Making lockdown innovators

Subodh Jain 28Cofounder Insight Walk EducationRahul a Class 8 student at Vidya Mandir Dhakale was proving to be a challenge for his teacher Poor grades in science math history and geography were reported to his family leading his alcoholic father to cane him But things took a turn once he was out of school At the Solidarity Art Farm Museum an openair community centre run by Insight Walk Education IWE he shows off his skill at embroidery and is often documenting the world of insects and animals The boy who aspires to be a wildlife researcher spent the lockdown studying the effects of chemicals on crops IWEs cofounder and workerinchief Subodh Jain says this has to do with learning in an open nonjudgmental space IWE fellow Alka Sonawane spoke to Rahuls teacher to help inspire lateral learningClass VIII student Rahul loves to embroider and research the effect of chemicals on cropsDuring the pandemic inducedlockdown the Solidarity Art Farm Museum proved to be a promise of hope for the hamlet in Hatkanangale district of Kolhapur Jain who founded IWE with his journalist brother Sanket in 2017 says The village is fighting for status and doesnt have a local panchayat or representation Casteism holds power making it tough to find space for a community centre that welcomes kids from all strataFinally they settled on a small patch of field and started the centre with 10 children in 2018 Today it sees a turnout of 100 while the centre itself has transformed into a museum of sorts allowing six to 14yearolds a free space to experiment with art and science vegetable dyeing pottery blockprinting upcycling trash and growing organic cropsThe Solidarity Art Farm Museum in Dhakale has grandparents schooling the kids on farmingWhen the lockdown shifted schooling from classroom to elearning in the cities the children of Dhakale faced a conundrum Villages face daily power cuts And the families wondered should we spend on a smartphone monthly recharge or buy ration Jain adds What they didnt have to worry about was vegetables Lessons from the 2019 floods in Kolhapur had taught the kids of the dangers of depending on external agencies for food supplies and so by the time the pandemic hit they were already growing vegetables Kolhapur Maharashtras sugarbelt is home to sugarcane cultivation but over time the waterintensive crop has led to soil depletion The children who had researched growing multicrops organically were able to provide for their families during the lockdown Jain explains The children also learned how to make cloth masks and face shields from upcycled scraps and plastic bottles for healthcare workers and pulleyrun hand sanitisers They even made motorised vegetable cutters hand blenders floor cleaners portable washing machines and dryers out of trash COVID19 ironically offered us hope It was an exam in life skills for the children Jain thinks They turned into innovators farmers problemsolvers Why wait for a crisis when you can make local learning part of your everyday livingJain who holds a B Tech degree in Computer Science is fixated on revamping education at the grassroots and works in the villages of Mangaonwadi Golivane and Sonarli besides Dhakale He does this by involving the locals themselves Ten women all school or college dropouts have day jobs as wage workers or agricultural labourers But at the respective centres they function as fellows to mentor the kids for a monthly salary Most of them belong to Dalit families who instead of being discouraged by prejudice are committed to changing the circumstance of the children Jain saysEngineer and education reformer Subodh Jain wonders why farming isnt part of the school curriculumBecause it takes a village to build a community Jain dips into the experience and knowledge of locals to empower the kids with novel skills The village potter becomes a mentor for children interested in sculpting It wasnt long before the elders too showed up at the community centres that are open 365 days some learning from the kids others teaching them Elders bring with them wisdom Their journey includes lessons that the instantgratification generation can learn fromHelp the kids get edu kitsThe IWE model works on individual donations The nonprofit is crowdfunding to provide education kitsmdashart science literature embroidery block printing farmingmdashfor kids who are stuck at home Its estimated that most students in the higher standards will drop out from schools postlockdown Since April we have seen an increase in young girls getting married to prevent them from returning to the classroom Until schools reopen these education kits will keep the students connected to learning says Jain Distributed monthly each kit costs R450 to put together and includes a small stipend for the fellow To contribute log on to httpsmilaaporgfundraiserssupportinsightwalkeducation1