Imon Mondal is a member of Teach For India, a non-profit organisation which strives to improve Indian education through fellowship programmes around the country. She is one of the representatives that, since July, have joined the school. Their mission is to “shift the medium to English” as while the kids are able to understand it, they are not very “accustomed” to speaking the language. 

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One of the activities Imon runs within Dakshini Prayash are learning circles designed to build connection between students and staff. This is because she is still new and “foreign” to them, so the purpose of the exercise is to break the ice and foster a more easy-going environment and “safe space”. However, Imon expressed that this is just one of many plans; she is aware, however, that she has to make sure this aligns with the school’s mission and way of doing things. As the collaboration between Dakshini Prayash and Teach For India is still new, many plans are in development, but the children will always be “their center”.

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For Imon personally, her favourite thing about Dakshini Prayash is “how welcoming the teachers are”. She fondly recalls her first day, where she was really nervous because she was the first person to join from her organisation, but she found the teachers to be “so, so welcoming”. Even though she will be completely involved with Dakshini Prayash for another two years, she already dreads having to say goodbye to the “extremely supportive teachers” and the vibrant community she has quickly become a part of.

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