My Projects

In my last 2 posts I mentioned that I sat down and did some intense project planning but it’s about time I told ya’ll some details of what I’ve been doing.

The exact title of the project I chose was “Developing tools and approaches to teach science in rural schools.” I didn’t actually understand what that meant until like a month into YFS. My focus has been on improving science teaching in the abhyasikas. The standard education system here is based on memorization, so the creativity and application-based teaching that we use in the States is not common. Back home we have easy access to a lot of supplies that are useful to show basic science concepts through hands-on activities. So my work has to do with improving the supplemental science teaching done in abhyasikas. But while finding experiments for my science teaching handbook, I realized that even simple things like baking soda and vinegar are not found in every home. So I’ve been working on using all the resources I have to find experiments that make the most effective use of materials found in vastis.

The first science demonstration I did was showing how oil and water don’t mix and then explaining that this is one reason why we need to use soap. It’s such a simple thing that we saw in elementary school, but the kids were fascinated by it and so eager to learn about why this happens. Their interest made me even more enthusiastic to explain the science behind this!  

Along with this science education project, I’ve started going to Ambedkar Nagar where they face issues such as low water supply, dropping out of school, poor hygiene, and sexual abuse and harassment. My focus is tackling the issue of safety of teenage girls in the vasti. Back home we learn martial arts for personal development. But the teenage girls in this vasti actually have a need to learn self-defense for their personal safety. Before going to teach them I was a little unsure of whether my time constraint of one month was sufficient for them to learn and make an impact. But I’ve only been 4 times so far and I can already see a change in them.

On the very long bus ride home on Monday, I basically could not stop smiling. Never have I ever felt such happiness after teaching. I’ve felt happiness after mentoring or teaching or tutoring in the past, but this was just something totally different.