Auroville's push for transformative engagement with schoolchildren
A press note said the 5th Integral Education Practitioners Gathering (IEPG5), organised by Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER), brought together over 150 educators, researchers, and facilitators to address the most pressing challenges facing children in today's technology-dominated world.
The three-day event on the theme — 'Research in Auroville' — positioned educators at the forefront of combating what many consider the silent crisis of childhood — excessive screen time and the erosion of physical development.
The IEPG programme was originally conceived and launched in 2021 by Jayanti S. Ravi, Secretary of Auroville Foundation, with a clear mission to nurture children to become the leaders, India needs for its future, the press note said.
'We are witnessing a generation of children whose potential is being diminished by screens while parents unknowingly enable this damage,' said a lead workshop facilitator. 'Our mission is to awaken both educators and parents to reclaim childhood through conscious engagement and physical excellence.'
Pointing to the alarming trend of working parents using mobile devices as 'digital babysitters', educators cautioned that this seemingly convenient solution created profound developmental risks. While children can develop addiction-like behaviours to gaming and video consumption, parents tend to buy into the illusion that their children are 'safe and occupied' while in reality, they are missing out on critical developmental windows. The long-term consequences of digital obsession can lead to loss of physical coordination, reduced attention spans, and weakened social skills, experts said.
The IEPG5 has also introduced revolutionary approaches to physical education that go beyond traditional sports programmes.
During the sessions, experts called for adopting advanced methods to identify each child's unique athletic and creative talents early in development, comprehensive frameworks to nurture identified skills into excellence, whether in sports, arts and interventions designed to make physical activity more compelling than screen-based entertainment.
In addition to comprehensive strategies to help children break free from screen addiction through engaging alternatives, experts also laid emphasis on educational campaigns to help working parents recognise and address the hidden costs of digital convenience.
Deepti and Matriprasad from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Jean-Yves (Auroville) and Smrithi (Anaadi Foundation) led the sessions.
Pointing to the participation of educators from Auroville's surrounding villages, the press note said rural teachers were now implementing digital wellness programmes and physical excellence initiatives. In fact, teachers in schools in the bioregion reported improvements when screen time was reduced and physical activities increased, with children showing enhanced focus, better sleep patterns, and renewed enthusiasm for learning, Auroville said.
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The Hindu
03-07-2025
- The Hindu
Auroville's push for transformative engagement with schoolchildren
Auroville recently hosted a conference of educators to push for transformative ways of engagement that would wean children away from digital dependency and nurture their physical excellence and creative potential. A press note said the 5th Integral Education Practitioners Gathering (IEPG5), organised by Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER), brought together over 150 educators, researchers, and facilitators to address the most pressing challenges facing children in today's technology-dominated world. The three-day event on the theme — 'Research in Auroville' — positioned educators at the forefront of combating what many consider the silent crisis of childhood — excessive screen time and the erosion of physical development. The IEPG programme was originally conceived and launched in 2021 by Jayanti S. Ravi, Secretary of Auroville Foundation, with a clear mission to nurture children to become the leaders, India needs for its future, the press note said. 'We are witnessing a generation of children whose potential is being diminished by screens while parents unknowingly enable this damage,' said a lead workshop facilitator. 'Our mission is to awaken both educators and parents to reclaim childhood through conscious engagement and physical excellence.' Pointing to the alarming trend of working parents using mobile devices as 'digital babysitters', educators cautioned that this seemingly convenient solution created profound developmental risks. While children can develop addiction-like behaviours to gaming and video consumption, parents tend to buy into the illusion that their children are 'safe and occupied' while in reality, they are missing out on critical developmental windows. The long-term consequences of digital obsession can lead to loss of physical coordination, reduced attention spans, and weakened social skills, experts said. The IEPG5 has also introduced revolutionary approaches to physical education that go beyond traditional sports programmes. During the sessions, experts called for adopting advanced methods to identify each child's unique athletic and creative talents early in development, comprehensive frameworks to nurture identified skills into excellence, whether in sports, arts and interventions designed to make physical activity more compelling than screen-based entertainment. In addition to comprehensive strategies to help children break free from screen addiction through engaging alternatives, experts also laid emphasis on educational campaigns to help working parents recognise and address the hidden costs of digital convenience. Deepti and Matriprasad from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Jean-Yves (Auroville) and Smrithi (Anaadi Foundation) led the sessions. Pointing to the participation of educators from Auroville's surrounding villages, the press note said rural teachers were now implementing digital wellness programmes and physical excellence initiatives. In fact, teachers in schools in the bioregion reported improvements when screen time was reduced and physical activities increased, with children showing enhanced focus, better sleep patterns, and renewed enthusiasm for learning, Auroville said.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Time of India
Dubai Marina fire: Wave of kindness as Dubai residents offer homes, meals, and relief
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Dr Deepti shared with Khaleej Times that the idea stemmed from a call she received from a distressed employee, a young man from Brazil who lived in the building. 'I tried to take the tram to check on him, but it wasn't working. So, I followed the smoke and walked to the building,' she recalled. 'What I saw was gut-wrenching.' Motivated by what she witnessed, she quickly created the WhatsApp group and laid clear rules: no cash donations, only essentials like food, clothing, undergarments, and toiletries. 'Within hours, our group crossed a thousand members, and I had to start a second one,' she told Khaleej Times . Stories of Kindness and Action Another citizen-driven support initiative was launched by Sevgi Anar, a Sydney-born health and fitness professional living on the 72nd floor of a nearby tower. She was among the first to notice the fire. 'People in our building were shouting across to the tower, trying to alert residents,' she said. 'It was hard to tell who had seen the smoke and who hadn't. Everyone just acted instinctively.' The following morning, while walking her dog, she found two men sleeping near a tram station — their feet covered in soot. Upon learning they had escaped the fire, Sevgi and a friend booked them into Rove Dubai Marina Hotel for the night. As more displaced tenants reached out, Sevgi created a WhatsApp group titled Accommodation for Tiger Tower Residents , now with around 150 members, focused solely on providing emergency housing. 'Ten boys, mostly Asian, were roughing it out near Princess Tower. We found them an apartment. Later that night, we put four more into Rove just for the night,' she shared. One grateful resident posted the next day: 'My roommates and I were able to sleep peacefully last night. Thank you, everyone.' Temporary Housing and Continued Needs While the building's management has provided temporary accommodation to residents with tenancy or ownership contracts, including at Nobles Tower in Business Bay, those in shared accommodations have struggled to find shelter. An Indian resident from the 20th floor said: 'I was told to go to Nobles Tower, but by the time I reached, it was full.' He is now staying at Staybridge Suites in Dubai Internet City with support from his company. His wife, who had just left for India two days prior, is expected to return this week. Another account came from Ross, an Azerbaijani expat living on the 60th floor. He was among the first to notice the fire: 'It started small. I thought it was coming from the 62nd floor and went up to check, but then I realised it was the floor right above mine. We tried using extinguishers and then the fire hoses, but it was too intense. Once Civil Defence arrived, we ran down the stairs.' 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New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Madhya Pradesh education dept team visits Auroville to explore NEP-linked, holistic learning tie-ups
VILLUPURAM: A delegation from the Madhya Pradesh Education Department visited the Auroville Foundation on Tuesday to explore collaborations in holistic education, sustainable development, and implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The delegation included senior officials such as Kamna Acharya, Additional Director, Pramod Singh, Deputy Director, Sashikant Kubrelay, Assistant Director, Nishikant Joshi, Officer on Special Duty, and Ashok Patke, Project Officer. Dr. Jayanti S Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat and Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, addressed the delegation virtually. She said, 'It is important to spread Auroville's integral education model, based on the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, across the country. We look forward to a deep and long-term collaboration with Madhya Pradesh.' A press statement from the Auroville Foundation noted that the delegation held detailed discussions with Auroville officials on the institution's educational approach. The model emphasizes experiential and out-of-classroom learning and aligns with NEP 2020 guidelines. 'Plans were laid out to implement a cascade training model in Madhya Pradesh for over 2.5 lakh teachers. Auroville will train master trainers who will then impart holistic teaching methodologies throughout the state,' the statement said. The proposal to establish a Madhya Pradesh Bhavan in Auroville was also discussed. Originally supported by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the proposed facility would serve as a centre for long-term teacher training and educational collaboration. Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan, Chairman of the Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research (SAIIER), presented key components of Auroville's educational practices. He explained that Auroville's approach includes development of physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of students. Collaborative projects in areas such as green buildings, renewable energy, and sustainable community development were also part of the discussions. The Auroville Foundation added that 100 teachers from Madhya Pradesh will be selected for training in holistic pedagogy during the upcoming summer vacation. 'The visiting delegation will tour Auroville's schools and meet with trainers to explore future collaborations in curriculum innovation, physical education, and teacher empowerment,' the statement said. Both parties agreed to hold further meetings to take the partnership forward.
