We, at Ek Tara, face additional challenges of students living in conditions where the basic survival components, such as food, electricity, water supply etc. are often compromised. When survival is at stake, taking care of an individual child’s social and emotional needs often remain unheard. To address this issue Ek Tara promoted it's SEL programme.
In Ek Tara, we believe in holistic development which includes not only the girl child but also their parents and their community. We teach the student through a contextual SEL curriculum where the student gets an understanding about their surroundings and becomes socially connected. Often adolescent daughters find it difficult to open up to their near ones about various issues that slowly begin to engross them. We address this by creating a platform where they can share it with us which creates an emotional connection both ways. They are also engaged in dance, drama, storytelling, football, karate etc. which is really helpful for their development.
We have worked with this model at our learning Centre with about 900 children. This innovation allows students to connect with their reality with a better understanding of self. Students can be more confident in approaching the world knowing fully well their strengths, areas of development. One begins with a study into the child’s various spaces of interaction at a social and emotional level. And then helps the child make sense of it all in their own existence.
If it needs to be replicated, the first and foremost thing that needs to be done is to include the parents in a child’s learning process by giving emphasis on their contextual learning and creating a safe space to encourage the children to share. This will help them to connect with their reality & get a better understanding of self.
