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THE PAMIR AND KARAKORAM RANGES , which are part of the broader Hindu Kush Himalayan region , include some of the tallest peaks in the world and are
home to a mosaic of cultures , peoples , and landscapes . Known as the “ Roof of the World ,” these magnificent ranges span parts of East Asia , South Asia , and Central Asia , including Afghanistan , Pakistan , and Tajikistan , the countries where Central Asia Institute focuses its work .
CAI ’ s programs provide support to communities in these remote , high-mountain areas , where few other international organizations work and where local culture and traditions still hold sway . Delivering on our mission of bringing education , especially for girls and women , to these areas requires meeting people where they are — understanding their values , attitudes , and traditions . We do so by working through local partners who collaborate closely with community members to ensure their buy-in and the sustainability of our programs .
Photo by Erik Petersen
GEOGRAPHY
FOR MANY LIVING on the “ Roof of the World ”, life is lived above the clouds . The average altitude of a Hindu Kush peak is 14,700 feet above sea level , and the highest peak in the Karakoram range , K2 , reaches a staggering 28,251 feet . Remote communities spread throughout isolated valleys are often cut off in the wintertime , when heavy snow and treacherous roads make transportation difficult . In addition to harsh winters , the area is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes , droughts , flooding , and mudslides . The effects of climate change are also being felt , including more frequent and severe weather-related disasters , threatening the fragile , high-mountain ecosystem on which local people depend . [ See the article on climate change and girls ’ education on p . 28 .]
These mountain communities have adapted to the unforgiving climate over centuries . Their houses are specially designed to withstand frigid winters , keeping inhabitants warm while serving as a place of work , rest , and worship yearround . The traditional Pamiri house , a chid , is built of stones , mud-plastered walls , and flat roofing . Chids consist of a large central living room , five wooden beams that provide support and help withstand earthquakes , and an elaborate skylight built with four concentric square layers representing earth , water , air , and fire .
Households usually include the entire extended family : mother , father , grandparents , kids , aunts , uncles , and cousins . This large family structure keeps the home warm during the cold winters . It ’ s also common among ethnic peoples like the Balti to keep their livestock on the ground floor of the home at night to generate heat . In the summers , families do much of their work , such as spinning wool or drying animal dung for fuel , on the flat roof of their home .
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