Bandipora, Feb 13: As heavy snowfall cut off high-altitude villages in north Kashmir this winter, a group of young volunteers travelled to the remote tribal belts of Chandaji, Ketson and Reshwari in Bandipora district with a clear objective — to ensure that children do not lose months of schooling during the winter break.
For children belonging to the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities in these snow-bound areas, winter often brings what volunteers describe as a “learning blackout”. With schools closed for several weeks and limited access to private tuition due to economic constraints, many first-generation learners struggle to keep pace with the academic calendar. The seasonal disruption, educators say, contributes to higher dropout risks among students from socially and economically vulnerable communities.
To address the gap, the youth-led Hills and Hearts Foundation established three Winter Learning Community Centres in the area this season. According to the organisation, more than 400 children have been attending these centres, where they continue lessons in core subjects alongside extracurricular activities in a structured setting.
“Our volunteers include individuals from these very villages who have personally experienced how winter vacations impact learning,” said Kifayatullah Malik, founder of the foundation and a National Presidential Award recipient. “When a child loses a significant portion of the academic year repeatedly, it affects both academic performance and motivation. These centres aim to provide continuity and support during the harshest months.”
The centres operate as community spaces offering academic support and engagement activities, seeking to reduce the long-term impact of seasonal school closures. Residents say such local initiatives are particularly crucial in geographically isolated belts where infrastructure and access remain limited during winter.
Hills and Hearts Foundation describes itself as a youth-led grassroots organisation working on education, employment, empowerment and sustainable development in Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on underserved populations.
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