Jagriti Academy flourishes with NZTC support

It has been only six months since the opening of Jagriti Academy in Ballia, India but the changes to this small rural community have been extraordinary.

New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC) has continued its support of the school with a number of new initiatives introduced to assist the people of Ballia. NZTC lecturers have recently enjoyed spending time with the Jagriti Academy teachers, sharing many tips and teaching practices to contribute towards the local educators skill set.

The commitment of the Ballia community towards Jagriti Academy and its wider projects has been greater than could ever have been imagined. The people have embraced the initiatives as their own, as they see and experience the transformation that is happening in their own lives.

The children enrolled in Jagriti Academy are all first generation learners as they are the first in their families to ever attend school. They look forward to attending after having previously spent their days working alongside their parents. The opportunity to receive meals each day at school is also greatly valued by families.

Teachers, support staff and village members consider the school as their own and the impact of this is seen in their own families, as well as the children, parents and families of Jagriti Academy. Work and employment opportunities for the wider village have also been created with village locals forming working teams to take up ownership of the many parts of the growing community hub.

“The commitment of the school construction, cleaning, maintenance, grounds, cooking, tradesmen and security teams is something to behold,” said NZTC Chief Executive Selena Fox.

“The community has adopted the school as their own and it has become the central hub of learning, support, community and opportunity for children, parents and village community members alike,” she said.

Desks are currently being made for the children to study at with the work being taken up by village men who have cherished the opportunity to develop new skills, obtain employment and be involved with the school in supporting the children of the village.

While the vision for Jagriti Academy was initially to support education for children, the interest and support for the school was so extensive that further initiatives evolved. Community issues such as burglaries have reduced significantly with the high incidence of thefts having dropped in particular. One local commented, “Our kids don’t sleep hungry now, so we don’t have to steal food for them,” illustrating this communities dire need for sustenance.

Small things that are often taken for granted in New Zealand, such as the presence of light, has resulted in a reduction in crime and therefore increased safety as the electricity in the school has provided light to brighten the village.

The children are embracing the new experiences of school learning, books, singing, pencils and notebooks, a uniform, bible studies and a desk to sit at each day.

“It is an honour and a privilege to support the village, the families and the children of Ballia. No words were needed, the smiles of the children and their families said it all,” said Fox.

And this is only the beginning…