A carnival for children
Like your child’s learning to extend beyond textbook knowledge? Head to the Vividha festival, where the focus is on new media and innovative learning …..KEVIN LOBO
For years people have cribbed about the education system in India and the narrow-minded approach of parents who want their kids to be engineers and doctors only.
Comet Media an NGO formed in 1997, that has been organising workshops and fairs, brings you the Vividha festival this week. The festival aims to promote an innovative style of learning for kids and alternative careers for the youth.
“Comet media focuses on education and new media,” says Aditi Pandey who is the co-ordinator for Bal Vividha. “We have a resource centre with books, films and also educational toys made by local artisans. We want to develop new media. We hold different kinds of workshops other than education, from photography to film appreciation, we realise how big digital media is becoming, and we want to focus on that.”
The Vividha festival is just not about education. “One of the aspects of the fair is how education does not only include books, it is about how education can develop the society at large. It is also a place for different organisations that deal with education to come together,” says Aditi.
With the response they have received in one of the fairs (30,000 people in three days), these fairs promise to be a good learning experience.
BAL VIVIDHA
BAL VIVIDHA
Bal Vividha focuses on teaching children with innovative methods. “Our stalls are not placed to sell products only, we will also teach origami which can be used to study geometry, magic to help students study physics, eurhythmics and various science experiments like the bioscope,” says Aditi. Eurhythmics uses music and movement to help students develop a better sense of space using the eye, ear, mind and body.
“We also have workshops for teachers and parents. We teach them how to handle kids with special requirements, like kids with learning disabilities to an adolescent who does not want to study,” says Aditi.
Attend the Bal Vividha fair at Vishwajyot High School, Sector 20, Kharghar from April 25 – 27
YUVA VIVIDHA
YUVA VIVIDHA
Yuva Vividha is an experiment that Comet Media has come up with. “We plan to focus on kids between the ages of 15-20. We want to make kids aware of unconventional career possibilities with the help of ICTs (Information Communication Technologies) and how ICTs can be used for social development,” says Aditi.
The stalls are at the event are interesting. “There will be a section where we will teach kids to shoot, edit and upload videos on YouTube, there is also a stall where we are showing kids how to use GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to find travel routes, etc,” says an excited Aditi.
The Yuva Vividha Fair will be held at St Stanislaus High School, Bandra from May 1-3 from 10 am to 8 pm. Call Aditi on 9920601953