Archive · 18 Jul 2026
Swiss Woman Builds Free School in India
Sandra Lavie is a woman from Switzerland who left her job to go to India.
She started a free school in a small village.
The school helps children learn and also teaches them about important issues like stopping child marriage and violence.
Sandra had a good life in Switzerland, but she wanted to help people who didn't have the same opportunities.
She faced many challenges but stayed because she believes in her work.
The school has helped many children and their families, and Sandra feels happy and fulfilled.
Sandra Lavie left her corporate job in Switzerland to start a free primary school in a remote village in West Bengal, India.
The school provides education and teaches children about their rights, focusing on preventing child marriage, human trafficking, and domestic violence.
Lavie's journey was inspired by her travels and the inequalities she witnessed, leading her to seek a life of purpose and service.
She faced initial challenges, including culture shock and earning the trust of the local community, but eventually won their support through consistent effort.
The school has trained over 100 youth leaders who have reached nearly 20,000 people across 30 villages, creating a significant impact on the community.
- Who
- Sandra Lavie, a Swiss woman who left her corporate career to build a free school in India.
- What
- She established a free primary school in a remote village in West Bengal, India, which also focuses on preventing child marriage, human trafficking, and domestic violence.
- When
- She has been in India for 15 years.
- Where
- The school is located in a remote village in West Bengal, India.
- Why
- Lavie wanted to find purpose and contribute to something beyond herself, aiming to create lasting impact and sustainable change in the community.
- Name
- Sandra Lavie
- Origin
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Current Location
- West Bengal, India
- Profession
- Founder of a free primary school
- Years in India
- 15
- School Impact
- Educates children and promotes awareness against child marriage, human trafficking, and domestic violence
- Youth Leaders Trained
- More than 100
- People Reached
- Nearly 20,000 children, adolescents, and adults across 30 villages