29/07/2026
Humbled beyond measure to have met Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri V.D. Satheesan, and Hon. Minister for Local Self Government & Rural Development, Shri K.M. Shaji - both of whom had earlier visited our schools in Ajman. It stays with us that the Chief Minister once remarked he had seen nothing quite like our school anywhere in the world, which inspired and gave us the confidence to bring this proposal home.
During the meeting, we shared Habitat’s practical experience of more than two decades in sustainable education, inclusive learning, community farming, environmental stewardship, and active ageing. We also discussed the welfare of Malayali families whose children study in UAE schools and presented our policy proposal, “Towards a Greener, More Inclusive Keralam,” containing fifteen practical recommendations across education, rural development, sustainability, and global employment—each drawn from initiatives that have already been implemented and tested through our journey and shared what we’ve learned firsthand: that when immigrants and natives build together, remarkable things follow.
We were encouraged by the thoughtful exchange of ideas and the positive response to proposals such as strengthening opportunities for Kerala’s educators, expanding models like community farming initiative of ours, alive in a local village in kerala for ten years now, and building on proven initiatives like Sayahnam, our senior citizen engagement centre in Kozhikode, inaugurated by Shri Rahul Gandhi in the presence of Shri V.D. Satheesan, which demonstrates how retired citizens can continue to contribute meaningfully to society. We remain grateful for the opportunity to contribute, however modestly, towards a greener, more inclusive, and globally connected Kerala. Every meaningful change begins with a conversation, and we are hopeful that this dialogue marks the beginning of many more.
28th July 2026, Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram.
Attended by: Mr. Shamsu Zaman, Managing Director, Habitat Group of Schools. Adil C.T, Former Founding Academic Director, Habitat Group of Schools. Nancy Salman, Group HR Manager, Shammah Maryam, Director, North Gate British School
