A month with British Asian Trust partners
By Ishyka Ahluwalia
This blog is authored by Ishyka; her family have been long-time supporters of the British Asian Trust, and they lead the annual Most Exotic Bicycle Tour in support of the Trust’s vital work. In February 2026, Ishyka undertook a four-week internship facilitated by the Trust, spending time with two education-focused organisations supported through our BT Programme: The Kalgidhar Trust in Baru Sahib and Going to School in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
A connection to purpose
I first came across the British Asian Trust through my father’s involvement in The Most Exotic Bicycle Tour. In 2023, I took part in the cycle ride and had the opportunity to visit some of the projects supported by the Trust. Seeing that work firsthand made a strong impression on me. It gave me a sense of how tangible the impact was, and it stayed with me afterwards. From that point, I wanted to return and spend more time understanding the work on the ground.
Two organisations, two perspectives
This February, I had the opportunity to return to India. Over four weeks, I worked with two partner organisations in very different settings, The Kalgidhar Trust in Baru Sahib and Going to School across Mumbai and Bangalore.
The Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib
In Baru Sahib, I was able to be fully immersed in the community, living on campus for two weeks. What stood out most were the connections I made with the students. They were open, welcoming, and genuinely curious about my experiences, which made it easy to build relationships quickly.
Going to School, Mumbai & Bengaluru
Working with Going to School provided a different perspective. It highlighted how much more can be done to support children in government schools beyond the standard curriculum, with a strong focus on life skills and practical learning.
What the students taught me
Going into the experience, I was mostly focused on what I could contribute and how I could make an impact through my time there. What I didn’t expect was how much I would learn in return. Some of that came from spending time in the Going to School office and seeing how an NGO operates day to day. But a lot of it came from the students themselves.
In Baru Sahib, I found myself taking Punjabi and music lessons, but more importantly, I was learning from their value-based education; their kindness, their humility, and the strong sense of community that shaped their education. I was also struck by the ambition and individuality of the students. Everyone had their own goals and aspirations, and it was clear how much their education had contributed to that. At the same time, they remained grounded and respectful, which made a strong impression on me.
Life Skills in Action: Beyond the Standard Curriculum
Going to School focused on the importance of skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and creativity. There was a “match day” in Bengaluru which captured this well: there was a large. enthusiastic turnout and engagement from the students. It showed how activities like sport can play a meaningful role in learning.
Inside the British Asian Trust
Spending time in Mumbai also gave me the opportunity to visit the British Asian Trust office and meet the team. This helped me better understand how the Trust supports its partner organisations. The emphasis on innovative finance, sustainable growth, and measuring outcomes stood out. It reinforced the importance of ensuring that programmes are not only well intentioned, but also effective and scalable.
Reflections and takeaways
Overall, the experience gave me a clearer perspective on both the challenges being addressed and the ways in which organisations like the British Asian Trust are working to address them. It also changed how I think about impact; it's not just as something you contribute, but as something you learn from and engage with directly.
I am very grateful to the British Asian Trust for the opportunity to be part of this experience. It is something I will carry forward, and I look forward to returning in the future and visiting more of the projects they support.
