From Corporate Dubai to Sagar Island: Sandra Lavie Gojkovic’s Mission in West Bengal
Former executive Sandra Lavie Gojkovic abandoned her high-flying career to address systemic poverty in India's remote regions. Her initiative now provides education and social advocacy to 20,000 residents across 30 villages in West Bengal.
Key takeaways
- Sandra Lavie Gojkovic resigned from a Dubai corporate role in 2011 to address rural Indian poverty through direct action.
- The India School Project, founded in 2012 on Sagar Island, provides free primary education and meals to 360 students.
- The initiative has expanded to 30 villages, offering vocational training for women and awareness programs on human trafficking and child marriage.
- Beyond education, the project has cultivated 112 youth leaders and impacts roughly 20,000 people in the West Bengal region.
Roots of the Mission
In 2011, Sandra Lavie Gojkovic reached a professional crossroads in Dubai. Despite a thriving corporate career and a life of international travel, the Swiss native found herself preoccupied by global economic disparities. Seeking a direct way to combat inequality beyond traditional charitable donations, she resigned from her position and traveled alone across India by rail. Her observation was clear: the cycle of poverty began in rural sectors where a lack of educational infrastructure forced desperate migrations.
Establishing the India School Project
Gojkovic’s search for a location to implement sustainable change led her to the remote Sagar Island in West Bengal. Rather than imposing an external agenda, she spent months engaging with residents to identify their primary requirements. The local consensus centered on access to learning. Consequently, she founded The India School Project in 2012.
Establishing the institution required overcoming deep-seated skepticism. Gojkovic conducted door-to-door outreach to persuade parents of the long-term value of formal schooling. Today, the project’s impact includes:
- Free primary education for 180 children at the dedicated facility.
- Academic support, books, and daily nutrition for an additional 180 students enrolled in government schools.
- The development of 112 youth leaders within the community.
- Outreach programs reaching approximately 20,000 people across 30 different villages.
A Holistic Approach to Rural Development
Gojkovic recognized that education alone could not dismantle poverty. The organization expanded its scope to include livelihood training for women and advocacy against social threats. Current programs address human trafficking, child marriage, and domestic violence while promoting the specific necessity of girls' education. What began as a solo journey with minimal belongings has evolved into a comprehensive social infrastructure project designed to provide rural families with an alternative to survival-based migration.
Source: The Better India
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