‘Live to Love’ in the Community
Live to Love is a non-profit organisation founded by the renowned humanitarian His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa.
The organisation primarily works to improve the lives of the 1.3 billion people residing in the Himalayan regions and protect the natural resources of the area. This is a region that faces numerous challenges, both natural and those caused by human activity.
Live to Love has sustainability at the heart of every project it undertakes, working to deliver sustainable solutions to protect the local people and environment.
Michael Kern is a founder and supporter of Drukpa Trust, which is part of an international network of organisations under the auspices of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa that support Live to Love. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the patron of Drukpa Trust.
Learning and Education
Live to Love works to provide residents of the Himalayan mountain regions with an education that encompasses modern skills, technologies and learning as well as respecting local cultural traditions and the region’s spiritual heritage.
A goal of the educational initiatives undertaken by Live to Love is to support school children to develop an appreciation of their own culture and spirituality, while simultaneously equipping them with the required tools to thrive in the modern world.
These initiatives have so far included the establishment of three schools: the Druk Padma Karpo School for children in Ladakh, the Cakchen Ling School for children in Nangchen, and the Hemis Adult School in Ladakh.
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability is a key concern. Several projects have been launched under this banner, in partnership with relevant local and international enterprises. These include the Himalayan Glacier Waterkeeper programme, which is run in conjunction with the Waterkeeper Alliance. This project seeks to educate Himalayan peoples about the dangers of climate change and the importance of water preservation.
The One Million Trees initiative in Ladakh, inspired by Wangari Maathai, recently broke the Guinness World Record twice for the most simultaneously planted trees.
Cultural Preservation
Preserving local cultures is equally as important as preserving the environment in terms of creating sustainable communities. Live to Love promotes heritage preservation through the establishment of projects designed to celebrate the art and diversity of the region and to foster cultural diversity and inclusivity. The Hemis Museum is part of this project, showcasing ancient treasures and artefacts that show the history of Ladakh and its people, alongside traditional Buddhist art.
