Educating children for brighter futures

Happy 2025! In our campuses our teams have been preparing for the start of a new year, and planning to make sure this year is full of exciting opportunities and activities for our students.

This January also marked Johan Henrich Pestalozzi’s 279 birthday! To celebrate his birthday, and all the fantastic achievements of our teams in 2024 we gathered together our staff from all over the world to share their successes and highlights. It was a great opportunity to hear from our campuses and local teams about their accomplishments and goals for the year ahead.

Zambia

January also brings with it the start of a new school year in Zambia, including the arrival of 31 new children at our Foundation House, Kasisi. The new students are settling in well, enjoying getting to know each other, and starting their new classes.

In October 143 students were selected from the Lusaka area to participate in the pilot programme for our new SkillsHub project. After selection the students were sent on a two day bootcamp for mindset transformation where they took part in a range of team building and solo activities which helped increase their confidence and self esteem.  

After the bootcamp students began training in their chosen skills, Hospitality, Cosmetology and Organic Farming, as well as accelerated remedial training which will help support their ongoing learning and training. We look forward to seeing the results and achievements of our pilot programme students later in 2025.

In November our Grade 12 students graduated from our Future Leaders Programme. Prior to their graduation the students went on visits to local colleagues & universities, took part in a 10 day school leavers workshop, and two additional workshops focussed on ‘Stepping into the Future’, to help support our students for life after graduation. We want to congratulate all of our graduating students - we are so proud of all that you have achieved!

India

The end of 2024 was busy in India, with lots of activities and festivals! In October our students took part in a play at school for Annual Function day, with many of our students performing as dancers, members of the choir, and as main characters. Our students also participated in sports days at their schools, where many of our children won medals, and certificates for their good performances, with some even winning multiple events.

In November our children came together to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights. The children dressed in their best clothes, prayed together and enjoyed a yummy feast. They  also  applied  the  sacred  tika  on each  other,  exchanging  blessings  for prosperity  and  happiness. Instead of the usual firecrackers, which can be harmful to the environment and wildlife, the children made sky lanterns and released them into the sky! This more eco-friendly tradition helped teach the children about the importance of celebrating Diwali in a way that protects the environment.

The  much-awaited  Farewell  Function  for the  Class  XII  students  was  organised  by the  school  but  hosted  by  the  Class  XI students  on  the  19th  of  December. On  the  day  of  the  farewell,  the  girls  were  surprised  with  a visit  to  the  beauty  parlour,  where  they  had  their  hair  done, makeup  applied,  and  sarees  draped.  The boys also looked dapper in their three piece suits, which they selected for the graduation ceremony. It was a joyful and unforgettable celebration, and memories were made for life as the seniors got ready to leave school and start the next chapter of their lives. Congratulations to our graduating class, we are so proud of you all!

During the winter break our children took part in a Winter Camp based on the Pestalozzi Ethos (Head, Hearts and Hands). The three week camp was created to support our students' development and nurture intellectual, emotional, and practical growth. As part of the camp students hosted 30 children from the local slums, who attend school at the “Building Dreams Foundation”. Our students played an active role in organising and leading Zumba dance sessions, supervising fun team games, and sharing key life lessons. Topics such as safety rules, moral values and the significance of attending school were also covered, making the experience both meaningful and enriching for our children as well as the participants.It was incredibly rewarding to see our students not only learn the importance of giving back to those less fortunate but also truly enjoy the experience.

Nepal

In November twelve new children arrived at our Foundation House in Pokhara, and have settled in well, beginning their studies and getting to know each other. Recently the Foundation House students took part in a public speaking session, aimed at increasing and enhancing their knowledge of basic public speaking. The workshop included tips on how to give a good presentation at school, and how to cope with Performance Anxiety. Our children will continue to grow their public speaking skills and confidence in weekly practice sessions with varying topics chosen by the students.

To mark Children’s Mental Health Week students are taking part in a week of activities and workshops. This year’s theme is ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’ and the team have been encouraging the children to explore ways to strengthen their mental and physical health. Activities include Yoga, Meditation, Mindful Observation and a Scavenger Hunt.

Our children and teams would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible supporters. Your dedication helps create brighter futures for our children and their communities, making a lasting impact through education. None of this would be possible without you. From all of us at Pestalozzi International, we wish you a joyful and successful 2025!

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