India's Ice Stupa Artificial Glacier project chosen as one of the finalists for the prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise 2016
Leh, October 18:
Sonam Wangchuk, Advisor SECMOL Ladakh was today officially declared as one of the finalists for the prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise 2016 for the ambitious Ice Stupa Artificial Glacier Project in Ladakh.
Earlier this year, the 30 finalists were flown to Geneva to present their projects to 12 Jury members, eminent scientists, explorers and social entrepreneurs from 10 countries. The finalists were selected by a team of researchers from 2,322 applications from people of 144 nationalities.
Phyang Monastery and SECMOL Alternative School’s ambitious Ice Stupa Artificial Glacier is being built in Phyang village in Ladakh, as part of a collaborative effort to conserve water and battle climate change. Towards this cause, $125,000 was raised in December 2014 through a crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo from donors and supporters worldwide.
Sonam Wangchuk has decided that if he does finally bag the award he will contribute the award money, etc. of roughly Rs. One Crore rupees as seed money towards the establishment of an alternative university in Ladakh where youth from different Himalayan and other countries will engage in R&D (research and development) to find solutions to the challenges faced by mountain people, especially in education, culture and environment (climate change)!
The final winners of the award will be announced and receive their Awards on 15 November 2016 at a ceremony in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, a landmark known worldwide as home to the Oscars.
For more information:
http://blog.rolexawards.com/2016/10/30-finalists-for-life-changing-award/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC_JPSIoTPc
Contact: SECMOL
Sonam Wangchuk (Leh) 94194 00899
Dilip Jain (Mumbai) 98192 78161
Other recent media coverage:
Forbes India on Ice Stupa - http://forbesindia.com/article/checkin/ice-stupas-conserving-water-the-3-idiots-way/39265/1
Huffington Post on Global Interest in Ice Stupa - http://www.huffingtonpost.in/shailendra-yashwant-/sonam-wangchuks-ice-stupas-are-firing-up-interest-from-ladakh-t/
TEDx talk on Education - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH1HCYy1NTc