From October 24th to November 1st 2014, 26 students accompanied by their teachers, from St Ivo School visited Delhi and our school as a part of the Indo-UK Cultural Exchange Programme.
In the nine days they spent with us, they had a chance to explore India and our lifestyle, while we got to learn about theirs.
The St Ivo group was welcomed at the airport by our school students accompanied by Mrs Aradhana Gambhir. They were welcomed in an all traditional Indian way, with Tilak ceremony and flowers.
Following evening they all went for a tour to Delhi Haat to see the Indian ethnic handicrafts and arts.
The next day, along with some students from our school and Mrs Saumya Nair, the whole cultural exchange group visited the magnificent Taj Mahal.
They group had really exciting time visiting Delhi and the many monuments, right from Humanyun’s Tomb to Qutub Minar and lotus Temple.
Everyone on the trip had a great time exploring Delhi’s past and present, as both blend as one in the city. Company of our students and teachers made the trip a lot more exciting and enriching for them.
The following day, the students from St. Ivo went about Old Delhi and Bangla Saheb Gurudwara, one of Delhi’s many prides.
On 28th October as per our school’s tradition they were welcomed in morning with by the Principal Dr Anju Tandon, Vice-Principal Mrs Vibha Kholi and Head Mistress Mrs Shashi Bhargava, followed by the prayer and community singing in the assembly.
Our guests then proceeded for a school tour, visiting the work experience labs, the special education department, kindergarten wing and the Pustak Bharati (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Publication).
Post the school tour, there was a brief Yoga session and laughter therapy organised for the students.
Before the presentations, the lamp lighting ceremony was held with the teachers of St. Ivo School and our teachers, after which we all proceeded for the a presentation of Indian culture in form a cultural exchange programme.
Our guests were honoured with mementoes and souvenirs by the school and as a gesture of thanking us, the students of St Ivo School presented our students with some souvenirs and gifts, they’d brought for us.
For conclusion of the day’s activities everyone proceeded for the Mudhubani Painting workshop conducted by art teachers. Post the workshop a bunch of our students accompanied the Exchange Programme group for traditional Indian food.
The students from St Ivo School were glad to visit our school and enjoyed their stay much.
In the last two days of the stay with us, the St Ivo group visited the Hope Foundation and went for a heritage walk in Delhi, visiting the great Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and the Delhi’s famous spice market.
On 1st November, the St Ivo returned back to their UK, leaving behind a lot of cherishable memories and taking a bunch with them. The whole programme was a fantastic experience for our students and for them alike. They were thoroughly impressed with our hospitality and loved the whole programme. They promised us to return the favour on our visit to U.K.