Woman Leaves Switzerland to Help 20,000 Kids in India

Sandra Lavi Gojkovic had everything most people dream about: a thriving career, financial freedom, and the ability to travel the world from her base in Switzerland. But one question kept her awake at night: "Why do I have so much when so many children have nothing?"

In 2011, she made a decision that would change thousands of lives. She left her comfortable European life behind and moved to India alone, with no safety net and no detailed plan.

Sandra started by simply listening. On Sagar Island, she sat with families and heard their struggles, their fears for their children, and their hopes for something better. What she learned transformed her understanding of what children in rural India really needed.

She founded The India School Project, but her mission went beyond classroom walls. Sandra realized that education alone wasn't enough if children weren't safe, if their basic rights weren't protected, if they couldn't dream without fear.

Today, Sandra's work touches nearly 20,000 children and their families across 30 villages. She focuses on child protection, creating safe environments where kids can actually be kids. Her team works to prevent trafficking, ensure access to education, and give families the support they need to keep their children safe.

Why This Inspires

Sandra's story reminds us that the most meaningful changes often start with uncomfortable questions. She didn't wait for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. She saw a need and moved toward it, one village at a time.

Her approach centers on listening first. Instead of importing solutions from her European background, she learned what communities actually needed and built programs around those real needs. That respect for local knowledge makes her work sustainable and effective.

Thirteen years in, Sandra shows no signs of slowing down. Every child who stays in school instead of being trafficked, every family that gains stability, every village that becomes safer represents her belief that one person really can make a difference.

Her journey proves that purpose often means letting go of comfort to chase something bigger than ourselves.