“We are very excited to work with you as we invite you to our campus as an Intern!”
My eyes were gleaming with happiness as I read the acceptance email for my internship application at Aavishkaar.
A few months back, my fellowship at Teach for India provided me with an opportunity to volunteer at Ganit Gala, an event happening in collaboration with Aavishkaar. Its purpose was to enable first year fellows towards elementary math skills, which is where I first learned about Aavishkaar’s work and vision. Through the masterclasses held during the day, and the Math mela that happened post our work-time, I found my approach about the subject significantly shifting. I just knew that I had to get to know the organization better, because there was so much more to learn from them.
A few months forward, my summer break was about to begin. And to my surprise, Aavishkaar was inviting applicants for a month-long internship. I knew this was my opportunity. The next thing I remember is applying. After a week-long process of submitting my pre-work and interview calls, I got selected, and my excitement knew no bounds. Under the foothills of Dhauladhar range, Kandbari was about to become my home for the next one month. Nestled amidst mountains, lush greenery all around, and birds serenading you, could there be a more inspiring place to learn? So there I was, stepping into the campus with a lot of hope, to take away the best teaching practices for my classroom. To experience the Himachali culture, and most importantly, explore the mindset of Aavishkaar as much as I can.
During the first week I observed a lot of activity happening on the campus. Young girls from the nearby area visited for a program called ‘Aarohan’, a program where they were learning about math, as a part of a long term goal to become math educators and ultimately achieve financial independence. Witnessing their confidence, watching their mindsets develop for the subject, and watching them walk on the path to empowerment was really inspiring. Young children visiting for a summer camp where they were learning about new ways of doing math and science, removing their fear of the subjects and rather exploring the concepts through a sense of discovery, exploration, lively discussions and hands-on activities. This playful approach of teaching math and science really resonated with me. With the team itself, a structure called ‘Charchaa’ happened first thing in the morning. Their commitment to their methods was evident from this structure. Soon after it became that one thing I always used to look forward to.
My next two weeks of discovery happened through a program called ‘Ganit Setu’, which translates to ‘Math Bridge’ in english. It truly unveiled Aavishkaar’s philosophy for math education. It was a program meant for bridging the learning gap and making the subject engaging for students. The wonder I witnessed on the faces of young kids, when they felt like they could really do math. The joy on their faces, when they felt like math was fun and accessible. I had always observed a lot of silence and seriousness in math classes, but being a part of the ‘Ganit Setu’ team really changed my perspective. The mindset of the organization that came alive for me the most was, ‘Math is a language’. As a teacher, it was so refreshing for me, to view the subject with a new lens. It opened up a lot of possibilities for me to believe that I can teach math in so many interesting ways.
As the final week approached, it slowly dawned upon me that I’ll be leaving this place soon. The place that revived my sense of wonder towards math and science education, the place that connected me back to my love for reading books, where I connected to so many interesting people, a place where I didn’t have a single conversation where I didn’t learn something new. The work-life balance, the peaceful environment of the hills, finding a new species of organisms almost every day, surrounded by a community of people who took their time to think, feel and discuss. People who don’t just want but are actually working resiliently towards bringing a change in STEM education, this place truly felt like home. But this experience wouldn’t just be a cherished memory, rather a guiding light for me to carry the spirit of exploration, innovation and love for learning.
~ Namita Lamba