AFS India started Interstate Regional Exchange Program to give regional cultural learning to the students of schools within India. The program facilitates exchanges between different schools, giving them an opportunity to learn about different cultures, languages, lifestyles that exist in the country by engaging the students into various extracurricular activities and other learning process such as art, craft, music, dance, calligraphy etc.
Between Vantage Hall Girls’ Residential School, Dehradun (Host) & Rajmata Krishna Kumari Girls’ Public School, Jodhpur
By Giri Parmar, Educator, Vantage Hall Girls’ Residential School
“Vantage Hall warmly welcomed our 15 guest students of Classes IX & XI and their escort staff Mrs. Dakshita Singh Shekhawat on the 4th of November. They were with us till the 11th of November 2017.
Accommodation was within the hostel, wake up call, meals and activities were followed as per the school routine. Activities including excursions outside the school were planned according to areas of interest both educational and to build cultural understanding of Uttarakhand in our visiting students.
Photo Above: Outing
A presentation and orientation talk was given on the State of Uttarkhand, its political birth in the Union Of India, the natural history, flora, fauna, music, dance and its spiritual epithet of Dev Bhumi — a state that draws millions of pilgrims from all over the world in their spiritual journey and Dehradun as a hub of education also referred to as the Eton of the East.
The students were then offered various interactive sessions along with Vantage girls in art, music, dance and games. The visiting students were totally engaged in learning new skills as well as exploring the local village atmosphere on nature walks outside our campus. It was wonderful seeing the happy and excited girls enjoying their activities. They were eager to learn and absorb challenges and it was heartening to see the high level of confidence and adaptability in all their activities. A number of excursions were organized to Mussoorie the Queen of Hill stations, The Buddhist Monastery where the students sketched and painted on site, the Forest Research Institute which is one of its kind in Asia and Rishikesh on the banks of the holy Ganga. The students in the best spirit of a cultural exchange program put up an entertainment evening with songs and dances of Garhwal followed by a special dinner and next day a touching Farewell Assembly.
The Hon. Director gave away Certificates of Participation and souvenirs as a token of affection. The host students gave personalized hand painted cards to each guest student. There was no doubt that both the schools had come together in an extremely meaningful way and these ties will remain with us as our students travel to Jodhpur to further bridge the diverse regions of our country in mutual understanding and respect.
Our grateful thanks and best wishes to AFS for bringing our schools together.”