Making A Difference in the Darjeeling Community
The Glenburn Workers’ Welfare Trust was set up to improve educational and medical services on the estate as well as to promote cultural activities amongst the local community.
Our Education Programme primarily funds a team teaching volunteers who help out in local primary schools in the morning, and run Reading Libraries in the villages in the afternoon. Our focus is to improve the standard of the three government-run schools on the Estate, and contributions from our hotel guests have already given one of the schools a new roof with skylights, windows, fans, electricity, and a Nursery and Kindergarten section, which is not part of the normal government-school curriculum. We have also built a brand new primary school at the Shikaridura village.
The student strength of the Bhalukop Primary School has tripled since we started supporting it, and the parents now provide crisp green and white uniforms for the children, while we supplement the reading and writing materials. We help where we can, but also wish to empower the families of these children with a sense of responsibility for their own education.
In addition to supporting local schools, we have a Scholarship Programme that sponsors the education of local children at the privately run Cluny Sisters’ Primary school near Glenburn, as well as at Green Shield Academy, Tukkdah Cantt, for their secondary schooling. Some sponsored children also attend private boarding schools in the nearby towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, both known for their excellent educational institutions.
The Glenburn Kalakendra (Music & Dance) Academy was started by our Chairman and Patriarch, Mr Sudhir Prakash, when he noticed a widespread talent and enthusiasm for singing and dancing, during our first Annual Glenburn Festival in 2004. The Academy now has a permanent stage, rehearsal area and musical equipment as well as music teachers who visit the estate regularly from Darjeeling to run classes for enthusiastic singers and dancers from our villages.
Contributions to the trust can be in the form of books for our libraries, medical supplies, teaching equipment, monetary donations towards volunteer salaries, the sponsorship programme, and any other interesting ways of enhancing community life on the estate.
Your time is also hugely appreciated during avisit to Glenburn, and the children and estate workers love the interaction with our guests! Guests are welcome to join the morning School Assembly (9 am), spend a morning with the children in the classrooms or help out at the after school library and craft sessions.