One Teacher, One Dream: How a Crumbling Village School Became a Beacon of Hope in Meghalaya
One Teacher, One Dream: How a Crumbling Village School Became a Beacon of Hope in Meghalaya
In the quiet village of Raibah, located in the misty foothills of Mawsynram, one of the wettest places on Earth, a once-abandoned school has come alive again. The joyful sounds of children now fill the air where silence once ruled. This change began when a young teacher, Batskhem Thabah, arrived in 2021 and chose to stay and rebuild the school rather than ask for a transfer.
When Thabah first saw the Raibah Government Lower Primary School, it was in ruins. The roof leaked heavily during the monsoon, windows were broken, and shrubs had taken over classrooms after nearly two years of closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The school had no permanent teachers, and only a few students attended irregularly.
Instead of walking away, Thabah rolled up his sleeves and began cleaning the grounds himself. He involved the children, planted flowers to brighten the school compound, and even paid a second teacher’s salary from his own pocket to help manage the classes.
Thabah dreamed of turning Raibah into a “green school,” where sustainability and education could grow together. His simple steps, teaching hygiene, gardening, and teamwork, quickly gained attention. Students became active caretakers of the campus. They learned to take responsibility and inspired their families to support the school too.
Without enough funds, the teacher and his students found creative ways to learn. Bamboo replaced plastic, leaves were used as plates, and outdoor games became part of lessons. Science was taught through gardening, and stories helped teach language.
The community saw something special happening. When a student fell ill, classmates visited, brought him snacks, and prayed for his recovery. This growing compassion showed that it was not just a school—it had become a tight-knit community.
Despite the spirit, the building remained unsafe. Thabah contacted a friend, Ibarihun Majaw, who had led successful crowdfunding efforts during the pandemic. Majaw and two educators visited Raibah and soon started a campaign to raise funds. Within a week, they met their goal. A local businessman helped by installing a new roof.
Villagers pitched in too. They brought materials, built bamboo fences, cleaned the surroundings, and even renovated an unused Anganwadi center for extra classroom space. Everyone helped, even those without school-going children.
Thabah worked with the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (DERT) to introduce creative ways of learning. Outdoor alphabet trails, songs, and team tasks made the lessons more engaging. His college, St. Edmund’s in Shillong, also joined in. Social work students began visiting every week to bring new ideas and learning techniques.
More support came in, 100 books from The Owl Library, study kits, and sports items from another school. Students were divided into houses named after great leaders like Gandhi and Kalam, adding spirit and identity.
In 2024, Thabah and his team won the Green Hub x Royal Enfield Conservation Grant to start the Raibah Living Library. It now records folk tales, traditional medicines, and local history, preserving Khasi heritage.
