E153 | The Mountain She Chose to Climb | Rigzen Wangmo

Send us Fan MailRigzen Wangmo shares her journey from a small village in Ladakh to Harvard Kennedy School and back, where she founded the Village Lab Foundation to revolutionize education by integrating local context, culture, and community.• Grew up in Nubra Valley near Siachen, spending early years exploring freely before being sent to boarding school• Discovered her passion for teaching while volunteering in communities during her zoology studies in Delhi• Joined Teach for India program in Pune, where she taught for two years despite language barriers• Returned to Ladakh after discovering SECMOL, an alternative school that impressed her with its educational approach• Founded Village Lab Foundation on the principle that curriculum should fit children, not children fitting into a curriculum• Uses the entire village as a learning laboratory with community members as volunteer facilitators• Shifted from viewing her village identity through a deficit lens to recognizing its rich assets• Focuses on creating education rooted in culture, nature, and community living• Believes in taking a long-term view of education, planning for generations rather than just years ahead• Emphasizes the importance of pausing, reflecting, and practicing gratitude as leadership practicesTo learn more about the Village Lab Foundation or to visit us in Nubra Valley, Ladakh, reach out through our website or social media channels.Have you purchased the copy of Inspire Someone Today, yet? - Give it a go geni.us/istbookAvailable on all podcast platforms, including, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify