Kathryn was with us for two consecutive days, both of which were filled with laughter, fun and learning.Kathryn’s visit was an exciting and joyful occasion. Her description of the child-friendly and interactive methods employed at her very progressive school and the innovative, hands on learning techniques for children to learn through guidance as well as their own discoveries, was totally inspirational. This laid the foundation for a mutually beneficial and stimulating dialogue for both children and teachers, across the seas.

Kathryn had very generously brought a bagful of bright and amusing children's books, some hand-made by students from Prospect Sierra and others that she bought, along with heaps of art supplies which the children made the fullest use of, at a very enthusiastic art & writing workshop held in the early hours of the day. The children then wrote several ‘penpal’ letters embellished with drawings, in response to similar letters brought by Kathryn from the students of Prospect Sierra School. This was a great opportunity for kids from across the seas to exchange ideas about themselves and their neighbourhoods.

It is our sincere hope that her visit marks the beginning of an exciting and dynamic "buddy partnership" between the five DIPIN village schools and independent, twenty first century thinking schools in the Bay Area of California. What if the children who attend our schools could benefit from the highly stimulating, ongoing relationship with their American counterparts? Lively e-mails, letter exchanges, and even web-cam interaction could shoot across the ether regularly! The children could design projects, write with a purpose, and brainstorm together about how to apply their academics as innovative problem solvers in their own communities.

Kathryn's heartfelt desire to give impetus to a 'global outlook' amongst children and teachers in both countries could surely help build a strong 'sense of community', world citizenship and friendship between the participating schools.

This collective vision of international partnering promotes respect, empathy and humanity not only broadly between countries but also specifically between peoples of diverse race and religion; factors which can be cruelly divisive as well as a deep source of anger and sorrow. What better way than to make these changes in our own backyard! We hope to complement this initiative with international ‘teacher exchanges’ in the future.

The aim of a formal education must not only be to serve individual aspirations but also to encourage the community to give back to society. As a leading democracy as well as a thriving global economy, India is already playing a lead role in the stability of our fragile world. It is therefore important to support the notion of community-service before self. In the words of President John F. Kennedy,"Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country".

Kathryn’s passionate presentation to the staff on ‘how children learn’ vastly inspired our DIPIN teachers. Launching into sparkling anecdotes on how her school encourages positive life skills in children and promotes humane values coupled with strong academics – all the while fostering an abiding inclination for engaged citizenship, Kathryn specifically mentioned one incident in particular. A nearby pond had become so polluted that the resident tadpoles had started dying by the hundreds. Some students were so deeply disturbed by this that they formed an action committee. Moving with speed and precision, they formulated a self-devised rescue and rehabilitation plan. Scooping up the remaining frogs and tadpoles and quickly transferring them to water-jars, the children thoroughly cleaned and refilled the pond. The tiny creatures were then lovingly re-introduced to their nature-fresh environs! The process did not stop at this deeply compassionate gesture; the kids further dedicated themselves to learning about the ecology of fresh water habitats from then on!

Years later and in a supportive partnership with surrounding neighbors, the pond is now filled with native plants that help purify the water naturally. The tadpole project has become a well- documented example of a successful community managed native garden. (The frogs, by the way, thrive and multiply!) Kudos to the kids for their spontaneous reaction and subsequent solution to a critical environmental issue, without adult interference!

Kathryn Lee has certainly left a lasting impression in everyone's minds and hearts! We are grateful for her visit and look keenly forward to a regular dialogue with California, towards a world without borders...