Kerstin Liebchen has worked in education since 1994. For over 30 years he has taught primary, secondary, and tertiary education in Australia. Her passion for education deepened by focusing on empowerment through education when she completed a Master’s in Community Development in 2012.

Kerstin’s connection with the Prajna Vihar School began after a Buddhist meditation retreat in Bodhgaya, India in 1992 when she met people working to build the school. Upon returning to Australia, she became one of the founding members and later the Chairperson of the Bodhgaya Development Association (BDA), an organization dedicated to supporting grassroots initiatives in the region. She has returned regularly to Bodhgaya, fostering enduring relationships with the community and witnessing the transformative power of education firsthand.

Kerstin works to ensure educational enrichment by facilitating professional development trainings for the teachers at the Prajna Vihar School. In 2015, she initiated a Service-Learning tour to bring people from Australia and Europe to Bodhgaya to engage with social projects in the region. She also encouraged the formation of an alumni group. Their reunions are powerful testaments to the lasting impact of education.

Kerstin is actively engaged with the Bodhgaya Development Association Scholarship Program which helps a few exceptional students go on to higher education or vocational training after graduating from the Prajna Vihar School. She has had the privilege of witnessing three generations of students grow, thrive, and transform their futures.

Leah is passionate about the rights and empowerment of women and children, both in Australia and abroad. She follows issues such as domestic violence and access to education closely, and is particularly drawn to the impact of sewing centres as tools for skill-building and financial independence.

With a strong belief in cross-cultural connection, Leah is dedicated to raising awareness among Australian communities about the ongoing needs in Bodhgaya.