Maya Universe AcademyNetherlands

Exchange Program with Het Amsterdams Lyceum

Of the various relationships that Maya has built with foreign schools, the one with Het Amsterdams Lyceum is the strongest. The Amsterdam-based school visited Maya in Nepal twice. Since both founders of Maya Netherlands enjoyed their secondary education at Het Amsterdams Lyceum, it is no coincidence that this Dutch school has become so involved with Maya.

Led by Tjeerd Volbeda, vice principal of Het Amsterdams Lyceum, a school trip to Maya was organized twice. In 2017 and 2018, a group of twenty students from Amsterdam traveled to Nepal for an unforgettable experience. Their stay was a great success for both the Dutch and Nepalese students. Besides all the sports activities, presentations, lessons, games and dance performances, it was mainly the ease with which of the Dutch and Nepali students connected that made it such a memorable experience. Leave a group of children from completely different backgrounds to their own devices and they will find common ground.

Both groups from the Netherlands had done a fundraising campaign in which money was collected for a science lab and a library. During their trip, the students from Amsterdam worked hard to be of some help in the construction of their projects. The experience at Maya has made such an impression that several students returned after they had completed their final exams at Het Amsterdams Lyceum.

This exchange of knowledge and culture between peers from Nepal and the Netherlands was an amazing contribution to the education of both the Dutch and Nepali students. It has inspired us at Maya Netherlands to set up more partnerships with schools in the Netherlands.