoolteachers. During Phase 2, these tools are put to work. Our teachers implement digital learning, leveraging the suite of learning materials to supplement and enhance their classroom instruction, and actively incorporating tablet use to reinforce lessons and provide students with individualized, hands-on learning.
Currently, we are actively fundraising for Khar Village School for Girls and Boys.
