Nishtha Rural Health, Education And Environment Centre

03/03/2026

The students in the community centre wishing Dr Barbara a very Happy Birthday!

28/02/2026

With 18 students crowded into our computer lab for Sunday classes, we are very grateful to the organisation called Pcs fur Alle who donated 6 refurbished machines for the students to use. Two are with MA college students and the other four supplement the machines in the computer room. Even so, many of the students work together in pairs.

23/02/2026

The kids are delighted that the empty frame in the playground has new chains fitted so it is once again a fun climbing frame. Maintainance is a perpetually ongoing process!

20/02/2026

12/02/2026

Friday is our regular clean up day. During the winter the Waste Warriors representative and local women join our sponsored students and the Nishtha environment team on an extensive clean of the local area. Mohinder talks to the group about the importance of segregation of waste and setting an example to the community about keeping the area clean. The quantity of trash thrown randomly along the roads is truly shocking these days!

02/02/2026

Thirteen students and two volunteers, Leo and Luisa joined our 2 day picnic up above Jiya village. On the way we visited a Tibetan monastery and a Gurudwara where there is old cave of a Sikh Saint. It was very cold at night but we all kept warm by singing and sharing stories. In the morning we warmed up with yoga exercises and by playing the traditional game called pithu hup. Then we went for a walk in the fresh snow! We were very grateful to the Nishtha cooking team for joining us so we could cook for ourselves. It was fun helping cooking and cleaning the dishes.

19/01/2026

The tuition and kids program has been running smoothly with everyone enjoying sitting in the winter sun and enjoying snacks of roasted vegetables from the Nishtha farm prepared by Sunil.

07/01/2026

Vijay, Leo and Nikhil rode for Nishtha in the 25 km Dharamsala cycling race organised by the District Commissioner to raise awareness of the local drug problem. We were proud that Leo came 10th in afield of around 75 riders!

04/01/2026

On a bright sunny Christmas Day over 230 children gathered on Rakkar ground to participate in the Nishtha annual sports program. Eighty eight children from 8 local primary schools were invited and transported down from the mountain to be able to attend. Organised by our team and students, the children competed in all kinds of races and games for which they were awarded medals at the end. Everyone got a healthy lunch, though 10 kg extra rice and Kurry had to be quickly cooked to make sure all the extra children were properly fed. At the finale, two groups of Gaddi dancers in full costume entertained the crowd and Nishtha Trustee Puja led the children in her now familiar line dances. It was a great day! Thank you Nishtha Team!

24/12/2025

Our team have worked hard all week holding sports programs at each of the 8 local primary schools from which they have selected 88 children who will participate in the Winter sports festival on Rakkar Ground on Christmas day.

15/12/2025

We have 28 children aged 6 to 16 from the local schools registered in our tuition program this year. An average of 12-16 come to the community centre each day to study together with the help of Indu and Manvi. When it comes to the tuition time, we get more girls than boys, but the moment there is a fun activity scheduled, the balance tips towards the boys!

03/12/2025

This month the single women activists held three well attended meetings of women from the different areas in which they work. These block meetings offer women the opportunity to meet useful government officials to learn about the available schemes and to ask questions. The top concern raised is that elderly widows who have no other source of income find managing on a government pension of Rs.1,500 a month very difficult. Itis very hard to imagine how they can possibly even feed themselves!