For many children, access to education can be the first step towards a better future. Sandra Lavie Gojkovic understood this after moving from a successful corporate career in Switzerland to a remote village in West Bengal. What began as a desire to help disadvantaged communities eventually led her to build a free primary school, train young leaders and help thousands of people understand the importance of education and social awareness. (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
Sandra grew up in Zurich and had a successful corporate career in Switzerland and later Dubai. She had financial stability, career success and the freedom to travel. But despite having everything she could ask for, she felt something was missing. She kept asking herself, “Why had I been given so much while others had so little?” Eventually, she decided that personal success was not enough. (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
About 15 years ago, Sandra resigned from her job, bought a one-way ticket to India and packed only a few essentials. Her new life did not begin smoothly. She was reportedly scammed at the airport, experienced culture shock and often wondered if she had made the wrong decision. But the kindness of strangers slowly changed her perspective. People welcomed her into their homes, shared meals and treated her like family. India gradually began to feel like home. (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
Sandra had never experienced poverty while growing up. Her parents gave her every opportunity and encouraged her to explore the world. During one childhood trip, however, she met a barefoot homeless girl. Without thinking twice, Sandra gave the girl her own boots and walked home barefoot. She later realised that this small act may have planted the first seed of compassion that shaped her life’s mission. (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
Initially, Sandra thought she would use her savings to support charities. But after months of volunteering, she noticed that some projects were not addressing the real needs of communities. She also came across problems such as financial mismanagement and projects that were difficult to sustain. Instead of simply criticising existing efforts, she decided to find another way. She asked local people to take her to villages where help was needed most. (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
After travelling for hours by train and boat, Sandra eventually reached a remote island in West Bengal. She did not arrive with a ready-made solution. Instead, she listened to villagers, understood their problems and slowly began working with the local community. One of the biggest challenges was convincing parents to send their children to school. Many families depended on their children’s contribution to household income. (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
Sandra and her local team spent months visiting homes and speaking to parents. Even after children enrolled in school, teachers continued visiting their homes every morning to encourage regular attendance. Slowly, attitudes began to change. Parents who had once refused to send their children to school eventually started lining up to enrol them. Sandra summed up the lesson simply: “Trust isn’t built through promises. It’s built by showing up consistently.” (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
Over the years, the school has grown into something much bigger than a place where children learn their lessons. More than 100 youth leaders have been trained to educate their communities about serious social issues, including child marriage, domestic violence and human trafficking. Together, they have reportedly reached nearly 20,000 children, teenagers and adults across 30 villages. (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
The impact of the initiative can be seen in the actions of its former students. In several cases, students have helped prevent child marriages by informing teachers and local authorities. For Sandra, these moments are more meaningful than awards or recognition. “Seeing former students helping protect the next generation, that’s when you know real change is happening,” she says. (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
After 15 years in rural India, Sandra says village life has taught her lessons that go beyond poverty and hardship. She believes rural communities also have a strong sense of community, simplicity, peace and genuine human connection. She credits both Switzerland and India for shaping different parts of her life. “Switzerland shaped how I work,” she says. “But India shaped who I am.” Looking back, Sandra does not describe leaving behind her comfortable life as a sacrifice; she calls it a privilege. Her journey is a reminder that making a difference does not always require extraordinary acts. Sometimes, it begins with helping one person and then another. As Sandra puts it: “Kindness begins exactly where you are,” she says. “If each of us made one person’s life a little better, our communities and ultimately our world would be transformed.” (Image: Instagram/@sandralavie)
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