Our approach
Our work is inspired by Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi and his 'Learning with Head, Heart and Hands' method.
Pestalozzi's method
The importance of an all-round education according to Pestalozzi, social reformer and educator.
J. H. Pestalozzi believed that education is not just about knowledge. It should instead develop children’s ‘Head’, ‘Heart’ and ‘Hands’ simultaneously - in other words, their minds, their compassion and their practical life skills.
This complete approach shapes children who have the tools and the compassion they need to become future leaders and change-makers.
For this reason, the pupils we nurture through our programmes not only receive excellent classroom education (the Head). They also learn how to care for themselves and others and are required to volunteer locally (the Heart) and to develop their practical skills beyond the classroom (the Hands).
Learning with head, hearts and hands
Head
An excellent academic and child centred education
Heart
Loved, nurtured and encouraged to take care of others
Hands
Real-world experiences, volunteering and skills training and more.
Creating social change through education
Pestalozzi was born on January 12, 1746, in Zürich, Switzerland.
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All his life, Pestalozzi wanted to help the poor. He had been poor himself most of his youth and had observed orphans who gained apprenticeships as farmers only to be overworked and underfed.
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He dreamt of a world where comprehensive education would be offered to all people, and theorised the idea of 'learning by head, hand and heart'.
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His teachings would lead to the great educational reforms in the 19th century. He believed it was the duty of society to enable every individual human being to learn, and that education is a fundamental right of every person.
As his ideas spread across Europe, education became available for everyone, and pedagogy became a widely accepted discipline.
"​PestalozziWorld allowed me not only to chase my full calibre but helped me give back to the community and become a responsible citizen. We walked in as strangers and walked out as family."
Samten Choekyi, India. She’s since gone on to earn a Master’s degree in Osteopathy in the UK and is now establishing her practice in India.
"​When I graduated, I did not think only about my career, I also thought about how I could help society, how I should fly high but be rooted to my grounds."
Usha, India. She is now a Board Member of the Indian Village, helping more children like her to succeed.
Guiding principles
1) The power of lived experience
We believe that the best people to influence the advancement of policies, markets and communities in the developing world are those who truly understand the context of socio-economic disadvantage.
2) A complete education is learning with Head, Heart and Hands
Education is not only about knowledge. It should instead develop the powers of ‘Head’, ‘Heart’ and ‘Hands’ simultaneously - in other words, their minds, their character and their practical life skills.
3) Child-centred care can change lives
Nurturing children’s emotional and physical well-being is essential to enable their social development and help create the compassionate leaders and change-makers our world needs.
