Faces of Janwaar by Janwaar Castle

FACES OF JANWAAR #01/2016

When I arrive in Janwaar by the sound of my Bullet the kids run out of their houses or even out of the school and jump on my motorbike or directly run to the skatepark. Sometimes I have five of them sitting on the Bullet. One or two in front of me on the tank, three behind me :-) Like little monkeys they climb up quickly the tank and find their comfort. Both ways – when I come or when I leave the scene. And every hello and every good-bye is accompanied by a “high five” hand-shake – with every single child. This has become a very special part of our interactions. And whenever a kid arrives at the skatepark it would come to me and give me high five. I think that’s nice. Even though the children of Janwaar don’t speak (or hardly any) English and I don’t speak Hindi we do have interesting and long conversations. Somehow we’ve found a very special way of communication. It’s a lot about gestures, body language, facial expressions and the want to understand each other. I also believe that the fact I urged them to call me by my first name and NOT to call me madam or Ulrikeji has encouraged them to see me as someone whom they deal with on eye level and our concept of “walk your talk” – meaning only say what you really are going to do – has given them something they’ve never experienced before. All of a sudden words and doing things become precious. The children and myself became responsible and accountable for what they/I say and do. And that is what we expect from each other. There is a sense of common understanding and “Stallgeruch” among all of us. In a company you would probably call it corporate culture.

We’ve had approximately 150 kids at the park over the last year – there are 250 children in the entire village – and the hard core, those who come almost every day or multiple times during a week are 30-50 children. They come for skateboarding, painting, badminton, hoola hub, the slackline or the tablets or what ever else we do. Of course some of the kids I know better, others I know less – in general though I try to interact with all of them and I know most of their names. Which doesn’t mean I pronounce them correct :-) Some of the kids are shy and do take their time to start interacting – that’s perfectly fine. Others embrace every newcomer with open arms and plenty of curiosity. It really depends on the child. Ulrike Reinhard

Ankush loves the skatepark and skateboarding. From our youngster group he is certainly one of the best. He is one with the skateboard â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he just keeps it rolling and rolling and rolling. In everything he does he is completely in to it. Focussed. Nothing can disrupt him. He has a very strong mind. He climbs up trees like a monkey and he learnt the hula hup in no time. To me he is somehow a small version of a man, not a boy. Ankush goes to primary school. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like it very much - but for skateboarding and being at the skate park he would do almost everything.

Gouddu is just like she looks on these pictures - a little madame :-) I am always amazed in which kind of dresses she is showing up – not really cool skateboarding stuff. Far more exquisite and charming. Gouddu is one of four girls “covergirls” everyone wants to take pictures of when they come to Janwaar. She certainly has her own mind, and when she wants to skateboard she will skateboard. She always finds a board for herself and if not she will happily share one with one or all the other covergirls. They are so happy when they float around at Janwaar Castle – there is nothing what could sadden them. And that’s exactly how it should be. 10

Shivraj aka Dr. Kouch Kouch is the silent leader of Janwaar Castle. From very early on he was a very helpful hand in what ever we did. Without being asked he took responsibility and he got things done. Silently and humbled. Never in the front row. Accepted by everybody â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the adults and the kids. Over the month heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been growing to a real leader. He translates whenever needed in the best way he can, he helps the younger ones when they are looking for help and he is eager to learn. In him we truly have someone whom we can count on. His smile is sometimes a bit naughty and he keeps us on the track in case we forget to walk our talk :-) He will finish 8th grade this summer and I hope we can provide some help for him which keeps him growing.

The Red Frock by Shail Desai Balloo sat in one corner of the skatepark and watched the boys show off their tricks. These were times when the golden rule, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Girls first!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; was forgotten, as the thrill of play was too much of a temptation to resist at the skatepark. A stern voice from the corner ordered the boys to give back the skateboards assigned to the girls. It was Ballooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cue to get down to business. She picked up her oversized helmet and tried strapping it on, and with some help from one of the bigger girls, it finally fell in place. She gingerly walked over to an abandoned skateboard, picked it up, and walked towards the edge of the skatepark. She pushed the helmet up, even as it dropped back down and covered her eyes. 16

One foot on the board, a little push and the other foot was on. It was almost as if the wind was doing its bit to get her attempt underway, or at least her puffy, red frock made it look so. She was geared up in tights and blue and green ankle-length shoes to match, and looked most comfortable on the skateboard, against all odds. This was an art, Balloo was still getting used to after all. It was perhaps the slowest skateboard around the park, but this girl was cruising! The arms were out and the eyes were focussed under the helmet, that dropped down for the umpteenth time. Her frock soon transformed into a sail with the wind in it – the direction hardly mattered with focus like that, and she rolled on where the momentum would take her. Balloo’s face was lost in the moment, and nothing could end her joy at this point, until of course, the wheels stopped rolling. She waited until the skateboard came to a complete halt and jumped off, pushing the helmet up. Under it was a smile, after realising what she had just achieved – it had the power to light up your day. She picked up the board, and walked back to the starting point – it was time to hit cruise control yet again. 17

More than a smile by Anveer Metha Anveer Mehta from Goa was with us for a few weeks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and he really engaged with the kids. I am happy he shared this story! Thanks Anveer!

In the October of 2015, I had realized that I had just made one of the best decisions of my life by going to the village of Janwaar. I arrived in Janwaar early in October and stayed there for about four to five weeks. This was truly a beautiful experience with so much to offer. I still remember very vividly my first day at the skatepark. As we got out of our car, all the children ran towards us with beaming smiles and so much happiness in their eyes. I was a complete to stranger to them but I received the warmest welcome ever. So yes,I stayed extremely overwhelmed since the moment I got there. I spent most of the days at the skatepark with all the children, skating, playing and just being part of their world. It might be a small one, but it was a really happy one. To pick a favourite friend out of the so many that I made there would be really tough, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d still like to say a little something about one of them.

Deepa Yadav One of the sweetest of the lot, Deepa became a good friend of mine. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funny how much you can learn from children sometimes. All you have to do is be open to their questions and reply honestly. Their willingness to learn something new and go a step ahead is charged with positivity. There lie so many aspirations in this young girl who once said to me that when she grows up sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to study more and go and help other people. Even at the skatepark Deepa would willingly share her skateboard with other children and offer to help with the younger ones whenever asked of her. Deepa is one of the better skaters among the girls at Janwaar Castle but had never dared to drop from the 8 feet quarter pipe at Janwaar Castle. I still remember how she would stand for 15 to 20 minutes on the top thinking if she should do it not. It was really amusing to see her try. I would keep pushing her to do it and she would keep asking me to hold her hand while she made an attempt. It was good to know that these children trusted me so much. I felt like I belonged at that skatepark everyday when I spent time there with them. 22

Dipun is always smiling. He is a very quiet boy. He sneaks in, gets very quietly a skateboard and is mastering it in his own speed and comfort. Nothing can disturb him. He also loves watching the scenery. 26

A boy who skates – Ramkesh by Mannan Gupta A young boy loves to skateboard. Like a ninja, he swings, swivers, drops and effortlessly glides from tall walls and curves. There are only a handful of kids in India who are as skilled as him. So what are the first thoughts that come to your mind when you read this? That he surely must be a city kid? Any guesses on how old this kid is? 12? 15? Even he doesn’t know exactly. Nor do his parents. He will soon write his third grade exams which entails that he must not be more than 9 years old perhaps. When I first met him he barely spoke a word or two, unlike the other kids who took an interest on any new visitor immediately. It was not that he was shy, but something else restricted the kid – was it the social restrictions I

wondered. He was not alone in this situation. About eighty per cent of the kids in the region hail from the socially backward, poverty-ridden Adivasi Tribe of Janwaar village of the Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh. I, being a rookie skater, asked the kids to teach me skating. Spending time with them, where I was the learner and they were my teacher, made them my friends in no time. Ramkesh picked me up twice when I fell while practicing and started opening up to me. This young skateboarding aficionado Ramkesh was born to a family of labourers and wood gatherers. One of the 6 children, Ramkesh and his siblings have to work along with their parents to make ends meet. His father is a daily wage labourer, his mother gathers wood, the kids cook, clean, wash and most important of all, fetch water. Last year, it didn’t rain enough, so the region is still witnessing a draught. But life has been tougher. Ramkesh’s life has completely turned upside down with Janwaar Castle — India’s largest skateboard park made by a group of professionals from all over the world and lead by one Ulrike Reinhard from Germany. The purpose of the castle is to uplift the lives of the villagers in Janwaar, especially those of the Janwaar children.

Although life didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get any easier, it became a whole lot more promising. Ramkesh found his passion in skateboarding. He still helps his family in every way he can, but now he has an impetus something to look forward to. Between school and daily chores, he squeezes some time out to skateboard everyday. Without any professional guidance, Ramkesh started riding the board for fun. Slipping and falling countless times, injuring bones and collecting new bruises now and then. He doesn't remember the pain or wounds, but only everlasting moments of joy. He would spend hours and hours in the park, trying to master newer skills, or just to show-off new tricks. Within a few weeks' time, Ramkesh and his friends were pushing towards tougher levels of skating. By the time I met him his board had become like an extension of his body. 30

The most interesting aspect though is that Ramkesh has started taking interest in his studies. With the skateboard park’s rule — No school, No Skating — he not only goes to school regularly, but also enjoys it. Although the school facilities still need a lot of improvements, but with his own efforts and interest he can speak, write and read tit-bit of English, much better than most of his older counterparts. When I asked Ramkesh what he wanted to do when he grew up, he was mostly silent about it. All he said that he hoped to travel to Delhi and compete with the city. With the roots from where he has come, people don’t really talk about future although he is much more hopeful and keen with the self-confidence and passion he found with the help of his new friend — The Skateboard. 31

â&#x20AC;Ś besides skateboarding hanging out and pure joy is the most liked activity at Janwaar Castle. More and more Adivasi are joining â&#x20AC;Ś I am really happy to see!

… and here are our “covergirls” – covergirls in the most pure and innocent sense of the word. Ankat, Lakshmi, Balloo and on the far right (next page) Gouddu. There are hard to beat in everthing they do. It’s simply fun to watch these powerful quartett. When I see them I see a bright future for Janwaar.

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