The heart of education lies in the education of the heart. True education not only seeks knowledge but also yearns for hands-on experiences of new and exciting things, places and people. The students of Grade 7 went to Delhi and Agra for a 5-day rejuvenating learning experience where they strengthened their bonds with their peers, learnt the correlation of independence and responsibility and created memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Our Delhi-Agra trip focused on the overall development of the students, where they learned about historical monuments through vlogs that they created in groups, they understood compassion through our adventures with the bears at the Wildlife SOS Bear Sanctuary and through CAS activities, they were amazed by the culture and beauty of India through the visits to the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, and the Agra Market and they discovered the importance of teamwork through the inter-house sports competitions and talent show. Also, they gauged the diverse historical details of Mughal history by walking through these monuments with wonder in their eyes.
Reaching for the sky, the Qutub Minar can be seen from the plane as you descend in Delhi. The Qutub Minar was the first monument we explored in Delhi. It is a blazing red marvel set against a lush green backdrop that our students were thoroughly fascinated with. Some of the other famous historical places that we were fortunate to visit were the Delhi Red Fort, the Agra Fort, Humayun’s tomb and India Gate – each one more mesmerizing than the previous. Just when we thought we had seen it all, there it was in all its glory and majesty – The Taj Mahal. While we heard many people gasp at the beauty of the Taj Mahal, one glance at it made us realize why this is a wonder of the world. We all explored the Mahal and clicked some beautiful pictures while we learned about the rich and varied history of this Mahal built by Emperor Shah Jahan. Our students curiosity peaked as they inquired about the marble used, the transportation of the marble, and how they built it all without the technological support that is easily available today.
One of the most enriching experiences on this trip was our visit to the Wildlife SOS bear sanctuary. The Agra Bear Rescue Facility is the largest Sloth Bear Rescue Facility in the world. The Bears at the center have been rescued from situations of abuse or neglect. The facility provides for them a safe peaceful haven, and it was inspiring to witness the caring efforts of the staff and volunteers. We watched a documentary about the life of the bears which truly moved us all and gave us a fresh perspective on our wildlife.
At the end of the 5 days, we returned back to Mumbai with our hearts full of memories and with our students more confident, curious, empathetic and courageous.
This post has been authored by Ms. Fatema Electricwala and Ms. Nikita Lobo
