Witty International
School provides International learning opportunities to students to facilitate
them to accept and understand the world that is a cauldron of composite
cultures and community perspectives. It is through the International Exchange
programmes that the School emboldens students to discover new ways of
adaptability and learning to be able to be a part of the global world. As a
global member of Eumind (Europe meets India), WIS has sent student and teacher
delegations abroad, where interaction between our students and faculty members
with others from different countries and cultures has opened up new dialogues
with many International schools. WIS conducts Annual International Exchange
Programmes which has been central for making young people embrace other
cultures and to promote liberal-mindedness.
This
year the Dutch delegation consisting of 18 students and two teachers, Ms. Dian
Jones & Mr. Michiel van den Broeck, from the famed bilingual RSG Broklede School,
Netherlands visited Witty International School, Pawan Baug, Mumbai. RSG
Broklede, a very unique institution firmly committed as a member to the Eumind,
is located in the historic and very picturesque village of Breukelen in
Netherlands. It offers bilingual education with emphasis on an intercultural
ethos through the activities it undertakes. Since 2012, these two schools had
developed strong connections, warmly working together on the field of student
exchanges. This year’s exchange proved to be the most successful one thus far,
in terms of educational value and level of understanding each other’s way of
life. The combination of education, culture and entertainment was considered
highly satisfactory to both students and teachers. The Dutch students attended
regular lessons to experience Wittian School Life. They had interesting lessons
on Yoga, Sanskrit, Art and Drama. The literary exchange led to a wider sharing
of insights and perspectives, ranging from education systems, the role of
religion and cultural traditions of marriage. A WIS faculty stated, “It’s a
great opportunity to make these links through an International syllabus. The
shared session with Dutch students enabled Wittians to articulate their ideas
and opened new insights.”
It was a stimulating and educational
experience in more ways than one. For the educational part, WIS had invited Mr. Dalip Sondhi, SIIDA to
deliver a masterclass on Acting and Dramatics. Students also attended workshops on Indian Theatre and
Classical Indian Dance forms. The Dutch students also performed yoga and sang
Christmas carols with tiny tots at Witty World. Throughout the week the Dutch
and Indian students participated in various academic and cultural activities in
school. They also participated in a football camp organized by a famed National
football Player, Mr. Diago Fernandez which culminated into a fun match played
by both the school teams, thus giving the Dutch Students an insight to Indian
Sports Life. Wittians also put up an assembly in the school to present the
Indian culture, festivals, folk dances, songs and so on to their hosts. The
Wittians and Dutch students embarked on Mumbai Darshan to explore the most
famous landmarks of this dream city which is a melting pot for various
cultures. The students also had fun activities such as treasure hunts to
familiarize them with the History, Art and Architecture at the Chhatrapati
Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya. The students also explored the wonder of Kanheri
Caves and experienced the rise of Buddhism at this 2000 year-old settlement.
With rock-cut carvings, old living quarters and stairways chiseled into the
hill, students embarked on a nature trail into the wilderness of the Kanheri
area. The programme culminated with a cultural night organized by the school
wherein the Dutch and Indian Students performed a beautiful musical play on
Kalidas’s famous, “Abhigyan Shakuntalam.” The play was a brilliant culmination
of various languages such as English, Hindi, Sanskrit as well as Dutch and
portrayed the simplicity and creativity in Indian Theatre. The Students also
performed together on famous Bollywood songs which was an exciting experience
for the host families who were invited for the cultural night. The Dutch
students also enlightened the Wittians
about the Dutch culture, and they found great pleasure in discovering how
similar Indian and Dutch cultures are to one another, especially in our
conceptions of the family unit.
Finally the guests were felicitated with
mementoes from WIS after which the guests and families enjoyed the evening
further with a Garba DJ and the Mumbai Street food festival to enable the Dutch
students and teachers to experience the famous food from the eateries in
Mumbai. Stated Broklede student delegate Ferdi Tura: “This visit has been very
fruitful for us because India is a large country, with a vast history and with
a rich diverse culture. We see Witty best representing these historical and
cultural idioms.”
Wittian
families hosted the Dutch students in their homes for seven days and through
this process, they honed their hospitality skills as well as learnt to cook
Indian food without spice! In an attempt to give their guests a taste of Indian
culture, they let them live the joy and terror of an auto ride, went shopping
for traditional sarees and kurtas, showed them around Bombay and described the
nitty-gritties of the Indian way of life. Wittians also helped the Dutch
Students to pick out souvenirs for their friends and family back home. The
Dutch students were open to everything and at times, were more enthusiastic to
learn about Indian customs.
The
final goodbye was a teary one; Though the Wittians had hosted them for a mere
seven days, but over the course of those seven days, they knew that they had
made friends for life. The Dutch Students’ zeal to explore every nook and
cranny of our cultural lattice, their accommodating nature and enthusiasm and
the alacrity with which they approached a foreign country and a new lifestyle
was highly inspiring. Clearly, the Broklede team would be carrying back with
them wonderful memories, all memories bathed in unforgettable colours.
Says Pieters from Broklede poignantly: “This was
indeed an opportunityof alifetime. If given a chance, we all would certainly come
back to India, come back to Witty, the great school with a great heart.”
Caught
in this epicentre of excitement, Witty is not able to hide its emotions. Visibly
humbled by such huge compliments, Witty has turned more introspective. Says
Principal Bijo Kurian: “We feel more exchange programmes like this should help our
school push its envelope further, climb new heights and conquer new frontiers. This programme
has provided students with an exposure to become aware of multi-faceted
approaches to learning and living. Students have developed the adaptability to
embrace foreign cultures and have learnt liberal-mindedness.”
For
the visitors, it was undoubtedly a lesson in perpetual tranquillity, continuing
education and ceaseless knowledge within an oasis of enlightenment surrounded
by a sea of chaos in the outside world. And for the hosts, it was an exercise
that is seen as something that should strengthen the bond between the two
schools and the two countries. Broklede delegates sway their heads in
agreement. And today, Broklede and Witty stand so much more committed to a firm
friendship, a fruitful cultural association and a productive academic affinity.
Says Witty’s Principal Kurian: “This experience should not only bring both the
schools so much closer now, but ignite initiatives to draw both the schools and
both the nations to a point of cultural convergence.”
Certainly,
there is something in those words that is worth thinking about.
