“Imagine a place where every phone call is a journey, where a single email means hours on the road. For the children and community of Jhamtse Gatsal, this was more than just inconvenience—it was isolation.”
High in the untouched foothills of the Himalayas, nestled in a valley that echoes with peace and resilience, lies Jhamtse Gatsal—a sanctuary aptly named the “Garden of Love and Compassion.” Here, the community has thrived on shared values of care, mindfulness, and self-sufficiency, but one essential lifeline remained out of reach: connection to the outside world. While the rest of us can instantly connect, learn, and reach across continents with a single click, the people of Jhamtse Gatsal have waited years to simply reach beyond their remote valley.
For the community and children, reliable internet wasn’t just a convenience—it was a dream barely within sight.
But in 2022, everything changed. Thanks to the tireless efforts of a small team and a series of innovative solutions, Jhamtse Gatsal was finally connected to the world. And it all started with a call for help.
Lobsang Phuntsok, a former Buddhist monk and the founder of Jhamtse Gatsal, had a vision—not only for the future of the children in his care but for the entire community that supported them. The idea was simple yet profound: to nurture the children as you would a garden, with love, compassion, and patience, so they could grow and flourish. But the challenge was clear. Without reliable internet access, how could the children, teachers, and community leaders access the knowledge and opportunities they so desperately needed?
A phone call one and a half years ago was the catalyst for change. The community reached out to us, explaining their dire situation. The nearest source of internet was far away, and even then, their connection was so weak that to make a single call or send an email, they had to walk miles or drive hours to reach the nearest spot with a stable signal. The idea of a simple, reliable internet connection seemed impossible, but this community’s need was undeniable.
Our team headed to Arunachal Pradesh to execute this life-changing project. The journey was long and the terrain difficult, but the drive to bring hope and connection to this isolated community kept him going. After overcoming geographical challenges and implementing creative solutions, the connection was finally live.
Now, the impact has been nothing short of transformational. Teachers can access the internet from their classrooms and even from their homes. This newfound connectivity enables them to conduct research, attend virtual meetings, and access telemedicine services—paving the way for better healthcare. Students, too, now have access to vast resources and can connect with the world beyond their valley. This shift is not just about the convenience of being online; it’s about changing the course of the future for these children, providing them with opportunities for learning and growth that would have been unimaginable before.
For Genla, the founder, it was a game changer. He shared with us how, when he traveled to Delhi years ago, the first thing he would do was download shows and movies to enjoy back at the community. And now, with stable internet, he can easily make WhatsApp or Zoom calls from anywhere on campus—something that once seemed impossible, yet now is part of his everyday reality.
This is not just about technology. It’s about what technology enables. It’s about creating a future where distance, geography, and lack of resources no longer stand in the way of dreams.
At Jhamtse Gatsal, the seeds of hope and possibility are being planted every day. With the internet now part of their lives, the community has a clearer path ahead. And as they continue to grow, the world will be watching, and supporting, as these tiny seeds blossom into something extraordinary.