The sound of laughter and some flying dough greet one at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Santacruz (W). Around 20 students from Santacruz Municipal School between 5 and 12 years are seen making a dough balloon man in a room. As their teachers look on, a group of young men and women explain to the children how to stuff the balloon.

Flying high: Sivan Keller with some of the Urdu medium students of Santacruz Municipal School. Pics/Abhishek Rane

War and peace
This is not an ordinary class, but deviates from the usual classes. The youth who are teaching them are former Israeli Army personnel who have served their country for two to three years.

“In Israel, military service is compulsory for every person. So, when men and women turn 18 they are enrolled in the army. Women serve for two years, while men for three as they work in different departments of the Israeli Army.