Youth ProjectYouth Project is an 8-months, weekend-based program for youth in the age group of 16 to 20 years who are passionate to lead change in their own life and those of others around them. A youth project participant is typically in grade 9 or 11 (if studying) and at times working to support family, however being in school is not an important criterion. Although, it is expected from all participants that they be able to commit their participation through the course of the program. |
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why A YOUTH PROJECT?
The Youth Project is based on Paulo Freire’s idea of praxis - action and reflection - for a person’s critical engagement with self, society and environment. Many programs offer these experiences of action and reflection, by “creating” the experience of “action” (ex - service learning, community projects, lab experiments, classroom team games, etc) for educational purpose upon which the reflection is based. While it has its own value, sometimes it separates itself from the day-to-day life that students live. The life where they get bullied and they bully. The life where decisions of careers are made. The life where parental love, neglect, abuse or concerns are affecting the child’s life on a daily basis. This life is action.
However, we find there are very few spaces where youth can engage in meaningful reflection upon these experiences safely. The Youth Project aims to use this daily action, called ‘life’, to make deeper sense of their lives.
Our ideas of life are based on the identities we assume and identities start shaping up in teenagehood. With that starts the formation of stereotypes, prejudices, biases, micro-aggression and bullying. This further leads to discrimination and violence.
The questions in front of us are: Can we create a safe space of continuous reflection to complete the cycle of praxis? What if our youth is enabled with the skills of critical praxis for rest of their lives? What if our youth is enabled with a self-mechanism to question and cleanse their biases and stereotypes (for self and others) for a healthier engagement with self and society? Will it help them realise their true potential?
With these and many such questions, the Youth Project is conceived and offered to youth of India.
However, we find there are very few spaces where youth can engage in meaningful reflection upon these experiences safely. The Youth Project aims to use this daily action, called ‘life’, to make deeper sense of their lives.
Our ideas of life are based on the identities we assume and identities start shaping up in teenagehood. With that starts the formation of stereotypes, prejudices, biases, micro-aggression and bullying. This further leads to discrimination and violence.
The questions in front of us are: Can we create a safe space of continuous reflection to complete the cycle of praxis? What if our youth is enabled with the skills of critical praxis for rest of their lives? What if our youth is enabled with a self-mechanism to question and cleanse their biases and stereotypes (for self and others) for a healthier engagement with self and society? Will it help them realise their true potential?
With these and many such questions, the Youth Project is conceived and offered to youth of India.
PRIMARY objectives
The Youth Project hopes to create a space for youth to -
• Reflect upon their actions in life from a diverse lens of identity systems
• Build self-mechanisms to generate empathy as a lifelong process
• Recognise their own social positions and the privilege, power and marginalisation that comes with it (also imagine how can we engage with these positions to recognise the need for equity)
• Re-imagine life from a growth mindset
To achieve above objectives, students are engaged in themes such as gender, caste, class, religion, sexuality, language, disability and other such identity systems. They also engage with various frameworks such as growth mindset, iceberg theory, exploring cultural beliefs, personal dreams and life plans.
• Reflect upon their actions in life from a diverse lens of identity systems
• Build self-mechanisms to generate empathy as a lifelong process
• Recognise their own social positions and the privilege, power and marginalisation that comes with it (also imagine how can we engage with these positions to recognise the need for equity)
• Re-imagine life from a growth mindset
To achieve above objectives, students are engaged in themes such as gender, caste, class, religion, sexuality, language, disability and other such identity systems. They also engage with various frameworks such as growth mindset, iceberg theory, exploring cultural beliefs, personal dreams and life plans.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Application and Selection
All applicants will go through a selection process, consisting of written application (in language of their choice), group project and interview. Participants will be carefully selected based on their passion and commitment for being the change in their own lives and those of others and openness to learn and grow.
Induction
Selected participants will be informed and invited for an orientation. The orientation will help the group know each other and begin the process of designing a customized learning and support for them. This also includes parent/guardian interaction to help them understand the design and expectations of the program. At this time, if a parent/ guardian and the selected candidate mutually realize that the he/she may not offer the committed expected from the program, he/she may opt out. The seat is offered to the next candidate on the list.
Weekly Workshops and Final Project
After a successful induction, participants begin with their weekly workshops with some of the following key aspects:
• Open discussions to generate the themes undertaken during the project (their lives will inform the core curriculum!)
• Topics facilitated for deeper understanding by subject experts.
• Opportunities for integration with academics and real life scenerios
• Some of the tools used are - poetry, theatre, arts, play and field visits
• Individual time, differentiated instruction and group work.
• A final project, nature of which will emerge from the group discussions Language of Instruction: Hindi and English (students are invited to speak in their language of comfort, with a possible translation in the discussions.)
Schedule (tentative) – Fridays, August 2019 to April 2020
The Friday workshops run from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm on all Fridays. Participants will need to bring their own lunch and water.
Location
Khoj Community School, Room no. 105, Building no. 20/A,
Ekta Housing Society, Hiranandani Aakruti, Lallubhai Compound,
Mankhurd (West), Mumbai, 400043
All applicants will go through a selection process, consisting of written application (in language of their choice), group project and interview. Participants will be carefully selected based on their passion and commitment for being the change in their own lives and those of others and openness to learn and grow.
Induction
Selected participants will be informed and invited for an orientation. The orientation will help the group know each other and begin the process of designing a customized learning and support for them. This also includes parent/guardian interaction to help them understand the design and expectations of the program. At this time, if a parent/ guardian and the selected candidate mutually realize that the he/she may not offer the committed expected from the program, he/she may opt out. The seat is offered to the next candidate on the list.
Weekly Workshops and Final Project
After a successful induction, participants begin with their weekly workshops with some of the following key aspects:
• Open discussions to generate the themes undertaken during the project (their lives will inform the core curriculum!)
• Topics facilitated for deeper understanding by subject experts.
• Opportunities for integration with academics and real life scenerios
• Some of the tools used are - poetry, theatre, arts, play and field visits
• Individual time, differentiated instruction and group work.
• A final project, nature of which will emerge from the group discussions Language of Instruction: Hindi and English (students are invited to speak in their language of comfort, with a possible translation in the discussions.)
Schedule (tentative) – Fridays, August 2019 to April 2020
The Friday workshops run from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm on all Fridays. Participants will need to bring their own lunch and water.
Location
Khoj Community School, Room no. 105, Building no. 20/A,
Ekta Housing Society, Hiranandani Aakruti, Lallubhai Compound,
Mankhurd (West), Mumbai, 400043
Nominations for academic year 2019-20 are closed. |