Au revoir, Claudia!

It hasn’t all been fun and games here in Pune. At the beginning of January, we said a very sad goodbye to Claudia didi. Claudia started her AIC journey in 2010 as a residential program volunteer, then returned last year as director of the Education Outreach Centre. During her tenure, she instituted a teacher training program, kept careful track of student attendance and grades, and raised accountability and standards across the board. She became a fixture in and around Yerwada; I know from personal experience that it was impossible to walk with her through the market without having to stop at least three times to say hi to various people. At the schools, at students’ homes, and of course, at the Centre, Claudia constantly pushed for the best for our kids. On top of everything else, Claudia held all of our programs together during a time of great transition. Her wisdom and resourcefulness were instrumental in the smooth operation of AIC, and her loving support sustained the residential kids as they entered boarding school in the fall. Although we miss her dearly, we know she will be successful at whatever she does. Good luck, didi, and keep in touch!