IMA Newsletter, June 2024
Germinator Octopus Tank, Ecoversities Global Gathering at Brazil, Opportunities for Re-imagine Education, Plant 4 India Fellowship, The Curious Parent, Project Defy Learner Stories..
News & Updates
IMA - Germinator
9 budding ecoversities from india got shortlisted for this year's Ecoversities Incubation program (Germinator).
Each year Ecoversities hosts Germinator - An Incubation program to nurture budding ecoversities, as part of which selected projects from across the globe receive funding support (of upto $1200) and mentorship support for 6 months. Indian Multiversities Alliance core team runs this program for Indian projects and this year, we selected 9 projects (out of 70) to support from India:
Off-grid Living Academy - By Tushar Kelkar, Pune
Mystic River Ecoversities - By Gopala Krishna, Rishikesh
Poetversity - By Rachit Sharma, Delhi
Theatre for change - By Aanand Nagvanshi, Delhi
Senjolai Farmversity - By Senthil Kumar, Coimbatore
Food wisdom Academy - By Archana Singh, Delhi
Mountainwind Ecoversity - By Ritu Varuni, Bhuria, Himachal
Alivelihood Careers - By Prachi Mittal, Dehradun
DobeDobeDo Open learning community - By Monali Lodha, Pune
After selection, the Germinator core team hosted a 3 day in-person orientation workshop for the leaders from above selected projects, at Azadwadi, Gurgaon which happens to be a Germinator grantee too from last year. Starting from June, Germinator team has been hosting Octopus Tank series wherein experienced change makers from IMA community are pitching with the multiple forms of wealth they have - ideas, inner wisdom, network, coaching, listening, finances etc. to help these projects. Refer Upcoming events sections for more details.
Asia Ecoversities Regional Gathering
May 11 – 16, 2024. Nepal
The Asia Ecoverse reunited in the heart of Nepal for their third Regional Gathering with 40 participants from 8 countries around the world, 5 days filled with the spirit of unity and collaboration, they were received by the King’s College Community in Kathmandu and the Royal Beach Camp in Bagmati, where they entered into communion with the mountains and the flowing of an ancient river, the river Trichuli, a riverversity, and witnessed the emergence of new friendships. The rich heritage and colors of Nepal accompanied this fantastic gathering, which our friends share in these little reflections. Enjoy!
Find reflections and testimonials here.
Creativity in Education Conference
On March 14-15, 2024, a diverse group of educational leaders and organisations came together in New Delhi to co-host the first-ever national ‘Creativity in Education Conference.’ Creativity has been recognised across the world as a key 21st century learning skill for the future. Despite this, there remains a large gap between the intention and its implementation on the ground. The purpose of the Conference was to share experiences, pedagogies, and conversations around the core challenge of “How can we work to
gether to create more opportunities for enhancing the creativity of children and communities in the Indian education system?” The Conference was co-hosted by Shikshantar Sansthan, New Earth Foundation, DS Group, Digital Empowerment Foundation in partnership with UNESCO-Delhi.
Photo Corner
Opportunities - Jobs/Internships/Fellowships..
Job - Senior Facilitator for Re-imagining Education
Location - Udaipur, Fluent in Hindi
Swaraj University <www.swarajuniversity.org> is inviting applications for Senior Facilitators in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Swaraj University supports experimentation in self-designed learning, unlearning, gift culture, sustainable living, social entrepreneurship.
The Senior Facilitators will be responsible for:
Facilitating the overall learning program with 40 young tribal women;
Supporting and coaching young tribal women on developing their leadership vision and skills;
For more information and to apply, write to manish@swaraj.org or WhatsApp 8290784189. Or apply here on LinkedIn.
Training Course - Kanthari Organisation’s Change Maker Program
You know what change society needs, we provide the tools!
Apply to become a participant in the kanthari impact leadership course that starts in April.
Find out more details about this scholarship based program and apply via: Link
Fellowship - Plant 4 India, Sadhana Forest
1st October, 2024
A one year Fellowship where you will train climate vulnerable and malnourished rural communities in India in indigenous reforestation and water conservation. You will be part of one Sadhana Forest’s centers in rural India and help build climate resilience and create long-term water & food security for disadvantaged communities. More information: www.plant4india.org.
The next batch of the Plant 4 India Fellowship will start on Tuesday 1 October 2024. Applications will be received until 15 July 2024.
Job - A Learning Space in Dhun, Jaipur
Jaipur.
We’ve been running a small learning space here where children from nearby villages and urban communities come together to learn about anything and everything. We are looking for someone who can really help us and our children build strong relationship with nature.
As a location, we’ve access to 150 birds, lakhs of trees, 5 water bodies etc.
Know anyone who loves children and can be a nature educator. This is a paid position, based in Jaipur.
Find more here.
Contact: Preksha, 9769279631
Job - at RenSyn Living
Sakroda, Udaipur. English & Hindi.
"Programme Officers" on a full-time basis, to continue work on the eco-restoration of its 50-acre eco-village project site at Sakroda, Udaipur district, Rajasthan.
The Applicant must:
Have academic background (Masters) OR at least 2 years on-ground field work experience in Botany, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Studies/Sciences or related fields.
How to apply: Please email your CV and any other relevant details about yourself or the work you have done to ecovillage@rensyn.com, before 25th June 2024. Interviews will be held at Sakroda (Udaipur) on or before 10th July 2024. Date of joining work will be 16th July 2023.
Upcoming Events, Courses, Workshops..
Germinator Octopus Tank Online sessions:
June 2024
18th June (Tuesday) 7:30 - 8:15pm - Senjolai Farmversitiy
23rd June (Sunday) 7pm - 8:15pm - Food wisdom Academy & Mountainwind Ecoversity
Meeting link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84622627287?pwd=gyRfUGROT6Lf9QEv5vC0IE81zeHHxc.1
The IMA germinator projects are the 9 budding ecoversities from india which got shortlisted for this year's Ecoversities Incubation program (Germinator). Germinator Octopus Tank is a radical twist to the popular TV show "Shark Tank". While "Shark Tank" supports only startups which are likely to return high profits, our "Germinator Octopus Tank", is more about nurturing ideas and dreams that expands the human consciousness, regenerates cultural and ecological connections.
While Shark tank has handful investors giving out money, Octopus tank has the whole community pooling in the multiple forms of wealth they have - ideas, inner wisdom, network, coaching, listening, finances etc, to help the projects they believe in.
We welcome you all to participate in this beautiful experiment which will go a long way in strengthening our ecosystem.
Vimukt Shiksha - Journey of Mind-Body-Spirit
1st-6th July, Northern Thailand
Embark on a Journey of Mind-Body-Spirit in Northern Thailand! ✨🌿
🗓 Date: 1st - 6th July 2024 | 🌟 Theme: Mind | Body | Spirit
Join Us on This Journey of Exploration!
Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of Northern Thailand as we delve into the holistic themes of mind, body, and spirit. From traditional hill tribe villages to Thai Buddhist temples and rejuvenating Thai spas, this 5-day journey promises to nourish your soul and invigorate your spirit.
Our journey operates on the principle of gift culture, with a suggested contribution between $600 to $2,000. Your generosity will help sponsor other participants and make this journey accessible to all.
🔗 To Register and brochure: Link
📧 For More Details: Contact Harsh at harsh@swaraj.org or WhatsApp at +919958311401
Ganga Pada Yatra
24-29th June. Gangotri - Gaumukh Tapovan.
Ganga Pada Yatra is a collective journey of self discovery and transformation along the high-altitude hiking trails in the Himalayas.
The yatra follows the ancient practice of sacred walking pilgrimage to the origin of the holy river, providing opportunity for deep reflection, inner stillness and personal transformation. Led by expert facilitators, the yatra offers meditative spaces, sessions on self awareness and traditional wisdom, mindfulness practices, sharing circles and fun bonfire nights.
As we undertake a collective journey of adventure through the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayan landscape, we also begin to embark on our own inner journeys to living a life of freedom.
Accommodation in tents and ashrams. All the meals on this journey will be simple and vegetarian.
Program Cost: 9,000/- (Inclusions : Food, Camping and Tenting Equipment, Facilitation and Organising Charges), Exclusions: Transportation to Gangotri and back)
Apply: In order to apply for the yatra, please fill out the following form below: Link
For more details: Contact 7895495379 (WhatsApp) | Instagram
Senjolai - Natural Farming & Lifestyle Training for Children
21, 22, & 23 June. Coimbatore (TN).
Natural Farming & Lifestyle Training for Children
Monsoon is here. Rice plantation activities await your presence At Atmatrupti open community learning centre.
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 - 𝟮𝟵/ 𝟯𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟲/𝟳 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰.
Charges: 700/- per person for day. Only for food and the experience.
Who is staying with us for them, Accomodation is free and basic but very comfortable. Ek baar village life ki comfort chakh kar dekho🙏🏼.
Age group: Above 8 years. Below 8 years only under care of guardian.
Activities: Games, Bird watching, snake information, trible life style, importance of nature.
Waiting for a rainy adventure? You are just a call away...
Reach at - 𝗧𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿 ( 𝗔𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶)
𝟵𝟭𝟳𝟱𝟭𝟭𝟲𝟯𝟴𝟭/ 𝟵𝟱𝟰𝟱𝟲𝟳𝟱𝟴𝟳𝟭
Please book your seat in advance. (Available on whatsapp / old school way call).
Ahimsagram - No Blame Zone
Weekly NVC Practice Group, Jaipur.
Do you at times catch yourself asking any of these questions mentioned below?
My children don't listen to me and are not willing to do even basic things that I request them to do?
My parents do not understand me and do not respect my choices and with each day it’s getting painful to spend time with them?
Why is it that when I talk about small issues with my partner, they turn into major fights?
If your answer to any of these is a ‘Yes’, then we want you to know that you are not alone.
We are initiating a way to address such challenges with skilled trainers and group support. We’re thrilled to bring back our weekly practice group. Whether you’re new to NVC or a seasoned pro, everyone is welcome! 🌿
📍 Ahimsagram, Jaipur | 📆 Starting Saturday, June 8 | ⏰ 6 PM - 8 PM
There is no fixed fee to join the practice group but we welcome your voluntary contributions to support Ahimsagram are much appreciated so we can continue doing our meaningful work and contribute to the larger community.
You can see more of Shammi’s work and learn about Ahimsagram at Instagram
Register now by signing up on this link.
Workshops - Forest Greens by Shruti Thayaril
Introduction to the World of Edible Flowers - Flowers have played a significant role in our culinary heritage for centuries. Some blooms have been used for their medicinal properties, while others have become a delightful part of our cuisine. In recent years, the world of edible flowers has expanded, thanks to the social media revolution. Many previously overlooked flowers have found their way into our diets, enriching our culinary experiences.
We invite you to join us for an introductory session into the enchanting world of edible flowers. During this workshop, you will:
Learn to identify edible flowers that grow abundantly in your surroundings.
Discover creative ways to incorporate edible flowers into your daily meals.
Gain insights into the historical and cultural significance of edible blooms.
Date : 29th & 30th June, 2024 | Time : 11:00am - 12:30pm | Online
Register here - https://forms.gle/Nq7YY88rddRdVpLSA
Introduction to Backyard Herbalism, where we delve into the world of medicinal herbs that often thrive right under our noses, disguised as common weeds. In this workshop, we'll explore the diverse array of healing plants that can be found in our backyards, gardens, and even along footpaths.
Discover how these medicinal herbs can seamlessly integrate into your daily herbalism practices, enhancing your overall well-being.
Learn the art of mindful utilization: Explore ways to incorporate these herbs into your everyday life with intention and respect for their healing properties.
Unveil simple yet effective recipes: Empower yourself with easy-to-follow recipes that allow you to harness the potential of these herbs without the need for expert supervision.
Date :23rd June (Sunday) 2024 | Time : 5 pm - 7 pm | Online
Register here - https://forms.gle/vGSA6jbVkpEWniME6
🌟 *Invitation: Ecoversities Asia Region All Members Welcome Call*🌟
📅 *Date:* Sunday, June 30th, 2024
⏰ *Time:* 9:00 AM IST / 10:30 AM Thailand
📍 Platform: Zoom
Dear Ecoversities Members,
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming All Members Welcome Call for the Asia Region. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, share updates, and collaborate on our ongoing projects and initiatives.
🔗 Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81350740356
Meeting ID: 813 5074 0356
Learning Resources
The Curious Parent with Jinan KB - Do Nothing Parenting
We are all victims of education and all our crises today stem from this fragmented, anthropocentric, life alienating and self centric competitive education system. Our climate crisis, mental health crisis are nothing but a reflection of what we have become after being educated. Non-educated communities were not as suicidal as us, they were far more jn tune with life, with nature.
Podcast - Un-herd with Project Defy
Education's Broken Promise: Unveiling the Great Deception
In this episode, we speak with Meenakshi Umesh, founder of Puvidham Rural Development Trust. She discusses how the global perception of education as a universal solution is flawed and explores ways to navigate beyond this misconception.
Guest: Meenakshi Umesh, founder of Puvidham Rural Development
Host: Abhijit Sinha, Founder & CEO.
Listen here: Spotify
Check out Water is Love Film found in this Link
Which Features Rajendra Singh prominently who is also known as the Waterman of India.
Book Recommendations
MEENAKSHI UMESH’S RECOMMENDATIONS
My Experiments with Truth- M.K. Gandhi
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull - Richard Bach
Illusions -Richard Bach
The Story of Philosophy- Will Durant
Small is Beautiful - E.F. Schumacher
Everybody Loves a Good Drought- P. Sainath
The Good Earth - P..S..Buck
The City of Joy- Dominique Lapierre
Silent Spring- Rachel Carson
Economy of Permanence - J. C. Kumarappa
Stories of our Learners
Project Defy
Rwanda Nook Hub:
Team “Bukkadde Magezi” (which translates to Old is Gold) from Uganda's Mt. Elgon Nook Hub designed and built an affordable, eco-friendly bamboo bicycle for their community.
This team, which consists of three learners namely, Moshe Serwano, Wanyama George Wilson, and Namukona Michael, wanted to create a unique bicycle that can make transportation easier and affordable for the people in their area.
Now, they aim to move beyond the stage of building a “Proof of Concept” and expand their production.
Kaggalipura Nook:
Geetanjali, a learner who honed her tailoring skills at the Kaggalipura Nook is now gaining popularity in her local adjoining areas. Such has been the quality of her work, that she has managed to increase her monthly sales to as high as 60000 Rupees. Owing to her talent and skills, she is not only able to support her own family but with this newly found confidence she wants to support other women as well, guiding them to hone their personal skills and achieve economic independence.
YouTube - Sriya’s Journey with Co-versity (Aarohi)
Aarohi is an Open Learning Community for learners of all ages: Open to all kinds of interests, abilities, styles, and content areas. Learning by doing what one wants, how one wants, and self-reflection. Community to co-live, co-learn, and co-support each other. To know more, visit http://aarohilife.org/
Aarohi CoVersity: Discover Passions. Grow Professionally. For the youth (14-21 year-olds). Learn more - https://aarohilife.org/coversity
News from Ecoversities Alliance
Ecoversities newsletter for March - May, 2024: Newsletter
In this issue you will find:
Call for Solidarity with Members of the Alliance in Gaza 🍉
Reflections from the III Asian Ecoversities Regional Gathering in Nepal 🛶
Article: What can we learn from the student protests? 🥄
PER Circle: Gabriela Jimenez Residency in the itinerant Escuela Campesína Abya-Anáhuac in México & Petra Carman Residency in Deer Park, Indía 🐢
Germinating Circles: Unified Playfulness & Great Lakes Institute, Canada, Turtle Island 🦫
Flowing with Ecoversities: lots of gatherings and encounters with the ecoverse 🐋Save the Date! online Reimagining Education Conference 4.0 (24 - 27 October).
Ecoversities, Global Gathering 2024, Brazil.
August 17th to 22nd, 2024. Brazil.
This year's Global Gathering will be incredible! 100 education rebels, dreamers, and visionaries from around the world will gather in Cunha, Brazil, from August 17th to 22nd. Amidst the lush tropical forest, every moment will be marked by magical encounters and surprises from the favelas, with the enriching presence of indigenous people and the essence of the Brazilian roots. Share your gifts and nurture our network of relationships to encourage new learning practices and broaden our lives. To find out more and sign up: https://forms.gle/QEWisfL7oiyFwU6c8
Annual Membership Form
As we discussed in the last general members meeting, we have attached a letter regarding the Annual Membership Fee of the Indian Multiversities Alliance. Please click the link below: Google Drive
Please go through it. You can reach out to Harsh: harshw2409@gmail.com for any clarifications if needed.
Thanks for reading Indian Multiversities Alliance! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.
IMA (Indian Multiversities Alliance) newsletter is a bi-monthly newsletter published in second weeks (10th-12th) of alternate months. Member organisations are requested to send any relevant updates from their work/community/network to us accordingly.
The next newsletter would be published by August/September, 2024.
Reach out to Kalashree: kalashreee@gmail.com, or +91-9619875905 for any clarifications. Also our website is being updated please visit and reach out for more updates: https://www.multiversities.org
Thank you.