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Women Alliance of Ladakh (WAL)
Women Alliance of Ladakh , where enthusiastic Ladakhi women throng each day during the four-month 'season', bringing with them examples of 'local culture' that they have grown, spun, woven, dyed, stitched and baked with their own hands. These women make ordinary stuff like wool caps, hemp bags, Ladakhi jewellery and bring their organically-grown produce and seeds for a market that's addicted to garish replicas of monastic art.
In 1991, Helena Norberg-Hodge's started WAL, a continuation of her work with the Ecology Group. It was aimed at women because they were the ones who bore the brunt when men, inspired by development, sought greener pastures outside. wal's methods of "participational development" have succeeded in helping over 5,000 women by showing them that their values and traditions were not regressive and anachronistic but ideal to their situation.
A group of Ladakhi women took it upon themselves to address the negative impact of 'western' trends and impact of tourism in their region. They formed WAL with the aim of promoting development in harmony with the ethical and spiritual values that they believe their culture is based on.
WAL, along with its partner organization, the California-based International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC), started supporting locally adapted, sustainable agricultural methods, while raising awareness of the hazards of industrial agriculture such as pollution from chemical pesticides and fertilizers. WAL has instituted a seed bank to preserve indigenous seed varieties adapted to Ladakh's unique ecology.
In 1998, WAL started a campaign against the use of polythene bags. WAL members claim it has been one of their most successful projects. Now days you will not find the polythene bags in Ladakh.
For any further information please contact:
Women Alliance of Ladakh,
Sankar Road, Chubi, Leh, 194101, Ladakh, India
Ph: 91-1982-250293
Non Governmental Organisations
1. Leh Nutrition Project (LNP)
2. The Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG)
3. Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL)
4. Child Welfare Society of Ladakh
5. LTO
6. Rural Development and you (RDY)
7. Ladakh Environment and Health Organisation (LEHO)
8. Ladakh Heart Foundation
9. Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC)
10. Save the Children
11. Women Alliance of Ladakh (WAL)
12. WWF-India
13. Snow Leopard Conservancy
14. Druk White Lotus School
15. Ladakh Nuns Association,
17. Yuthog