17000 Ft Foundation

17000ft Foundation is dedicated to bridging educational access for children in remote, mountainous regions of India, particularly the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Recognizing the challenging terrain, harsh winters, and lack of digital infrastructure, the NGO aims to bring high-quality learning opportunities closer to home. Its mission is to uplift high-altitude frontier communities by enhancing government school education, increasing awareness of remote villages, creating income and exposure opportunities, and building resilient, self-sustaining communities.

Major Interventions:

Through its School Transformation initiative, the NGO provides schools with essential resources such as libraries, playgrounds, and solar electricity, while also offering centralized training to equip headmasters and teachers with blended learning skills. To foster sustainability, 17000ft engages local communities through awareness initiatives, outreach events, and volunteer tourism, building strong local ownership of village schools. Additionally, it collaborates with the Ladakh government on System Transformation, leveraging its on-ground expertise to drive large-scale improvements across the region’s education system.

DigiLab is an offline, solar-powered digital solution that enables personalized learning in off-grid environments by offering personalized content and performance-tracking tools for students and teachers. Digital Labs in selected schools are equipped with tablets, an LED TV, and a Raspberry Pi server, all powered by solar electricity. Each tablet provides syllabus-aligned content, allowing students to learn at their own pace while teachers track progress via a specialized app. The system operates without electricity or the internet, offering adaptive content that enhances traditional teaching and supports individualized learning.

Infrastructure Development: 17000ft works to improve the infrastructure of rural schools by setting up playgrounds, renovating classrooms, providing furniture, building toilets, and furnishing dormitories. These efforts enhance the learning environment and aim to shift parental perceptions, reassuring them that their local school is valued and encouraging continued investment in education.

The NGO focuses on continuous teacher pedagogy training through capacity-building workshops at remote schools. In the isolated IHR region, where teachers are the backbone of education, upskilling is essential to support their vital role.