{"id":1673,"date":"2019-10-11T10:42:13","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T10:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviuk.org\/?p=1673"},"modified":"2021-03-14T21:02:31","modified_gmt":"2021-03-14T21:02:31","slug":"thamarai-educational-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviuk.org\/news\/thamarai-educational-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Thamarai Educational Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"
In Auroville we can see the Matrimandir and the accompanying beautiful gardens.\u00a0 We can see all the millions of wonderful trees, take comfort in their connection to the soil and water, and enjoy the shade they provide.
\nWe can see all the different buildings, marvel at the different architectural styles and enjoy the comfort provided by the guest houses.
\nWe can see a whole variety of many other things, the farms, the schools, the food and restaurants and all the commercial units producing a colourful array of products.<\/p>\n
Many visitors don\u2019t see the Aurovilians going into the local villages supporting the local population and particularly the children. There are almost 50 Auroville projects now providing outreach services, as can be seen in a new exhibition in the Visitors Centre.
\nThese Aurovilians aspire to build relationships and to provide understanding, hope, direction, empowerment, and ultimately love, through organising educational and health programmes through free playgroups, after school groups and health\/healing programs.\u00a0 But occasionally, they face opposition, cultural barriers and even hostility.
\nOne such Aurovilian is Bridget who is one of the co-founders and co-ordinator of Thamarai Educational Projects.\u00a0 Bridget kindly showed me some of the various buildings they operate from.\u00a0 She explained that Thamarai services provide educational support in as many villages as they can, some in the south and some in the north of Auroville.
\nShe also introduced me to some local educated, dedicated youth who had come forward to help as facilitators to guide the children.<\/p>\n
Their work is constantly evolving. For example, after one healing centre was shut down in a village, a new mobile health programme was designed by Aurovilian Muthukumari, who grew up in Moratandi village. This program now reaches several government schools and many women\u2019s groups.
\nWhen finances allow, new programmes are being offered. For example, some students\u00a0 practice Silambam weekly, a traditional martial art, which is a stick folk dance known to improve concentration.<\/p>\n
Bridget explained that apart from their usual educational program, a leadership program is offered, based on Monica Sharma\u2019s book Stewardship for New Emergence. This book is used to support children and youth to source their own inner power for project design, to create solutions to problems they want to address.
\nSo, Thamarai children have been trained to design projects\u00a0 Some have chosen to work on water and waste management, education and sports development and overall wellbeing in the village.<\/p>\n