Shikshantar E-Patrika: Winter 2008-09

There’s always energy and interest in the work of Shikshantar. http://www.swaraj.org/shikshantar/   Here are some items from the winter E-Patrika.

Upcoming Events
Udaipur as a Learning City
– It’s wide, colorful and inviting… and built for many! We recently constructed a sofa from mud, rice husk, straw, stone and cow dung, to create a space for public interaction in our neighborhood. It is inspired by the traditional village chaupal. Stop by at the Shikshantar Chai Chaupal to warm yourself in the winter sun, have a cup of herbal tea and welcome passers-by for a chat!

– The food revolution is underway at Astha Training Center in Bedla. Sunny Gandharva, a long-time member of our team, and Leena Gupta, from the Foundation for Ecological Security, are leading the way by sharing healthy, local and organic foods at this retreat center which hosts over six thousand visitors a year. See what’s cooking up in the kitchen and come on by to lend a hand!

– Winter is here, and so it’s time to stock up on herbal medicines! This season, with the large crop of amla (a local fruit high in vitamin C), we are particularly focused on making chywanprash, a super wonderful health tonic with over 50 different kinds of herbs. We will also be making a natural cleaning agent for bathrooms and floors. Come by Shikshantar, or give Ram or Uma a call if you would like to host a herbal workshop in your neighborhood!

– Looms loom everywhere in Shikshantar these days! Stop by to learn how to pick up this simple and effective art, and to make your own simple handloom out of waste cardboard with Guddi and Hira. We have been using scraps of cloth to make colorful belts, bags and purses. Let your fingers do the walking… and see what you can create!

Unfolding Learning Societies Conference
After its first gathering in Udaipur in 2002, Unfolding Learning Societies traveled to Mumbai, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan and Iran. We are inviting friends from all over India and from around the world, who are doing creative work in all kinds of fields, and are experimenting with new forms of lifelong learning and healthy learning communities, for the next conference, to be held in March 2009. Contact Manish Jain and Nitin Paranjape manish@swaraj.org, and visit our webpage to see the history of Unfolding Learning Societies: http://www.swaraj.org/shikshantar/ls_discussion