Partners
A Community-Based Conservation Initiative
The Community
This project is motivated by the genuine concern of the Skurbuchan villagers that such an important constituent of their common identity and community life might become irreversibly ruined. For some time they have made efforts to reach out for partners that could assist them in the repair of the endangered historical structure. Village authorities have committed to raise local funds to cover the costs of all necessary materials, the salary for the local head-mason and workers. In addition, the community will provide for the necessary number of volunteers to assist in the work.
The Skurbuchan Khar is the property of the local community and the Monastery of the village and its senior members are committed to this initiative. The head of the lineage to which this monastery belongs, H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, stands firmly behind the project and has publicly encouraged the community to give all their support.
The Achi Association India
One of Achi India’s most valuable and unique assets is the presence of a consolidated group of young Ladakhi men and women dedicated to the protection and promotion of their cultural heritage. The group, which includes monks and college graduates, has completed a three-year training program which gave them the opportunity to engage with the fundamental issues and basic technical principles concerning the conservation of art and architecture. This process of the Youth Training Program, which was initiated by the Achi Association and funded by the Getty Trust of Los Angeles, USA, has enabled them to act as promoters of heritage conservation in the Ladakh region. The young group has already successfully participated in the conservation of a historical religious structure in the village of Wanla, an enterprise which required close collaboration with village and monastic authorities as well as the local population. One of the members of this group is Gen Konchok Motup, a young monk from Skurbuchan who used to be the caretaker of the Khar for three years. His enthusiasm and commitment for saving the historic structure has won over his young companions and the professional members of the Achi Association India to pursue this initiative.
The Achi Association
The Achi Association gathers a vast pool of professionals and scientists from a diversity of disciplines such as architecture, conservation, art-history and geology. Several of its members have long been interested in the Skurbuchan Khar and concerned by its condition. Two of the Association’s architects documented the structure and made a preliminary assessment of its condition. The Achi Association also supplies expert knowledge for the run of this project.