TASU reaches out to remote schools; renews call for community support

In a heartfelt outreach initiative, the Tobu Area Students’ Union (TASU) led by president Chongo Konyak, accompanied by members of the Pessao Village Students’ Union, paid a goodwill visit to Hope Academy in Obay Hoangap village on July 14. The visit aimed to assess the school’s progress and engage directly with the village community in one of Nagaland’s most isolated regions.
In a press release issued by TASU informed that during the visit, the team interacted with teachers, students, parents, village elders, and church leaders to understand the school’s functioning and challenges. The occasion was marked by cheerful games and the distribution of essential educational materials to students, offering a moment of joy and encouragement to the young learners.
Obay Hoangap village, nestled in the remote Indo-Myanmar border area under Tobu Sub-Division in Mon district, remains disconnected from basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, healthcare and mobile networks. The village, accessible only by a steep 40–50-minute climb on foot, has historically relied on opium cultivation for livelihood, an issue that deeply affected local households until 2015. A turning point arrived with the anti-opium movement spearheaded by the Joint Action Committee Against Opium Addiction (JACOA) and TASU, leading to transformative social reform.
Recognizing the pressing need for education, Hope Academy was established in 2020 under TASU’s flagship initiative “Teach for Tobu, Teach for Future Generation,” introduced during the tenure of then-president Sangti Konyak. Since its inception, TASU has consistently sponsored the honorarium of two dedicated teachers who continue to serve the children of the village.
Speaking at the event, president Chongo Konyak appealed to individuals and organizations to support the initiative, stating, “the children of Obay Hoangap deserve an equal chance at life. The union appeals to kind-hearted people to join hands in supporting the teachers who have selflessly chosen to serve in this neglected corner of our district.”
The visit not only highlighted TASU’s enduring commitment to grassroots education but also underscored the power of collective action in driving positive change in even the most overlooked corners of society.