Lucknow — Lumina Terra officially opened its doors, marking the beginning of a bold, child-led educational movement in India. True to its name,Lumina Terra, meaning “Light of the Earth.”
The campus itself is a model of sustainability. It is built almost entirely from wood and natural materials, immersing children daily in lessons about stewardship of the Earth. Learning beyond rows and walls, Lumina Terra’s students learn in circular dome-like spaces and at round tables that invite collaboration and focus. These circular structures centre children’s energy and promote calm, connection, and balance.
The beautiful campus features hand-crafted Yurts built by the master craftsman Lee Jingyi from the Mongolian border, and a spectacular Zome, for the first time in India, designed piece by piece by the famous French artist Michael Feneux, and children’s playground crafted from wood by Olivier Ledoux.
In Lumina Terra’s approach, children are grouped in mixed-agecommunities, much like a family, where they learn with and from each other. This unique system breaks the cycle of age-based competition. It nurtures collaboration, empathy, and mutual respect. Learning draws inspiration from the pioneering ‘ALfA’ method of Accelerating Learning for All by Dr Sunita Gandhi, but takes it a step further. Backed by an international board of advisors from countries including Finland, India, Norway, and the USA, Lumina Terra brings together diverse global expertise and local wisdom.
Academics are seamlessly integrated with the arts, life skills, well-being, and global citizenship. This ensures that children grow not just in knowledge but as whole, balanced individuals ready to contribute to the world. This new school addresses the emotional and spiritual needs of each child, helping them attain a rounded education of both inner and outer powers.
Built on timeless Indian values, Lumina Terra embraces tradition with its khadi uniforms while seamlessly integrating modern tools like AI into a forward-thinking, global curriculum.
Lumina Terra is currently opening its door to children of 2 to 10 years of age, but it envisions growing into a full K–12 school offering both CBSE and IB pathways.
Learning here happens at least two classes higher compared to conventional systems, joyfully and without pressure. Instead of standardized tests, families receive clear, weekly constructive feedback that shows each child’s progress aligned with CBSE, ICSE, and IB competencies.
As Lumina Terra takes its first steps in Lucknow, it invites all to reimagine what education can be, that is, deeply human, profoundly connected to the Earth, and alive with the spirit of community and light.
