NZTC leads life-changing initiatives for children and families in India

Over the last year New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC) has shared their Heart with the people of Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, India. NZTC has progressively undertaken life-changing projects in Ballia - a region of significant need.

Early in 2015 NZTC supported the building of a bridge to unite the people of Rasra, Ballia village, who due to a raging waterway were separated each rainy season for three months of the year. Guided by our College mission, values and commitment to education and children, NZTC wanted to do more and moved on to support phase one of the building of a school initially available for preschool age children to year five.

Jagriti Academy officially opened on 22 November 2015 with much excitement and fanfare. NZTC Chief Executive Selena Fox, supported by Brent Simpson (IT Operations Manager), led the school opening with a tree planting, a fitting beginning for a school that translates to ‘rise up’ in English.

“We shared our NZTC Heart through gifting moments together and then through practicalities of a warm shawl for each mother, grandmother, father, grandfather and Jagriti Academy beanies for the children, and finally through sharing a meal with the community. It was as close as I believe I will ever come to a ‘loaves and fishes’ experience in my life… food appeared seemingly out of nowhere, abundantly, for every single person, baby to elder served with our NZTC Heart overflowing,” shared Fox.

Community development projects have also been incorporated into the school including microenterprise endeavours, daily meals, and homework support. The first washroom facilities in the area have been built on the Jagriti Academy site resulting in great excitement for the children and families of the village.

With phase two of Jagriti Academy underway and numerous additional initiatives in the pipeline, NZTC looks forward to continuing to support these empowering initiatives for the people of Ballia.