Looma Education

Looma Education is a free learning platform with easy-to-use lesson-planning capabilities in education sector of Nepal. Looma Education aims to make the class more interactive as the teachers are able to add games or other material in their lesson plans which is displayed on a slide-like platform. The focus on remote and marginalized communities by the organization has leveraged the power of technology. This has acted as a bridge which narrowed the educational gap caused by geography of the country. From the teacher and instructor point of view, the technological advancement as such materialized by Looma is a boon in education sector. Further, this provides the scope for technologically sound students from both rural and urban areas throughout the nation.

Looma Box, server, and online with educational resources offer a lot of tools and activities for instructor-led and self-guided learning. What I like even more is it has glocalized resources from the local context and global context. In a country like Nepal, it takes months for textbooks to arrive in many students and teachers' hands, Looma resources give an opportunity to start lessons right away when a new school year begins.

I had the opportunity to volunteer with Looma Education and work with their team in Nepal for ten months. I was able to see on a daily basis how Looma can effect change.
Looma provides a computer with speakers and a projector, as well as lessons, multi-media resources, and all of the Nepali school curriculum onboard. They provide solar panels and battery back ups to schools off the grid.
The Looma team conducts multi-day training sessions for teachers and students, and they follow up with in-person, on-site support as well as remote help.
I think that what really matters is that Looma identifies teachers and administrators who really want to excel. These people desire to make education better for Nepali school children, and they welcome this amazing resource. These professionals work in their schools, but also build online groups in which they can share ideas.
The Looma team in Nepal is experienced and extremely capable. Above that, they are caring individuals who have passion for extending the Looma idea. Anyone who travels to Nepal is encouraged to visit their office. Beware, however, that you might find yourself volunteering in Gorkha, Lamjung or other remote parts of this beautiful country!

“I know Looma from conversations, stories, photos and love from David and Haydi Sowerwine. As a nonprofit practitioner of many decades, I am dazzled by the innovation achieved by Looma and it’s multiplier affect. A donor can’t hope for more value on the dollar than Looma is able to accomplish. Looma addresses a critical education need, involving key stakeholders to reach deep into communities. I am proud that our previous investments can leverage these results.“

Terry Galpin-Plattner

What compelled me, a retired teacher, to volunteer for Looma Education?
First, David Sowerwine and Skip Stritter's ingenious design for the Looma Box with its enormous, perhaps unlimited, potential for good. I love this 'world in a box'.
Second, the opportunity to contribute to Looma's content.

So, about 2 years ago, when a neighbor invited me to join her and a few other teachers to write Looma lesson plans, I signed on. The lessons I have written so far, in keeping with Looma pedagogy, are interactive. They expand a child's world, and they teach critical and creative thinking.
Besides lesson planning, I helped design Looma Education's website and plan for the 2023 academic surveys. I am proud to be one of many hundreds of Looma volunteers.

Though I have never been to Nepal, my son and two nephews have spent considerable time there. I asked one nephew, a former Nepali PC volunteer, to put the word out about Looma. As a result, one of his PC buddies is now working for Looma in Nepal, supporting teachers, conducting pre and post testing (Looma schools vs. non-Looma schools), and documenting and publishing Looma news.

Zoom meetings between American volunteers and Looma folks in Nepal have kept teams connected. I have personally communicated with Kabindra, Diksha, and Kshitij - each, in my opinion, a valuable asset to this enterprise.

With the Looma Box, David and Skip met the need for quality education in places with no or limited wi-fi and electricity. Their tireless work to strengthen and expand Looma's presence in Nepal, India, and elsewhere deserves your support.

If, like me, you want a quality education for children, an education that will help them:
- make a living
- make a difference (contribute positively to society at any level - village, county, country, region, world)
- 'make a little music' (feed the spirit through one or more endeavors, e.g., dancing, gardening, volunteering, yoga, music, mentoring, writing. etc.)

then PLEASE contribute to the wonderful enterprise that is Looma Education.
Dhērai dhan'yavada

Joanna Carr

I had the pleasure of working with Looma Education very early on as one of the original developers of the "Internet-in-a-box" product to help educate children in rural Nepal. This organization is such an excellent group of people to work with. Looma Education cares so much about the people and children they are providing resources to in developing nations as well as the people who volunteer to help out with Looma's mission. Looma Education does an excellent job of including volunteers with diverse backgrounds and unique skillsets to create an inclusive and welcoming team of people striving to make the world a better place. It's truly an inspiration working with this group, and the work they are doing makes such an impact both in here and abroad. A+

I was first introduced to Looma Education and the Sowerwines in 1994-95 during an extended visit to Nepal and have supported their work ever sense. Their dedication and determination are awesome. No one who spends any time on the Looma website can doubt the integrity of Looma and the good it has done and will continue to do in the future.

Looma's journey is a distinct illustration of how diverse groups of volunteers, united by a shared vision, can come together to make tangible and positive change within the education system. This unique collaboration, which draws quality from students, high school interns, retired teachers, and Peace Corps Volunteers, has reached a remarkable position in the creation of an innovative, educational, and accessible product that is leaving a lasting impact on educational systems, particularly in Nepal.

The involvement of students from renowned institutions, such as Dartmouth College, Stanford University, Santa Clara University, UCSD, and Colorado School of Mines, has been a critical part in Looma's success. Their youthful energy, equipped with the intellectual knowledge & skills, has brought new perspectives and technical advancements to the field of educational technology. This partnership highlights the significance of intergenerational knowledge sharing and how it can spark innovation.

The contribution of 200 high school summer interns from Menlo School underscores Looma's commitment to nurturing young talent and imparting real-world experience. The hands-on involvement of these students has not only enhanced Looma's product but has also served as a source of inspiration for the next generation of innovators.

The inclusion of 15 retired teachers from diverse regions of the United States demonstrates the project's universal appeal and the profound respect Looma commands within the educational community. The collective wisdom of these experienced educators, who have spent their careers in the classroom, has played a pivotal role in shaping Looma's offerings. Their dedication to giving back to education underscores the selfless spirit that drives Looma's mission.

Moreover, the involvement of Peace Corps Volunteers who have served in Nepal brings a unique perspective to Looma's work. Having experienced the challenges of education in remote and underserved areas, they have an intimate understanding of the needs of the Nepalese education system. Their dedication to improving education in Nepal, and their belief in Looma as a tool to accomplish that, gives an example of the importance of empathy and personal connection in global initiatives.

Looma's journey gives an example of the power of community and collective effort in bringing about positive change. The collaboration between these various groups of volunteers has produced an innovative, educational, and accessible product. Their sincere passion for Nepal and their commitment to improving its education system through Looma is truly overwhelming. They serve as an inspiration to all, reminding us of the incredible results that can be achieved when people from diverse backgrounds come together with a shared goal. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated team members of Looma working tirelessly to enhance education in Nepal and make a positive global impact.

As an educator-volunteer, along with a team of fellow educators, I have been privileged to work for 4 years with Looma Education engineers to collaboratively create an accessible, responsive, and cutting edge project. Looma bringing an interactive, culturally sensitive educational experience to students and teachers in remote schools of Nepal. It has been so incredibly inspirational to work with this dynamic group of volunteer professionals ( engineers, educators, social action professionals, administrators, students ) helping Looma to become a reality. The focus on creating real solutions for a mostly rural nation, with love and dedication, over many years, has been outstanding.

Looma is an outstanding organization led by engineers with on the real world and on the ground experience in developing countries and with a passion for education and access to information. It's an honor to be involved and to support an organization where every dollar goes directly to those who are served.

David and Skip "hit the ground running" for Looma wherever they are. They live and breathe this generous project for the education Nepalese (and more) children. We have seen LOOMA grow from the simplest to the most sophisticated of systems. Not only have they contributed their own energies for decades, but they have engaged the community. Students and teachers from a local high school have worked summers, contributing to the development of the project. They also called on local Nepalese immigrants to make the dictionary. This is a project of language and learning but also one about commitment and perseverance where help is really needed. They know first hand, where they can make a difference having lived in Nepal for more than 13 years. We know our donation is used 100% for the people in need.

Looma is a story about 2 wonderful guys who wanted to make a difference in the education of students in rural Nepal. They have been working non-stop to create a platform for delivering textbooks and then getting teachers to add lesson plans to enhance the chapters of the textbooks. Students who otherwise would not be able to learn now have the opportunity to engage in their education. No more rote learning! It's all hands-on with textbooks, lesson plans to help teachers, and activities that encourage curiousity and inquiry.