Ladakh has a high rate of school dropouts, perhaps due to the lack of awareness and the inefficient education system. To provide school dropouts and unemployed youth an opportunity to earn a livelihood, SLC-IT started the Nature Guide Training Program. Youth are taught about local flora, fauna and ecosystems and the various threats to them. They are given comprehensive training in how to guide visitors around their villages. By providing local employment, this program helps to stop the exodus of unemployed youth to urban centres such as Leh. The week-long training course includes a 3-day field trip. Over 200 school-dropouts and unemployed youth have been trained so far.