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Liberate School ( Bal Mitra )

 

Yuva Mitra is seeking a way out of this problem though its innovative programme called Bal Mitra, which is envisioned as a powerful framework for creating opportunities for learning outside the formal schooling system and a creative interface of the two, as this would be more beneficial for children, adolescents and adults.

What is Bal Mitra?

Bal Mitra is Yuva Mitra’s initiative based on the philosophy of ‘Liberate School’. The essence of this novel concept is to explore 'learning spaces' outside and beyond the classroom, and schooling system, and thus to make learning process more meaningful, relevant and enjoyable for the children.

Yuva Mitra is engaged in this programme since 2000, which then started on a pilot basis in two villages. Presently this programme is carried out in 20 villages in Sinnar block from Nashik district in Maharashtra and reaches out to thousands of children, both school going and non school going.

Underlying concepts and principles are;

• Learning is not confined to the four walls of the school alone and there is a need to explore learning spaces outside schools.
• A learner-based content is more relevant in connecting the lives with education.
• Traditional knowledge and skills of the community is a significant learning space and conscious efforts are needed to identify, revive and strengthen them.
• Learning by doing and through positive enquiry is significant as against the prevailing notion of learning by memorizing.

Although Bal Mitra is a child-centered programme, its scope is much wider and accommodates all those who have significant role in the development of the child, particularly parents, family, school and community. Therefore the programme also provides ways to address some of the community issues, besides promoting child development and value based learning.

Bal Mitra experiences on the ground

Every village has local volunteers - Khelghar Sathis, young boys and girls who are willing to spare their time and energy to work with children. They undertake village level activities with support from Yuva Mitra team.

Major Bal Mitra activities include - Kheghar (for learning through playing and creative expressions), Shivar Pheri (for understanding environment and resources in the vicinity through local experts), Varta Patra (for expressing ones’ own views and concerns through a monthly hand written / painted wall paper), Maitri Shibir (inter village get-togethers for nurturing collective spirit and co-learning) and Gammat Jatra (Annual get-together of all villages for free creative expressions).

The activities have helped immensely at individual and collective levels. Some of the major outcomes are presented below;

• Learning has become an enjoyable process. There are no ‘drop outs’ in Khelghar, rather the membership augment day by day. Similarly involvement of children in Khelghar activities positively affects their school performance, from what the teachers have said.

• Learning has become more relevant to children’s own lives and their environment. From identifying local songs and games to discovering village history, from painting to newsletter making; all activities in Bal Mitra programme attempt to relate learning to oneself. Thus they are learning about matters related to their day to day living. Learning is engaging when it is relevant. Children feel emotionally attached with the topic and their interest levels are sustained.

• Learning has become a more inclusive process. Khelghar provides a free and non-judgmental forum that children want to be part of it. It attracts school goers as well as non-school goers alike. It involves children with disabilities and even shows improvement in their abilities to express themselves. Conscious yet subtle attempts of Yuva Mitra team have made Khelghar accessible to children across all sections. Bal Mitra shuns from creating hierarchies based on caste, class, gender or performance or other things and promotes co-learning as against competition.

• Traditional wisdom and knowledge gets due recognition. Bal Mitra unearth host of traditional knowledge through its programmes like Village History, Shivar Pheri. With the onslaught of formal schooling local wisdom and knowledge makers are often relegated. Apart from revival of traditional knowledge these activities have helped to minimize generation gap and maximize respect for elderly people.

• Community ownership is gradually emerging. Bal Mitra programme have achieved remarkable level of trust and involvement of the community. Community acceptance is evident in parents’ changed perception about education and their willingness to permit them to be part of Khelghar. The fact that all the villagers have made a place available for Khelghar Bhavan shows that the villagers are also taking ownership of the programme and its responsibilities.

• Concerted action on local issues has been initiated. Three major and significant community initiatives owe their credit to Bal Mitra - Biodiversity conservation, Devnadi Regeneration and Dairy cooperative. Bio-diversity conservation is furthered with community participation and includes activities like maintaining a village level bio-diversity register; developing a bio-diversity park with all vegetation varieties, including those on the verge of being extinction, in the area, and this with a purpose to evolve ways of sustainable livelihood. Devanadi River Regeneration initiative started after a group of 22 youth set out on a 4-day long exploration journey – Shodh Yatra - covering nearly 45 kilometers through the banks of Devnadi. After interacting with villagers on the back and studying reasons for degeneration of the river the youth group is planning concrete action to stop further deterioration. Similarly the Dairy Cooperative is one of the recent initiatives of the organization benefitting several farmers. Assurance of price, proper advice and linkages whenever necessary make the farmers confident in approaching this dairy. Daily over 2000 liters milk is collected from nearby villages and it has earned credibility in a shorter span despite competition. This is their humble attempt to address the problem of unemployment among youth and complements their quest for having locally relevant and beneficial programmes.

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