The Tibetan Settlement in Ladakh in the 70’s was the most remote and least developed of all the Tibetan communities in exile. Nomadic refugee camps were scattered all along this Indo-Tibet border region where communication and physical contacts were almost entirely cut off from the rest of Tibetans in India. His Holiness was deeply concerned about their future, particularly the fate of the children. In order to alleviate their poor condition, a plan was implemented to provide education and introduce sustainable development programmes in that region.

With initial seed money of Rs.10, 000 from His Holiness and land donated by the local Indian government, TCV set out to build a Children’s Village near Leh, Ladakh in 1975. Today TCV Ladakh is a thriving SOS Village with its own school and other facilities. It is a secondary school affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi. The school includes classes from pre-school through grade ten, after which students can join other TCV branches for further education and eventually college education. Out of 24 children’s homes or “Khimtsangs”, 7 are allotted to destitute Ladakhi children.

Besides the main Village at Choglamsar, there are now seven schools, three in Jangthang and one handicraft cum vocational training centre, one agro-nomadic farm and one old people’s home. Nicknamed “oasis in the desert,” TCV Ladakh has become the pride of the region, serving both the Tibetan and Ladakhi communities in the best tradition of universal responsibility and care.

Presently the strength of the Children’s Village is 2,590 out of which 1250 are day scholars. The Director of the Children’s Village is Mr. Dawa Dhondup Nawa and the Principal of the school is Mr. Lhakpa Tsering. Most of the staff and teachers in the school are former students of the TCV.