Photo Credit : Ravi Kaimal, Architect (1993)

It All Started With “What If?” Behind every great school is a great story

In 1992, in the small village of Bali, Rajasthan, William and John Bissell set out to answer this question by creating a model school — a place that would empower and uplift rural children, especially young girls, where literacy rates had been heartbreakingly low.

After completing his studies in 1988, William Bissell spent years immersed in the heart of Rajasthan, working alongside rural artisans and craftspeople. Those experiences profoundly impacted him, revealing a stark reality:
quality education, affordable and accessible, was scarce in the villages he visited.

Determined to change this, he envisioned a school that could do more than just teaching.

It would nurture each child’s inherent talents, teach them to cherish their environment, and equip them with the skills to shape their destiny.

It all started with “What if…”

What if a single school could be the spark to transform an entire community?

What if young girls and boys from a village in Rajasthan could dream beyond the boundaries they were born into?

Our mission was clear: to offer rural children a high-quality education in English, recognising primary education as a powerful stepping stone toward equality, opportunity, and dignity.

But our mission extended beyond classrooms. In a culture where families who could afford English-medium schooling typically prioritised their sons, the school made an extraordinary commitment to girls. Up to 100 scholarships were awarded each year, with nearly 70% reserved exclusively for girls, many of whom now hold leadership positions within the school.

Thanks to The Bhadrajun Artisans Trust, scholarships reach children from marginalized communities who might otherwise never see a classroom. Our children learn not only to dream of a bright future but also to honor their roots. They leave with a sense of pride in their heritage and a shared responsibility for the land that shaped them.

Through the school, young people in Bali are discovering a new way forward, grounded in the values of empathy, community, and courage to change their world.

And today, we've grown from just 11 students to
a thriving community of over 800 young minds.

Photo Credit : Ravi Kaimal, Architect (1993)