My first visit to Aurangabad and Ahmednagar has been very invigorating. I have been able to draw parents out to interact and share their challenges, and the session became very interactive. With series of examples from our daily life around children – how we behave and how else we can to help them enjoy their learning and realize their potential – I have been able to drive points that every parent realized. I am satisfied that I was able to connect and facilitate them find answers to their own questions during the session and interactions.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with children and mentors of Indus World Schools at Aurangabad and Ahmednagar. Children are always inquisitive and curious, eager to explore and I find no difference wherever I go. Yes, mentors are the ones who are trying to break the barriers they have created for themselves over the period of their journey. The methodology adopted at IWS are so learner centric, the mentors themselves have to be learners to help the young learner push boundaries all the time. This journey, many find very difficult to cope with initially. But, those who have been around and invested themselves for more than couple of years always share about the significant difference that this process has done to their life, and in turn to their children and their families. Many of the learner-centric processes, like circle time, have become part of the family process, wherein families sit around to share and express, give feedback to one another. And the mentor families are talking very highly about these. It is very heartening.

I am sure this movement, continued with conviction, can make a big difference to every child in the country.

Last but not the least, the location of IWS, Ahmednagar just by the side of the wild life sanctuary with blackbucks and deer frolicking around, is certainly a great rejuvinator!!

I managed to have a quick visit to Ellora, and I am amazed at the vision, workmanship and execution of these humongous monolithic architectural splendors as early as 800AD. Imagine the whole structures sculpted top-down, starting from the ‘shikharagr’, the top point, down towards the base!! What an inspiration work!

sreeni@iwsb.i