Q. Firstly, could you tell us a bit about yourself, including your educational background?

Absolutely! I grew up in the village of Stok and attended Siddhartha School Partnership until the tenth grade. During my final year at Siddhartha, I had the opportunity to apply for to attend secondary school in the United States. With the unwavering support of my mentors and teachers, I succeeded in securing admission to North Yarmouth Academy in the state of Maine. Although adapting to a new country with a different education system and language presented challenges, the life skills and education I received at Siddhartha helped me adjust quickly. Inspired by my experiences, I decided to pursue higher education in the United States. I studied at Bennington College in Vermont, where I majored in anthropology and graduated in 2020.

Following my undergraduate studies, I was accepted into the master’s program at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where I completed my Master of Science in Public Health in 2022.

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in public health?

From a young age, I harbored a deep interest in the fields of medicine and science. As a child, I aspired to become a doctor, captivated by the prospect of curing and helping people—a purpose I found both exciting and meaningful. However, as I grew older, I discovered the broader discipline of public health, where health is perceived holistically rather than being confined to hospital settings. I firmly believe that public health is one of the most crucial career fields today. Public health initiatives have a far-reaching impact, influencing individuals, families, communities, populations, and societies globally. These initiatives tackle broad issues that affect our health and well-being both presently and for future generations. They possess the unique ability to address the root causes of health issues and implement change at the community level, which I believe is the most effective strategy for fostering a healthy society.

Q. How did Chuskit and you come up with the idea of starting a non-profit organisation and what are its primary objectives?

In the summer of 2015, my friend Tsewang Chuskit and I participated in Smith College’s Summer Science and Engineering Program, enrolling in a course titled. ‘By Girls, For Girls’ highlighted the crucial role of public health initiatives. We were inspired by it and on our return to Ladakh, we shared our insights at our high school and in three villages in Changthang. The response was overwhelming, with many girls and women engaging in discussions about their bodies, menstruation, and related myths and taboos for the first time. Encouraged by this success, we founded “New Ladakhi Girls” (NLG) to educate and empower marginalized populations in Ladakh on stigmatized health and social issues. Over the years, we secured funding, including the Davis Projects for Peace grants, enabling us to conduct seminars on adolescent health, menstruation, mental health awareness, sexual assault and safety, contraceptives and sexually-transmitted infections, and women’s empowerment. Our 2019 project focused on menstrual health, introducing washable cloth pads and menstrual cups in various villages and schools in Zanskar, Leh and Changthang region. Through NLG, we have seen gradual but impactful changes. Many individuals have become more informed and empowered to advocate for equality, demonstrating the transformative power of education and community engagement.

Q. As a professional health worker, how do you manage your work at New Ladakhi Girl as Chuskit lives abroad?

Managing my role as co-founder of New Ladakhi Girl (NLG) alongside my responsibilities at the National Health Mission (NHM) in Ladakh requires careful coordination, especially since Chuskit lives abroad. Over the past few years, NLG’s focus has evolved with each of us contributing to this process in our own unique ways. Chuskit is pursuing a PhD to deepen her understanding of the education system and find ways to make it more inclusive and
holistic, aligning with NLG’s mission. Meanwhile, my work at NHM has shown me the importance of strengthening existing government programs to meet the needs of marginalized groups, particularly ones related to health that remain the main focus of NLG. For example, the Rastriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) program addresses unmet needs of adolescents, such as menstrual health, mental health, and the need for adolescent-friendly services. By integrating my NLG experience with my NHM work, I can enhance the effectiveness of these programs. Chuskit and I still collaborate whenever possible. Last year, we joined forces on HealthINC’s “Women’s Wellness Project.” We partnered with AMAZE, a global organization that creates educational videos on health topics for adolescents.

We dubbed several videos into Ladakhi to make them more accessible to our community. I encourage readers to check out these videos on AMAZE’s website for valuable information on body awareness, well-being, and healthy behavior. Balancing my professional role with my work at NLG allows me to make a positive impact through government programs and our project initiatives.

MESSAGE TO THE READERS
We must start having crucial conversations about topics that impact well-being and future prospects. Let’s discuss safe sex practices, educate our children about healthy relationships and mental health, and empower our youth to make informed decisions. By guiding and supporting them, we can help them become empowered adults who can change the world and build a healthier, more equitable society. Let’s rise above shame and stigmas to be responsible parents, teachers, mentors, healthcare workers, and citizens.