The power of education
Nelson Mandela said education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. Life Global Australia was founded largely because Chairperson Dr Dipti McGowan witnessed that weapon in use.
Dr McGowan’s family was originally from Gujarat and, on a visit to her family’s ancestral village, she saw the effects of the transformation of a school by Project Life. At this school, the children had been getting a part-time education as there were not enough classrooms, so lessons were conducted in shifts. Temperatures in summer were 40 degrees and more, and rain came into the rooms during monsoons. This situation was not unusual in a region devastated by an earthquake in 2000.
Dr McGowan’s father decided to donate the funds necessary for Project Life to build a new school in Mulchand. A year later, Dr McGowan attended the opening that led to LifeGA’s foundation, and its ongoing partnership with Project Life.
“I was extremely impressed by the big picture view with which Project Life approached its work. It is always looking to improve lives by giving people autonomy and creating lasting change,” Dr McGowan said.
Education is one of the basic rights of every child, according to the United Nations. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises that education can mean lifting a vulnerable child and their family out of poverty. UNICEF states that for many children around the world, going to school can be the only opportunity to receive nutritious food and clean water, or a young girl’s only chance to break down gender barriers.
Dr McGowan saw that school buildings often did not meet the needs of the students.
“The lack of separate toilets for girls, for example, meant that they did not attend school consistently, and young girls were being withdrawn to help with working on farms and at home.”
Dr McGowan was particularly aware of this issue as her own mother was withdrawn from school after completing Grade 3 to help at home with younger siblings. Consequently, she made it a priority to ensure the education of her daughter, giving Dr McGowan the opportunity to carve out a successful career based on her studies, and experience firsthand the benefit education can bring to an individual, family, extended family and community.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child particularly stipulates the encouragement of regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates.
Amisha was a student at Mulchand when Dr McGowan attended the opening ceremony. Her life changed when the new school was built.
“We suffered severely with dark and unlit classrooms, especially in monsoon with water everywhere,” Amisha said.
The new school was constructed as a modern facility with spacious, naturally lit, well-ventilated classrooms. Mulchand is now a “Smart School” in which technology is embedded in the curriculum and pedagogy, thus increasing communication, student engagement, and learning outcomes. As a result, the school has been able to educate thousands of students from poor families.
Amisha is now studying for a degree in Commerce, and is confident her education at Mulchand will ensure her family’s financial security.
“I knew we needed to encourage young children to remain in education by providing a good environment for study,” Dr McGowan said. “They then have a chance to explore and prosper, and both students and the community can develop.”
Dr McGowan has now attended the opening of several schools, and has spoken to staff about the effect of school transformations on their working lives. They told her that with safe, solid school rooms and buildings, schooling is no longer interrupted by weather.
“We can now actually complete the curriculum,” one teacher said. “We can focus on teaching, and pedagogy, what we all got into teaching to do. We can also run clubs and extracurricular activities with the donors providing sports and music equipment. In essence, we can practise our craft, do curriculum differentiation and help students reach their potential, whether it is in academics, sports or the arts.”
By 2023, Project Life had rebuilt 108 schools. The schools won international excellence grants for rural and regional schools in developing countries such as India.
LifeGA is proud of its success in supporting women’s empowerment (see https://www.gofundme.com/f/international-womens-day-25-empower-women-today) and health programmes in India, but bolstering primary education in rural communities is probably the most ambitious project.
“LifeGA aims to build five state-of-the-art schools in some of the poorest areas of India, and has already received donations to support that goal,” Dr McGowan said.
LifeGA wants to use the powerful weapon of education to support, sustain and enrich people’s lives.
www.lifeglobal.org.au
Brisbane, Australia – 23 May 2025: The vibrant multicultural city of Brisbane witnessed a heartwarming celebration of Basava Jayanthi 2025, hosted by Basava Samiti of Asia Pacific (BSAPAC). The annual event commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Basava, the 12th-century social reformer and spiritual visionary who pioneered inclusive social practices and ethical living, centuries ahead of his time.
The program opened by lighting the lamp followed by the key note address was delivered by Mrs Karen Lay-Brew, the Board Member of Energy Queensland, Strategic Advisor to Australian Government. Karen migrated with family at the age of 11 from Mynamar provided an inspiring speech of the hardships of migrants and their journey to success, happiness and peace while navigating through the value system of life. Her speech was inspirational and touched the hearts of young and old.
Other notable programs included the Australian national anthem via the violin, presentation of the Guru Basava Dashboard Idol – a spiritually uplifting artefact designed for the car, symbolising values of truth, work, and devotion, ideal for daily travel inspiration by the 12 year old Master Hanish Banavar. BSAPAC will promote these dashboard idols that can be used in the cars via their shopping carts.
The 2025 GOPIO Gold Coast Annual Gala Dinner was held with great success, bringing together community members, leaders, and supporters for an evening of celebration, culture, and connection. The event was marked by vibrant music, delicious food, and a warm atmosphere that truly reflected the spirit of unity and multiculturalism.
The musical performances throughout the evening created a lively and engaging ambiance, with guests taking to the dance floor and enjoying every moment.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors, whose support made this evening possible. Platinum Sponsors (Nextweb & ACE One). Your commitment to our vision and continued partnership is deeply valued.
We look forward to welcoming everyone again to our future events and extend our gratitude to all those who joined us to making this Gala Dinner a memorable occasion.
The GOPIO Gold Coast celebrated the 2025 International Day of Yoga on the 14th of June. The theme for the 2025 International Day of Yoga is “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”. In keeping with this theme, GOPIO-GC hosted four different styles of Yoga practices.
This session helped people relax their mind and body at their own pace. The final session was conducted by Sharma Slavic who runs various sound-based healing events in South East Queensland. Her use of the crystal sound bowls and the harp, further calmed everyone.
There were close to 50 participants all of whom found the sessions very engaging. The entire program lasted close to two hours although it felt that it was over in a jiffy. GOPIO-GC thanks all the instructors and the participants for making the event a great success. The event was supported by the Consul General of India, Brisbane and Experience Gold Coast.
