Putney High School
India trip
"From the moment we stepped out of Delhi airport we were inundated with the richness of colours, mingled smells and the overwhelming buzz of daily life that embodies India. We came to realise that India is a country of contrasts, even in Rajasthan one of the richest regions of India, the enormous gap between the wealthiest and the very poor is abundantly clear. The bustle of rickshaws weaving around cows, carts and market stalls seemed like a different world as we padded bare-foot up the warm stone stairs of a village temple.
We felt it was important to experience the side of India that you’re unlikely to see displayed in the recent tourism campaign. We visited several NGOs including a school for those with learning difficulties, a home for the elderly, an animal sanctuary and an AIDs project.
Whilst some of the sights we saw were quite shocking, others were simply enchanting. The girls at MGD girls’ school where we established the exchange, were probably the most welcoming, polite and friendly people that any of us have ever met.
The simplicity of the lives of many people we met made us reflect on what our society may have lost in the quest for individual power and money.
India and England have a lot to learn from each other – and we hope that the links established between Putney High School and MGD will benefit the schools, the girls and their communities in the future. From the delighted childrens' faces after seeing themselves on a digital camera for the first time, to the world famous Taj Mahal and the lesser-known Amber Fort, there’s nowhere quite like India."
