About UWC > Colleges > Profile: Mahindra UWC of India
Mahindra UWC of India
Founded: 1997 Student Profile: 200 students aged 16–19
Location: Paud, Pune, India
Founded: 1997 Student Profile: 200 students aged 16–19
Location: Paud, Pune, India
All buildings are constructed of local stone to create a village-like environment and the College has been awarded the top prize for its architecture in an international competition.
Relations between the College and the neighbouring farming villages have become of key importance through the College's service programmes. The College enjoys a particularly close relationship with Sadhana Village for disabled adults. Together they have set up a number of cottage industries to help the villagers become financially self-sufficient: among their successes are contracts to sell handmade candles to several leading hotels and businesses in Mumbai.
"The UWC experience comes from living in harmony and taking a rigorous academic programme and it is all about social concern, consideration for others and the community, and understanding people and what they want. It is also about understanding yourself, seeing how much you can do for others and knowing how your single decision can affect so many. At Mahindra, we learned to tolerate, to develop an open mind and to think through our decisions."
Sieru Efrem, Ethiopia (MI 97-99)
Sieru Efrem, Ethiopia (MI 97-99)
The College has also become a health and education centre for the villages in the valley. As an official part of their curriculum, primary school children from seven schools have English lessons at the College. A primary health and training scheme for village women is also popular. Joint village/College building initiatives in the local communities have seen the completion of two schoolrooms, a bathhouse and a workshop. Considerable use is also being made of local expertise in developing an environmental area of 20 acres on campus as well as in the development of the College grounds.
There is a very strong sense of family at Mahindra UWC. The College is 40km from Pune, which means students are encouraged to spend more time on campus and to carry out their services locally. When students leave the campus, it is with a feeling of leaving home; this gives great meaning and vitality to campus life.
The most significant feature of Mahindra College is simply that it is in India. The impact of the country with its extreme divisions between rich and poor, country and city, makes a deep and lasting impact on students. Even a shopping trip to Pune is a strong reminder of the gross inequalities that exist in the world. It is impossible for students to live in the College without confronting such issues and, as a result, the weekly Global Affairs discussions are of central importance to the life of the College.