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In 2016, RISE Now Director Matt Cote traveled to India to build a playground at the Sadhana Forest Community, in their "Children's Land" area.
Through transforming 70 acres of severely eroded, arid land on the outskirts of Auroville, India, Sadhana Forest founders Yorit and Aviram Rozin, have introduced a growing number of people to sustainable living, food security through ecological transformation, wasteland reclamation, and veganism. Please visit their website to learn about this wonderful ecovillage! |
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Children's Land
For years this has been a place for children to come, be in the forest and have a glimpse of Unschooling, a concept that promotes learner chosen activities as a means of education. There were six groups of children coming at the time I was there. Ranging in numbers and in ages, they were a mix of local schools, groups, and an orphanage...
I actually don't think they knew what to make of the park at first. As things would appear, they would be curious. The first things to be built were a few elephants and horses in a shaded alcove off the beginning of the path. Truly it didn't take long for them to be standing on the elephants heads with another 5 clinging to various appendages, but there was always some hesitation. Each time the children came they became more and more bold. They discovered the intended and oh so many unintended ways they could play with all of these tires. They would move in groups from one thing to the other, exploring each new possibility. Some would smile shyly while others would practically jump up and down and shout "hello!" upon each arrival. -Matt
I actually don't think they knew what to make of the park at first. As things would appear, they would be curious. The first things to be built were a few elephants and horses in a shaded alcove off the beginning of the path. Truly it didn't take long for them to be standing on the elephants heads with another 5 clinging to various appendages, but there was always some hesitation. Each time the children came they became more and more bold. They discovered the intended and oh so many unintended ways they could play with all of these tires. They would move in groups from one thing to the other, exploring each new possibility. Some would smile shyly while others would practically jump up and down and shout "hello!" upon each arrival. -Matt
