Kolkata : Carrying stories, songs and a vibrant spirit of cultural exchange, a group of ten young volunteers from Wales recently visited Kolkata and Shantiniketan to take part in a dynamic community engagement programme celebrating shared traditions, creativity and learning.
The initiative offered an immersive cultural experience, bringing together local communities and international volunteers through storytelling sessions, art workshops, music, games and educational interactions.
The exchange programme is rooted in a long-standing relationship between Wales and Kolkata. More than two decades ago, the Welsh youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru partnered with Christian Aid to launch the “Welcome Calcutta” campaign, aimed at raising awareness among young people in Wales about the lives and challenges faced by youth in India. The initiative later evolved into a cultural exchange programme connecting Welsh volunteers with young women growing up in Kolkata.
Building on this legacy, and with support from the Welsh Government, the Urdd established a partnership with Her Future Coalition during the Year of Wales in India 2024. As part of this collaboration, groups of Welsh volunteers have been visiting India to support community engagement initiatives in both 2025 and 2026.
The programme began with a visit to the learning centre of Her Future Coalition in Kolkata, where the volunteers interacted with women entrepreneurs and learned about initiatives that promote sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment. During a session led by Srabani Sanskar from Hamari Muskaan, the group explored community-driven efforts focused on empowering women and girls.
The volunteers also observed artisans crafting purses and bags from recycled fabrics, demonstrating how skill-based livelihoods can help create pathways toward financial independence.
Cultural exchange remained at the heart of the programme. Welsh volunteers introduced aspects of their heritage through storytelling, folk dance and traditional games, while also collaborating with participants to create a symbolic Wales–India banner featuring Welsh, Bengali and Hindi text.
In Shantiniketan, the group engaged with educators and students at Suchana, participating in six interactive sessions with nearly 150 students. They also visited Suchana’s mobile libraries in nearby villages, where children took part in storytelling activities, outdoor games and creative workshops while learning a few Welsh words and cultural traditions.
Back in Kolkata, the exchange continued through visits to several grassroots community spaces. At the Mustard Seed Library, the volunteers shared a Welsh culinary tradition by teaching children how to make Welsh cakes, alongside music, art and interactive games.
The group also spent time at Nabadisha, a police station-based safe space that provides educational and creative engagement opportunities for children. The visit included cultural performances by the children, along with craft sessions, sports activities and interactive demonstrations.
Additional engagements included a visit to Ek Tara School, where volunteers joined students in art workshops and observed traditional Indian dance classes. They also toured skill development centres supporting young women in vocational training such as mehendi and beauty services.
Through heritage walks, craft sessions, sports activities and community-hosted meals, the programme offered participants a deeper appreciation of Kolkata’s everyday cultural life and traditions.
Welsh delegate Megan Mcdonaldy said the experience left a lasting impression:
“Our time in Kolkata and Shantiniketan has been incredibly enriching. Through music, stories and everyday interactions, we discovered how cultural exchange can create genuine connections and mutual learning. The warmth of the communities we met made this experience truly unforgettable.”
Adding to this, Maura Hurley said the initiative continues to build meaningful connections between the two cultures.
“The cultural and personal exchanges create seeds of growth and new perspectives for everyone involved. The programme has been a real success, and we now look forward to continuing this amazing journey each year.”
The initiative ultimately emerged as a powerful celebration of friendship, empathy and cultural connection, strengthening ties between Wales and Kolkata through shared experiences and community engagement.
