In a remarkable achievement, the Rongring Self-Learning Application developed by RLCWS was shortlisted for the prestigious “World Summit Award,” a global initiative of the United Nations in January 2024. Out of 465+ outstanding digital initiatives from 90 countries, RLCWS has been selected as the sole Global Winner from Asia in the Culture and Heritage category and is the only Global Winner to hack SDG challenges through digital innovation from India.
A delegation from RLCWS attended the award ceremony held in Chile from the 14th of April 24 to 17th April 24, where they presented the self-learning application to the global audience. The delegation also had the privilege to present their solutions along with the other global winners and engage in networking activities with global representatives.
In an effort to preserve the endangered Lepcha language, the Rongring Lepcha Culture and Welfare Society (RLCWS), headquartered in Kalimpong District, West Bengal, launched a ground breaking digital application platform called “Rongring”. This initiative aims to facilitate virtual as well as hybrid learning of the Lepcha Tribal language, which is spoken by a dwindling population of around 30,000 out of the total 1,00,000 Lepcha Tribal population residing in Sikkim, Kalimpong, Darjeeling Districts of West Bengal, and parts of Nepal and Bhutan. The Lepcha language is considered one of the ancestral languages of the Himalayan region.
The “Rongring” platform employs a custom-designed digital pedagogy to enable remote learning of the Lepcha language at one’s convenience. It offers pre-recorded lessons, assignments, and quizzes, empowering learners to write, read, and speak the language effectively. Since its launch, the initiative has made significant strides, impacting over 500 students from diverse backgrounds across 12 countries.
Recognizing the challenges faced by the Lepcha language, such as decentralization of content, lack of experts, and oral transmission leading to complexity, RLCWS devised a comprehensive framework (Wangboo) to develop a web and mobile platform along with supporting educational materials. This initiative has not only revitalized interest in the once-neglected language but has also generated employment opportunities and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 and 11 of the United Nations.
The significance of the World Summit Awards cannot be overstated. Founded in 2003 within the framework of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the awards aim to select and promote digital innovations that improve society. With categories ranging from government and citizen engagement to inclusion and empowerment, the awards recognize initiatives that address pressing societal issues and contribute to positive change.
The recognition of Rongring in the World Summit Awards has validated the efforts of RLCWS and provided the impetus to continue the mission of preserving the Lepcha language and contributing to the community. This achievement underscores the importance of digital innovation in safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting linguistic diversity on a global scale.