Student Exchange Programme to Lorrach and Ohningen, Germany – 2010

A group of 12 students along with Headmaster, Mr Pramod Chaturvedi and Mrs Jaishree Kushwaha of the Junior School, Mayo College visited Grund-und Hauptschule mit WRS 78337, Ohningen, Germany and Grandshule Tumringen, Freiburger Str. 310D-79539 Lorrach, Germany on an Educational and Cultural Exchange Programme from June 12, 2010 to June 29, 2010.

The primary aim of this exchange was to give an opportunity to our young boys to have an insight into the culture, tradition, food and to give them a feel of a new language.

Lots of activities were organized for the students at both the schools. During morning hours they attended school. They had Language classes, Mathematics classes, Art and Craft, Technology classes and Games. They participated in the Athletic meet and Soccer matches. In the afternoon they had adventure sports like Wall climbing, Swimming, Canoeing and Sailing. They also visited local places of tourist interest like old castles, museum, churches, botanical gardens, etc.

The get-togethers, the joint adventures and living together in the families and at school have proved to be a great learning experience for the students.

The language did not pose too much of a problem as the host parents and the German students could speak some English. The children found some way with their gestures and body language to convey their feelings to each other.

The host parents went out of their way to prepare food according to the taste and type of food the students liked.

Lorrach and Ohiningen are very near to Switzerland and France, so the boys got a chance to visit these places too.

The boys learnt a lot from the trip. The people in Germany are punctual, their civic sense is excellent, they care for the environment and thus are eco-friendly, they are self disciplined and organized. The boys got an opportunity to observe all these qualities of Germans. Now after seeing them, they want to inculcate these good habits in themselves.

In Germany, this educational and cultural exchange programme has aroused the interest of the Pedagogical Service (PAD), a department of the Federal Foreign office, and both the schools of Ohningen and Lorrach were allowed to present their experience at Nation-wide Congress in Bonn, Germany.

The Mayors of both the towns had shown their commitment and dedication for the exchange. They were present in school for the welcome as well as farewell ceremony.

The Mayor of Lorrach had invited the group at the town hall and gave a warm welcome.

It was really a very unique and successful exchange programme for the students. The students of Mayo got an opportunity to showcase their talents. They presented a cultural programme in school and presented a slide show of Mayo and its activities.

Thanks to the effort and care taken by Mrs Cornelia Huber and Mr Gunter Weigert for planning each activity so well. Thanks to the host parents for the warm hospitality, care and love they had extended.

This exchange wouldn’t have been possible without the effort and support of Principal, Maj Gen Kr V S Lalotra and Headmaster, Mr Pramod Chaturvedi. Thanks to them for organizing such a wonderful trip.