Goa / India

Why the El Shaddai Shanti Niketan School matters

Children from vulnerable families, migrants, and local village children make up the 350 students at Shanti Niketan. The school uses an informal teaching practice in English, making it a unique and desirable option for many. Over the years, this approach has transformed lives; one of its first pupils, Suresh, graduated and became an apprentice architect. Today, he owns his own firm, Vision Design, in Goa, a testament to the school’s lasting impact.

The design

The area of the school’s location, Assagao, near Mapusa in Goa, has a temperate climate and is hot and humid during the monsoon season from June to September.

A building which was responsive to this fluctuating weather system was essential. Seismic-resistant construction and environmentally sustainable concepts were incorporated into the design to ensure the security and longevity of the building.

Most of the children who attend the non-formal school are from the slums in Goa and cannot access basic services like education, healthcare and sanitation. The budget for this project was £60,000.

The impact

The school, now over 15 years old, continues to expand as demand for an informal teaching practice increases. Teachers and students praise the light-filled rooms and airy spaces, which help create an inspiring learning environment. The school is able to contend with significant rainfall during the seasonal monsoon period, and its colourful building and scenic grounds offer a safe and meaningful place for students to learn and develop.

Other milestones include the construction of a three-story classroom building for 350 pupils and dormitories for 100 children during the school year. These dormitories provide housing for young girls and boys, supporting up to 200 children over time as they transition at age 12. This expansion ensures that more vulnerable children have access not only to education but also to a secure and nurturing home.