In April 2026, Socus Art Foundation hosted a Cultural Exchange Programme with students from Frank Field Education Trust, United Kingdom.

A group of over 40 students and staff from across the Frank Field Education Trust returned to the UK from an unforgettable immersion experience to India, combining cultural exploration with community engagement and social awareness activities. Through circus arts, games, discussions, and collaborative activities, both groups shared their cultures, daily lives, and learning experiences.

Our young performers demonstrated their circus skills and spoke about their journeys, the challenges they face, and how Socus Art has helped them develop confidence and leadership. In return, the visiting students shared their own experiences, creating meaningful friendships and promoting mutual understanding, respect, and global citizenship.

This exchange celebrated the power of art to connect communities across cultures and showed how young people, despite coming from different backgrounds, can learn from and inspire one another.

The journey began on Wednesday 29 April 2026, when the group travelled from Manchester to Heathrow before boarding an overnight flight to New Delhi.

After arriving on Thursday, 30 April, students took part in an immersion programme across the Indian capital. The first day included visits to some of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks, including the Lotus Temple, ISKCON Temple, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, Hanuman Mandir and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Students also met children from PRATYeK, who accompanied them throughout the visit and helped create meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange and friendship.

On Friday, 1 May, the group split to take part in two different programmes. One group visited Anjali Ma’am School and the Mother Teresa Home, while the other worked alongside the Salaam Baalak Trust and joined an Advocacy Walk with PRATYeK children. One of the highlights of the visit came on Sunday, 3 May, when students from the UK travelled to Agra to visit the world-renowned Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. The group also enjoyed lunch at Sheroes Hangout Café, a social enterprise that promotes women’s empowerment.

The trip concluded on Wednesday, 6 May, when the group departed New Delhi and travelled home to Manchester, UK via London Heathrow.

The visit provided students with valuable insights into Indian culture, history and society while fostering international friendships and developing a greater understanding of social issues affecting young people. Through their work with organisations including Socus Art, PRATYeK and Salaam Baalak Trust, students gained firsthand experience of community-led projects and returned home with lasting memories, new perspectives and a deeper appreciation of global citizenship.

Ms Katie Dixon, Director of Education at the Frank Field Education Trust (UK) said: “Working alongside Socus Art, Pratyek and the other organisations gave our students a unique insight into the lives of young people in New Delhi. The friendships formed and the experiences everyone shared will stay with us for many years to come.”