Starting in May 2022, fresh out of the pandemic, the intent was to design a set of Furniture or enablers to be used in Community Classrooms. The process navigates itself through conversations with the likes of Ratan J Batliboi (Architect, Board Chair and Trustee of CRY), Safdar Rahman (Educator and Filmmaker known for his film Chippa amongst others), Sneha Phalle (known for her extensive work with Govt schools in Goa), Nandita Desouza (Behavioural and Developmental Paediatrician), Vishal Rawley, Talulah De Silva (Founders of Community Classrooms, Goa) and Satish Gokhale (Industrial Designer who does extensive work with plastics and roto-moulding).
After-school community based exercises like Bookworm, Goa and Community Classroom were taken as case studies to help set parameters. The result of this design exercise is a Pilot Concept that entails a kit of Furniture for 30, 8-14 year old children which would enable a Community Based learning environment that encourages peer-learning and imbibes a sense of community. Special care and attention was paid to ensure that the elements do not, in any way, indicate a distinction in terms of usage amongst the students.
This Project will provide the children with a space to exchange ideas and learn with and from each other. It aims to create an access to learning, so children can then discover their interests, potentials and intelligences in a shared environment.
