I imagine this is similar to being caught by a boa constrictor,’ I thought to myself, followed by, ‘How do I get myself out of this situation?’

The young lady, who I was in the process of escorting back to her class after she had absconded, looked up at me smiling, but did not loosen her surprisingly firm hold on me. As I realized I probably couldn’t free myself without help, I looked around for assistance. To my relief I saw one of the teachers walking towards me and grinning at my predicament. I smiled back, confident that he was well placed to assist in my extraction. ‘I’m not sure what to do?’ I admitted. ‘She loves you,’  he laughed and rapidly disappeared through a nearby door before I could say anything further. Looking at the closed door, then at my captor’s happy face, then at the quiet school grounds of Raphael with its well-kept, lush gardens, I couldn’t help but grin and think, ‘This whole situation is very India.’

Shortly before we arrived, Raphael unexpectedly welcomed 12 new girls when their institution was forced to close.

These girls were settling into their new home well and the other children at Raphael were being very kind and patient as they found their feet. The girls had not previously had much opportunity for education. In class, I observed a particular girl’s radiant, focused face during a mathematics lesson. She was absorbing the lesson like a sponge, while also helping a fellow student, who was taking longer to grasp the concepts. It was evident that this young lady would progress quickly and was making the most of the opportunity to learn. It was uplifting knowing that her future now held more possibilities.

That was my main takeaway from Raphael: a safe, supportive, accepting environment where the young residents can fulfil their individual potential.

Rachel