Swatantra Talim

A non-profit working towards making education more inclusive, experiential and accessible.

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

After engaging with contextual maker spaces and working on intensive projects in cultural art for a considerable amount of time, we are now ready to gradually move to technology-based maker spaces.

Yes, it’s time to shift gears! :)
#techbasededucation #makerspace

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

https://t.co/aPHCSrc3V4

Our Khoj Yaan recently landed at 13 government schools with a new story, Pinnochio! It is a puppet show followed by making-activities based on the story of 'Pinnochio and the children related, engaged had lots of fun with the story :)

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

2023 was such a full year for us and we're grateful; for all the challenges, reality checks, experiments, accolades, learnings, stories, and smiles :)

We look forward to 2024 with all our hearts and minds, and we can't wait to experience all it has in store for us!

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

We recently curated and presented a 17-minute show called ‘Talking Threads’ at the Katkatha Puppet Fringe. Some people found the performance as rather deep and touched upon some metaphors of art, womanhood, and Chikankaari, and some found it to be a visual delight.

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

When you make learning, education and maker spaces both cultural and #contextual, you make it easy for the child to not only resonate with what they’re learning but also engage with it more deeply. :)

#contextualmakerspaces #culturalunderstanding #educationforall

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

Catch us perform Talking Threads, a story based on the experiences of some amazing women Chikankari artisans on the 17th of Dec at Max Mueller Bhawan at The Katkatha Puppet Fringe! ✨
Registration Link: https://t.co/GluvxbH9No

#innovationineducation #storiesthatmatter

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

@FabLearn recently held a conference at Teachers College, @Columbia University, where the amazing @TheSumitKarn from Manzil presented our paper, 'Amalgamation of Narrative Discourse and Maker-spaces as a Tool for Critical Pedagogy'. :) we're elated and grateful!

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

Rahul Aggarwal and Abhishek from our team recently led a Contextual and Cultural Maker Spaces Workshop at @iitbombay as part of their T4E Conference.

Contextual and Cultural Maker spaces not only help us MAKE, CONNECT and CREATE, but also tinker, experiment and innovate.

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

Our co-founder, Rahul Aggarwal, is on the panel as a guest speaker for a ‘Dialogue on Youth-Centric Experiences of Education’ being organised by @YouthCommutiny and the Vartaleap Coalition. Please join us! :)

#conversationsforchange #innovationineducation #talimaazaadhai

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

From being in a Swatantra Talim classroom in Ramdwari, to creating a brand of her own, Zeenat is really a star!

Today she runs ‘Swatantra Ibadat’, (Instagram handle: swatantra_ibadat_) her own brand, where she creates and shares some beautiful designs! :)

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

Kim, Founder @TakeAPart , Bristol, visited us as part of her research work in Community Arts Practice. Our young rockstars shared with with her how ‘Making’ helps them unlearn, solve problems, and grow!

#communityfirst #creativityeveryday #innovationineducation

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

Well, what can we say? Sometimes we just not only have stars but even constellations on our mind, and almost always, do we want to reach for them! ✨✨

#TrueStory #starsonpaper #kaleidoscope #talimaazaadhai #artforeducation

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

As we celebrate #thejoyofgiving this @daanutsav , we managed to spill some magic in some communities in Thakurganj, Bijnor. Children from Adarsh Rajdhani School, along with their families were also our audience in the community, and in Ramdwari and Malaria villages, too!

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

Day 1 of Daan Utsav at the Leprosy Centre, Mohanlalganj, spreading stories and smiles :)

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

Our co-founders, RIDHI and Rahul, recently participated in a wood workshop during their two-week stint at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore.

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

We recently presented a paper at IISER, Mohali on 'Puppetry- How an Art Form acts as an Interdisciplinary Form'. The conference was on 'Importance, Challenges and Possibilities of Art and Physical Education in School Education' organised by Azim Premji University, Bhopal Campus.

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

At Swatantra Talim, we hold on to the power of 'making', creating and tinkering along the way :) Children and youth alike construct, design, fix, recreate, or refine designed objects in meaningful ways that connect to ideas from multiple and variable contexts within their lives.

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

“I am not a box”, our most recent puppet show.

We work in 13 primary schools of Lucknow district through our flagship ‘Khoj Yaan’ programme based on stories, puppet show, games, puzzles and tinkering, to make children free and creative independent thinkers, and problem solvers.

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

We bring to you, Swa-Kraanti, our newsletter, taking you through some of our most-priced moments and highlights from the past few months. Happy reading!
PS: A shout-out to Shrija Agarwal for stepping in and curating this newsletter! We wish her all the luck :)

(part 2)

[Swatantra Talim @SwatantraTalim]

We bring to you, Swa-Kraanti, our newsletter, taking you through some of our most-priced moments and highlights from the past few months. Happy reading!

PS: A shout-out to Shrija Agarwal for stepping in and curating this newsletter! We wish her all the luck :)

(part1)