Swiss woman transforms education in West Bengal
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Sandra Lavie Gojkovic, a woman from Switzerland, began working in West Bengal, India, fifteen years ago to improve education and address social issues.
She established the India School Project, which now supports around 20,000 people across two villages in the Sundarbans region. Gojkovic initially faced challenges convincing families to send their children to school, but local teachers helped by visiting homes and bringing students to class.
The project now includes the Primary School Project, offering free education and meals to 180 children, and Education Support, a literacy program partnering with local schools. This program increased the annual board exam pass rate from 50% to 100%, according to Gojkovic. She emphasizes that the values driving her work, education, protecting children, and empowering women, are universal, not Western concepts, and she prioritizes listening to the community. Gojkovic’s work extends beyond classrooms.
Her school sheltered families after a severe cyclone, demonstrating a commitment to the community’s wellbeing. She believes lasting change requires consistent effort and a long-term vision, criticizing short-term projects common in social work. Gojkovic currently focuses on deepening her impact in the existing locations rather than expanding to new areas, hoping her work will eventually no longer be needed due to sustained improvements in the community.
