Usha’s Journey of Completing the Circle of Giving Back

Usha’s life took a transformative turn in 2009 when she was selected to join the Pestalozzi Indian Campus. Growing up in Khunti, Jharkhand, she likely would have had limited access to education and career opportunities without Pestalozzi’s support. Her selection brought her to a new world of learning, growth, and community. She remembers her first day, welcomed warmly by her housemother, and the weekend trips with friends to grow vegetables on the new campus—a cherished memory of her Pestalozzi days.

Her years at Pestalozzi transformed her from a shy girl into an independent, confident person. Guided by the principle of “Head, Heart, and Hands,” Usha learned to see her career not only as a personal achievement but as a way to give back to society. This philosophy instilled in her the importance of grounding one’s ambitions in community service, a lesson she carries forward today.

Now in her final year at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi, Usha is dedicated to helping younger Pestalozzi students adjust to life in the city and serves as a board member for the Indian Campus and the International Alumni Committee. Inspired by Pestalozzi’s teachings, she aspires to start her own business, intending to support future Pestalozzi students.

Usha believes that education is powerful, enabling individuals to think not only of themselves but for the betterment of society. Grateful for the donors and mentors who helped her, she hopes to complete the circle by following in their footsteps and helping other students access the opportunities she received.