Author Archives: mbsns

As we headed for our break in July, the Parents-TL Meet (PTM) was a major event. We try to meet parents atleast twice a year, at end of a full semester, to talk about the childrens’ learning level. One part of the PTM involves a collective discussion reinforcing for both the parents and children thatContinue reading “July, 2023 – Ending the semester with a PTM! “

2nd October, Gandhi Jayanti is always special at the Jeevanshala. Classes are as usual but in the classes we create time to talk about why today is special. Each TL with their group asked children what the word ‘Gandhi’ brought to their mind and they said ‘non-violence’ ‘freedom’ ‘unity of the hindus and muslims’ ‘honesty’Continue reading “October 2023 – Continuing learning”

September can be terribly hot and humid in our place, and yet we thrive in the mental comfort of the Jeevanshala. Here, we constantly work with our children to cultivate ideas of compassion, care, trust and support them to build their capacities to be self-actualized individuals. At the same time, we bring academic rigor byContinue reading “September, 2023 – The sultry and humid weather does not dampen our spirits.”

This month saw a visit by Prof Shishir Kumar Jha, of IIT Bombay. He interacted with the older children about the various options that open up for them if they have had a chance to pay attention to their learning. The interaction with the older children was interesting because they got a chance to meetContinue reading “June 23 – a regular month with theatre, workshops, visits and lots of learning!”

We started the semester on 2nd May, with the Ahavaan project – Sisters Vedi and Pakhi Sinha, and Sumant. They took the children through an interesting journey of Kabir. The children for the last two years have been singing Kabir songs, one of the favourites being ‘zara halke gaadi hako mere rRam Gaadi wale’. VediContinue reading “May, 2023 – Starting the semester with Ahavaan project- The Kabir Journey!”

This was a month of send offs, as we said bye to Tannu, Priyanshu and Sachin who stepped out into the world to join different schools. The children shared little little things which made them bond with the students who were leaving and the TLs also presented them with flowers and wished them the veryContinue reading “Continuing Classroom Pedagogy”

The Puppetry Workshop The Mosamat Budhiya Jeevanshala, did not close in the coldest period this January because we had a workshop with Katkatha, from January 2 to 5, 2023. The facilitators Anurupa and Asha, made it to far off Araria, in spite of missing their scheduled train. Despite the cold all the children were excitedContinue reading “January 2023- Starting on the right footing, in the bitter cold”

Cataloguing Books for the library The month started with about a thousand books being unpacked. These were mostly English books for children sent by friends, who were running a library in Dumraon but for various reasons found it difficult to continue the library there and decided to donate the books for the Jeevanshala children. TheContinue reading “March, 2023 – Last month of the academic year”