Pinjang: PEACE THROUGH EDUCATION
Learn for Life Foundation's partnership with Pinjang School & Hostel in Manipur is rooted in a shared commitment to advancing Peace Through Education in one of India’s most remote and historically conflict-affected regions.
Our Journey
Located in Noney District and serving primarily Rongmei Naga tribal communities, Pinjang faces significant challenges including poverty, limited infrastructure, geographic isolation, and the lasting effects of ethnic conflict. Many families rely on subsistence farming, and for years educational opportunities were constrained by inadequate facilities and the long distances students were required to travel to attend school.
The partnership was made possible through collaboration between Learn for Life Foundation, Sunbird Trust, CESM, local community leaders, and the Diocese of Imphal. Founded in 2014 by Colonel Christopher Rego (Retd.), Sunbird Trust works to build peace and harmony in Northeast India by creating educational opportunities for children and fostering stronger connections between communities. Drawing on years of experience in the region, Sunbird developed a strategy centered on the belief that lasting peace begins with access to education, opportunity, and hope.
Prior to the project, students attended classes in aging bamboo and tin structures with limited furniture, inadequate resources, and no reliable access to modern educational facilities. Children from distant villages often lived in overcrowded and deteriorating hostel accommodations lacking basic amenities. Despite these challenges, classrooms remained full of eager students and dedicated educators who believed in the transformative power of education.
Students from distant villages lived in difficult and inadequate conditions, often facing limited access to safe accommodation, basic facilities, and a supportive learning environment. Many had to overcome significant challenges simply to attend school and continue their education. These circumstances made learning more difficult and highlighted the need for better facilities and greater support to help students pursue their education and build a brighter future.
The bathrooms were in a severely dilapidated condition, with mud floors, corrugated metal walls and doors, and no proper plumbing. Students had to rely on inadequate sanitation facilities that offered little privacy, comfort, or hygiene. These conditions reflected the broader infrastructure challenges faced by the school and highlighted the urgent need for safe, clean, and dignified facilities that support the health, well-being, and learning of every student.
In late 2021, the Diocese of Imphal approached Sunbird Trust and Learn for Life Foundation with a request to help construct a new school for the children of Pinjang. The response was immediate. Supporters in India, the United States, and around the world rallied behind the project, raising the funds needed for both a new school and student hostel in less than a month. Construction began shortly thereafter, requiring land leveling, road access improvements, water infrastructure, and the complete construction of permanent educational facilities. Within six months, a new school and hostel had been completed and opened in time for the start of the academic year.
more About construction
Walls of the student hostel take shape, giving children from distant villages a safe place to stay.
Foundation work for the school begins, with steel reinforcement set in place to withstand the hilly terrain.
Local builders and community members inspect the steel columns that will support the hostel structure.
The Pinjang School is in a hilly area which required the land to be leveled before the foundation is built.
The Pinjang School is in a remote area which required an access road to be created.
Water catchment at the construction site used for building and mixing concrete.
Due to insufficient water supply and reserve, we built TWO new holding tanks (cisterns), that hold about 3,500 litres of water each.
A proper roof is vitally necessary due to heavy rainfalls.
The Pinjang school is collecting its own water with a Rain Harvesting Tank to ensure there is safe running water on campus.
Now, class at the Pinjang School is officially in session! Our partnership has continued to evolve, as we support STEM education, digital literacy, life skills development, and career readiness initiatives that empower students to pursue higher education, vocational opportunities, and leadership roles within their communities.
Builders of Hope
We believe in creating meaningful experiences that inspire and connect. A special thank you to all the patrons and donors who made large and small donations which helped us reach our budget within two weeks of making the initial request. Your generous contributions will help educate generations of children and bring peace to this war-torn region of India. Thank you!