Parent Testimonial | Dulwich College Seoul

This parent testimonial was originally published in 2023.

We are from Pakistan. We are a small family with just my daughter and my husband. We originally came to Korea for what was meant to be a short two-year stay in Busan. His contract was extended, and then COVID-19 happened, and we were told to remain in the country. Last year, we were transferred to Seoul, and now we are in our sixth year in Korea.

My daughter, Fatima, was only three when we arrived. The transition from our joint family home in Pakistan — where she was surrounded by aunts and grandparents — to a new country and a temporary hotel room was not easy. Over time, however, she formed strong bonds and gradually found her confidence.

Mr Dekens played an important role in helping her settle. She had met him at our previous school in Busan, and when we visited Dulwich College Seoul and she saw him in the corridor, she immediately felt reassured. That moment gave her a sense of familiarity and comfort in a new environment, and it confirmed for us that Dulwich was the right place for her.

As a parent and as a teacher myself, supporting Fatima’s transition was a learning journey. I worked closely with Mr Dekens and her teachers and reflected on how I could create the right environment at home to help her feel secure. With time and encouragement, she grew more at ease in school and began to flourish.

Education has always been central to my life. Alongside being a Dulwich parent, I run a free school for underserved children in a remote village in northern Pakistan. The Perha Likhha Pakistan Trust School began in 2013 with just 13 students and now serves hundreds of children. The experience of supporting young learners, both at home and abroad, has deepened my appreciation for schools that prioritise care alongside academics.

Within the Dulwich community, I also found a sense of belonging through volunteering with the Friends of Dulwich (FoD) and in the Inquiry Hub. In a way, FoD is my therapy. Coming to school, being with others, and organising books in the library is helpful for the school and for me. It allows me to form new bonds and feel connected.

I am also completing my postgraduate certificate in education in early childhood education. Spending time in DUCKS classrooms has helped me reconnect with my own learning and passion for working with children.

Looking back, this period of our lives has been shaped by growth and resilience. The support we received from the school community made a meaningful difference in helping our family settle and feel at home.