Aaranyak: A Rural Alternative Learning Space

                In the month of January and February 2019, Aaranyak team stayed at Pomlapada block, Narmada district in the project location and conducted Balmelas (children’s fair). Balmelas were on the themes of paper craft, science toys and body science, and cooperative games were used in between to create a fun and learning environment. Balmelas were conducted in Sejpur primary school and Almavadi girl’s school with strength of 51 and 113 respectively.

                Other than Balmelas, Aaranyak team has spent a lot of time in interacting with people who have been working in the field of education, health and development sector. Michael, Mamta, Dr. Harishbhai and Chaulaben are few among them who have been working in these tribal areas since many years. They shared their insights about Aaranyak project which the team felt very important. Chaulaben, also participated in the brainstorming session along with Aaranyak team. The group discussed about the core values they would like to hold on in Aaranyak, do’s and don’ts at a personal level, their personal vision for Aaranyak and what they would like to do towards it. The whole idea of this brainstorming is to bring alive the collective vision for Aaranyak.

                Apart from the regular activities, the team had an interesting experience during an unplanned day. The team decided to take a forest route towards Kaanjal which is the last village in the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The team ended up in a school of this village, during their assembly time. The team received good reception from the school teachers and asked if they can do some activities/games with children. It so happened that, the team which thought of doing couple of activities ended up doing complete Balmela with 110 children. Children thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and the teachers mentioned it would have been really good if we had informed them earlier. They would want to have Balmela with all the school children. In the midst of planned agenda, overwhelming response like this from a completely unscheduled event kindled new energy in the team.

                Aaranyak is going to be an open learning space, where a lot of sustainable activities like organic farming, renewable energy, biogas, eco-construction, water recycling, rain water harvesting etc. will be practiced. These activities once practiced, will become a model to replicate in the nearby villages. To implement project at such a large-scale, Shaishav needs a land of about 10 acres in these areas. In the month of March, Aaranyak team has spent time looking for land for this project.

Watch this space for more updates on the project in the coming months.