Liyo is the first volunteer from Switzerland to visit our projects in West Bengal, India.
Liyo has an interest in travel, and while this marks her second visit to India, it is her first experience in the city of Kolkata. At the beginning of the month, she had the opportunity to meet with the Mukti education team at the Urban Office and participated in daily teaching activities under the guidance of Mousumi, Mukti Programme Manager.
Her experience following her visit to the Mukti Kishalaya Support Schools (MKSS) project:
“It was a great pleasure for me to visit the MKSS project sponsored by Mukti Switzerland. My visit was organized by Mousumi, Mukti Programme Manager, who introduced me to some of her colleagues involved in the projects, including the teachers and the students. This gave me the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their work and perspectives.
Every teacher I met possessed a unique energy, but they all shared one common quality: their dedication to providing the best possible education to each student.
The first thing I noticed was the variation in students’ academic levels and the teachers’ remarkable ability to adapt to different learning needs. As a result, every student receives individualised attention. Despite these differences, the teachers succeed in maintaining high levels of engagement and a positive classroom atmosphere.
Beyond standard academics, they adopt a holistic approach to education by promoting values such as respect for others, environmental awareness, and personal safety. I realized that this work benefits everyone involved. It helps bridge educational gaps for children who need support the most, while also empowering educated local women and strengthening essential values within the community.
In India people are very welcoming and every time you enter a room, they invite you to sit down. In one day, I met several students from four different MKSS centres. At the moment, only one classroom is provided with desks and chairs where students can sit. I will never forget the kindness and the rapidity of one of the students, Krish, 12 years old, who stood up and offered me his seat while he was studying, and I just passed by his desk. His courtesy and respect for other people are really remarkable!
I felt inspired by the students’ diligence and by the teachers’ resilience, patience and dedication. Next week, I’ll be telling you more about my visit to the Mukti’s Suraksha Songlap project in Jhargram district.
Stay tuned!
Liyo”