Adorned with a will that defies her age and keeps her going strong, Ms. Dora Boomstra at 85 is a motivated and principled lady who first set foot on Indian soil almost six decades back. She then carried with her a benevolent heart and some knowledge about the country she calls home.

Coming to India, her aim was to provide quality education to students living in the rural areas, and ever since she has not turned back. Ms. Boomstra hails from a small town in the state of Chicago, USA. She has dedicated her life to missionary work and never had time to start her own family. She does not have any close relatives and lives with her friends whenever she returns back home in the US. Residing in a town where there is no public transport, the only modes of travel to the city are taxis.

She started her missionary work at a school in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu with a couple of students but later the school - VRV Girls High School-became a household name. At the school, the missionaries also run hostels and crèches.

Her Thoughts on India

Ms. Boomstra always had liking for India even before she came to the country. She read a lot about India and was touched by their humility and remarkable hospitality when she came to the country. In return, she was liked and adored by the local people and they did not want her to leave even when the Quit India Movement was at its peak.

When asked if she had any bitter experiences in India, she gave an emphatic No, adding that even if there were any such experiences, she could not recollect.

According to Ms. Boomstra, an individual's action should not be based on our assumptions because when you look back, the person may not have intended to hurt you. “We should learn to Her Views on Education According to Ms. Doomstra, education is not just for gain of knowledge but most importantly, the opportunity to imbibe values. “A teacher's role goes beyond imparting knowledge to the students. There should be a personal touch and emotional understanding that exists between teachers and students, which is very important,” she explains.

She also mentioned that a teacher's authority should not rest on the stick he or she wields but in the values ingrained in them which should be recognized by the students. On modern day education, she shares the views under ideals of the Chairman, Dr. Joseph V.G and also emphasized on the importance of learning English language in this era of globalization and the need for students to go out and attain their true potential. She also appreciates and agrees with the thoughts of Dr. Joseph that students should not just study to get jobs, but gain knowledge and choose careers that interests them.

When asked about her achievements, she insists that it is not important who she is but what God is - words that find echo in all her missionary endeavors.

Dr. Thomson Thomas, PT

Executive – Corporate Relations