Joynagar High School
In the heart of Byaspur village, Joynagar High School has become a shining example of what happens when a community comes together to dream, plan, and take action. With support from the GYRF team, two separate dream building sessions were organized—first with the teachers and School Committee Members (SMC), and then with the students. Later, everyone came together in one large session, combining their hopes into a shared dream for the future of their school. Their collective dream was-
“By 2035, we aim to transform our school into a model institution equipped with clean, hygienic restrooms and adequate facilities for safe drinking water. We will arrange separate classes for students with special needs, underprivileged, and struggling learners. Competitions among various clubs will be organized, classroom libraries will be established and all necessary steps will be taken to create an educational environment and a digital classroom. Additionally, to foster a healthy mindset among students, we will arrange various sports and cultural programs. Through modern training programs, we will ensure that teachers become skilled and competent. We will take all necessary measures to prepare students to meet global standards. Only then will we be able to build our dream school by 2035.”
Together, they identified the practices that would help them reach this dream and assessed where they currently stood. Once they understood their starting point, they created action plans to bring their vision to life.
Some of the key ideas that emerged were:
- Creating a more vibrant reading culture through student led libraries and book drives.
- Making the school environment more beautiful and welcoming with gardens.
- Ensuring access to safe drinking water for every student.
- Ensuring clean classrooms and hygienic washrooms to promote a healthy life.
- Providing safe spaces for girls to play, so they can enjoy sports equally.
- Building clubs and extracurricular opportunities for students to explore their talents.
- Organizing regular teachers’ training programs to enhance their capacity and ensure quality education.
What makes this story powerful is that these ideas were not imposed from outside—they came from the students, teachers, SMC and staff themselves. And step by step, they turned these dreams into reality. These changes at Joynagar High School are not just about books, gardens, water, or play. They represent a shift in mindset. Students, teachers, SMC and staff are now taking ownership of their school’s development. They are dreaming together, identifying challenges, and finding solutions from within their own strengths.
Every flower in the garden, every book borrowed, every glass of clean water, and every game played by the girls is a reminder of what is possible when a community works together for a shared vision.
Below are some of their most inspiring initiatives:
Classroom Library: Bringing Books Closer to Students
Before this initiative, Joynagar High School had only one central library—and it was located in the teacher’s room. This meant that students rarely had access to books beyond their textbooks. Reading for pleasure or exploration simply wasn’t part of their school experience.
During the dream building session, students shared their wish to have a library within their classrooms, where books would be easily accessible and part of their daily routine.
Soon after, Class 6 and 7 students—both girls and boys—took the lead. Their first challenge was finding shelves. Fortunately, during a Knowledge Fair hosted by GYRF, two sturdy shoe racks had been used for the guests. The students saw an opportunity. With permission, they repurposed the shoe racks into small bookshelves for their classrooms.
Next, they collected books from their homes, neighbors, and friends. They decorated the shelves, labeled the books, and even made simple rules for borrowing and returning them.
Now, these 3 classroom libraries are thriving. Students borrow books, exchange stories, and are gradually building a culture of reading that goes beyond textbooks. For many of them, it’s the first time they’ve experienced the joy of reading for themselves.
School Garden: Planting Seeds of Care and Responsibility
The students also dreamed of making their school environment more green and beautiful. They decided to plant flowers and maintain a school garden themselves.
They worked together to bring saplings and plant them around the school grounds. However, there was an unexpected challenge—goats and cows kept wandering in and eating the plants.
Instead of giving up, the students kept nurturing the plants and shared their challenge with the headmaster. Moved by their dedication, the headmaster personally took action. He arranged for a fence to be built around the garden to protect it.
Today, the garden is flourishing. It’s not just a space filled with flowers—it has become a symbol of teamwork, perseverance, and shared pride for the entire school community.
Safe Drinking Water: A Student-Led Solution
During group and individual SALT conversations, Class 8 (B) students raised an important concern: while water was technically available at the school, it was iron-rich and unpleasant to drink.
The tubewell, located on the ground floor, produced water that had a strong taste and smell due to high iron content. Many students avoided drinking water during school hours, while others would leave class to fetch cleaner water from nearby shops or homes. This disrupted their learning and left some students feeling thirsty and uncomfortable throughout the day.
The students were determined to solve this problem themselves. Inspired by a demonstration from BRED, an organization that showcased low-cost mud filters at our Knowledge Fair, they decided to build their own filter to improve the taste and quality of their drinking water.
They watched instructional videos, made a list of materials, divided tasks among themselves, and pooled their resources to purchase what they needed. Working together, they successfully created a mud filter that helps reduce the iron content in the water, making it much more pleasant to drink.
Now, their classroom has access to safe and better-tasting drinking water, allowing students to stay refreshed and focused throughout the day without needing to leave their lessons. This initiative also became a powerful example of teamwork, problem-solving, and student-led change.
A Playground for Girls: Creating Equal Opportunities to Play
One of the most emotional moments of the dream building sessions came when girl students shared their feelings about play.
Even though Joynagar High School had a large field, the girls never had the chance to use it. The field was always occupied by boys, leaving the girls to stand on the sidelines, wishing for a space where they could run, laugh, and play freely.
The teachers and the School Management Committee (SMC) listened carefully. They decided to take immediate action. Behind the school was a neglected, waste-filled area that wasn’t being used. Together, they cleaned and transformed this space into a dedicated playground for girls.
For the first time, the girls had their own safe space to play sports, practice physical activities, and simply enjoy being active.
The impact was profound—not only did it give the girls an opportunity to play, but it also sent a strong message about equality and inclusion, showing that everyone deserves the chance to grow and thrive.
Teacher’s Training
During the dream building session, teachers expressed their wish to improve their teaching skills and qualifications through modern training. Now, they actively participate in training programs provided by both GYRF and self organized, enhancing the quality of education for their students.
Behavioral Change for a Healthier School
During the dream-building session, students realized their own habits contributed to an untidy campus: “We have dustbins in every classroom, but we litter waste here and there. The toilets are not always clean or well-maintained.” They took action to change this. Now, students use dustbins properly, keep classrooms tidy, try to use washrooms correctly, and flush after use. They also created posters with tips on maintaining cleanliness, displayed in front of the washrooms. Their goal is a clean and well-maintained campus with improved and hygienic toilets. Though it takes time for habits to fully settle, these efforts are fostering a culture of hygiene and responsibility throughout the school.
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