Education is for life, not just for a living. For any child to learn properly, the most important feature of a school is a loving and safe environment suffused with an education in human values. Most of our children come from poor and deprived backgrounds. For at least 95% of them this is the first time anyone in their family has ever attended an English medium school. Illiteracy and poverty rates in this area are extremely high. Other English medium schools in Puri are simply too costly even though guardians may wish for this chance for their child.
In 2009 nearly two acres of ashram-like land was purchased for the purpose of starting the school. By April, 2010 Prashanti International School was open for classes and the school was inaugurated on 22.07.2010.
The main focus of Prashanti International School is to provide the best education possible for our sponsored children and the children from the local village area as well. We feel that all children have hidden gifts or talents just waiting to be developed. So in addition to regular academic subjects, we offer cultural classes in yoga, music, art and dance.
The strong foundation underlying both academic and cultural subjects at Prashanti International School is the teaching of the human values of truth, right action, peace, love and non-violence. On our annual Sports Day, individual achievement is recognized, but more stress is placed on teamwork and team effort. Students are divided into five teams or houses. They are Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa. The students compete first for their team and then for themselves.
We feel that transformation of character is as important as marks. So recognition is also given for character development on every progress report. Children are trained to do service for their school every fourth Saturday of the month. On this Seva Saturday they clean the grounds, plant flowers and serve tiffin to teachers and younger ones. Older students also join in government service projects like cleaning Puri Sea Beach of litter. Most important of all, older students participate in the school’s Narayan Seva food distribution programs for destitute and sick families in the Puri community. During the covid pandemic of 2020-2021, this Narayan Seva was conducted three times. It is hoped that the students who are trained to do service to the needy will one day give back what they themselves have received.
