Action Learning Days: Strengthening Bonds with Alumni and Creating New Connections.
In the spirit of fostering well-rounded leadership and nurturing the next generation of change-makers, ‘Action Learning Days’ (ALD) emerged as a multifaceted platform for learning. Action Learning Days uses a number of modalities like experiential/exposure visits, dialogues, workshops and community spaces to build youth’s capacity to engage in social issues.
Originated in 2016, ‘Action Learning Days’ has served as a medium to bring youth, which includes Youth Alliance’s alumni, to act, learn and serve. We have so far hosted over 60+ themes catering to the most relevant issues of our times.
Action Learning Days, at its heart, captures the essence of a community that is driven by growth, curiosity, and transformation. The platform stands as a testament to our commitment to providing an environment where the youth can embark on their journey of self-discovery, self-expression, and ultimately, meaningful leadership.
THIS MONTH’S ACTION LEARNING DAY: 23rd Sept’23, Saturday
The internet is a space to create, express, connect and collaborate. It enables us to share our story through multiple platforms in multiple ways, which go beyond a single language or a medium. But what started with the idea of consent is now moving towards the collection of user's behavioral data without their knowledge. In such a situation, how can we be more aware of the ways in which we engage with such platforms? What are the alternatives on the Web? At this Action Learning Saturday, Workshop on Digital Privacy is designed to discuss as well as a question such as structures and look at the answers collectively. The workshop will be conducted by Akshay, the Coder-Founder of Wildfire who has been building web-based tools for the past 12 years.
Different themes on which Action Learning Days are based:
Past Action Learning Days
August 2023: Workshop on Sign Language with Rotaract Club
July 2023: Waste to Art Workshop with There is No Earth B
June 2023: An Anime Film Screening with Radha Khatri, YA
In June, we delved into the enchanting world of anime with the movie "Flavours of Youth," exploring themes of rediscovering childhood joy, meaningful living, and treasuring memories through time.
May 2023: Workshop on Visual Communication with Abhishek Dass
In May, we embarked on a journey of Visual Communication, exploring the power of visual thinking and doodling led by Abhishek Das. This workshop encouraged self-reflection, clarity in work, and the expression of unique perspectives through playful engagement with our inner creativity. Abhishek Das, a Mechanical Engineer with experience alongside Padmashree Dr. H C Verma, guided us in this enlightening self-expression experience.
April 2023: Exposure Visit to Kat Katha, GB Road
Kat-Katha is dedicated to empowering women and children in the brothels of GB Road, working towards a brighter future for them. Geetanjali didi affectionately refers to this place as the 'pyaar ka mohalla,' where the cramped worlds up the dark stairs hold a unique sense of love and compassion. The didis, adorned in shimmering clothes, exude motherly care, offering us food, rest, and leaving an indelible mark on our hearts. Our visit left us enriched with love, wider smiles, and warmer hearts, confirming that GB Road is indeed a 'pyaar ka mohalla.'
January: At Katputli Colony
The first ALS happened with one of our alumni, Vijay who runs an organisation called Jagriti in Katputli Colony slum in Shadipur, where 12 communities comprising artists from different states of India live. On the day, we witnessed communities struggle to get dignified residential area from the government. And Jagriti’s effort to become a bridge between the two. It was here that it felt the intensity of values being practised by one of our alumni - only strengthening our belief in what we do.
March: At Labhya
Learning. Colours. Ownership. Gratitude! These were some of our reflections at the end of our action packed Action Learning Saturday with @thelabhyafoundation Our day began by sharing a circle with Team Labhya, a group of committed artists, designers and architects in the making, who chose to dedicate their creativity and souls to Project LAPE. The idea behind Project LAPE is to make government schools an enriching experience in entirety. We experienced the energy and values that have extended their way through two alums of Youth Alliance, Richa Gupta and Vedant Jain. From mixing colours to painting to immersing ourselves in the culture of Labhya, we experienced the ripple effect first hand, yet again!
February: At Goonj
Goonj which some of us call living monument of social change in India, would have been a pilgrimage spot for Action Learning. 25 of us who came together in February were awestruck by the attention to detail that was given by every member of the Goonj family to their work. Anshu Bhaiya and Meenakshi Didi shared their thoughts on the 18-year exceptional journey with Goonj, from it's birth to it's growth. They spelled out the telling reality of our ecosystem and how dreams matter the most.
April: At Kat-Katha
Kat-Katha supports women and children living in the brothels of GB Road to create a better future for themselves.
Each of us were made aware of the 'pyaar ka mohalla' as Geetanjali didi likes to call it, that existed in the cramped little worlds up the dark stairs. The love and concern that the didis showered on us was so humane it left not one of us untouched. From offering food to inviting us to rest after being exhausted in the sun, the decked up didis in their shimmering clothes were figures of motherhood. We all walked up home a little richer that day, with a little more love in our beings, our smile wider, our hearts warmer. GB Road is indeed a 'pyaar ka mohalla'.
“I felt that the YA members instantly became a part of the team and shared the cause. They reflected the spirit of service to me” - Siddhi, Team Labhya