Three and a half days full of encounters, impressions and truly heartfelt moments in the Indian state of Odisha are now behind us. We are honoured and grateful for the visit of Maya Tissafi, Ambassador of Switzerland to India and Bhutan, and Simon Schäfer, First Secretary of the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi. Together with Usthi founder Kurt Bürki and Foundation Board member Daniel Kempter, the delegation visited several Usthi projects.
Visiting the Penthakata settlement
The visit of the embassy delegation and the warm encounters shared will remain a significant milestone in Usthi’s memory. During a walk through the Penthakata settlement—an informal fishing settlement on the outskirts of Puri and catchment area of the Usthi school—the visitors had the opportunity to engage with the Penthakata community. These interactions were marked by deep mutual respect between the schoolchildren and families of the Penthakata community and the embassy delegation. The visit also offered insight into the waste management project launched in the settlement in 2024.
A particularly moving moment was the performance by the pupils of the Penthakata School, who presented an impressive programme of classical dance and drama. The school provides around 400 children from disadvantaged families in the Penthakata settlement with access to high-quality education. Instruction in classical dance forms an integral part of the curriculum, helping to preserve and pass on the region’s rich cultural heritage to future generations.
Visiting the Usthi Hospital in Bhubaneswar
In addition to the social projects, the delegation also visited the Usthi Hospital in Bhubaneswar. This modern hospital is run by our project partner as a social enterprise. It not only provides a wide range of healthcare services, but also serves as a local source of income, helping to finance the social projects. The kind and appreciative words of Ambassador Tissafi mean a great deal to us: «The hospital is a powerful example of how social responsibility and entrepreneurial thinking come together: as an affordable, multi-specialty facility, it expands access to urban healthcare while contributing to the long-term sustainability of Usthi’s broader social mission. »
Commitment that Makes a Difference
The teachers and support staff at the Penthakata School, the women involved in the waste management project, as well as the nurses and doctors at the Usthi Hospital—all of them, along with many others, contribute with great dedication to advancing Usthi’s impact day by day. It was therefore all the more meaningful that their commitment received special recognition through this international visit.
«Sometimes, the world is understood not with the mind, but only with the heart. We were able to share moments in life that were profoundly moving and will stay with us, » reflects Foundation Board member Daniel Kempter. It is now up to us to carry this spirit forward, to continue our work with compassion, and to keep creating new opportunities for the future.
