APRIL 2020
The Rural Changemaker OUT-OF-THE-BOX! Published by The Rural Changemaker e.V · www.rural-changemakers.com · hello@rural-changemakers.com
Flying high! The new skatepark. 900 sqm concrete. View from the roof of the school building. Credit: Matjaž Tančič
When it comes to square meter skatepark per citizen, Janwaar has probably the best ratio in the entire world! For 1200 people we have 1500 square meters skatepark! And there is no kid in Janwaar – no matter if boy or girl – who hasn’t been on a skateboard :-)
On their way to the skatepark ... Credit: Matjaž Tančič
After one month of intense work in December 2019, the new park opened in January 2020. 900 square meters of concrete – a huge playground for the children of Janwaar. With the help of three French and two German skateboarders, the villagers worked hard to make this happen. It was a great team with an even greater spirit and five different languages weren’t hindering the flow by any means. Huge excitement was in the air and the kids were so happy to roll out into the new ground. The village has its new hot spot and it is so great to see how a new generation of skateboarders is coming to life. The new skatepark was financed by The Skateroom in Brussels, Belgium – they covered 50% of the costs – and friends&family covered the other 50% in a huge crowdfunding action. Thank you!
If you want to support our activities in Janwaar please donate to: The Rural Changemakers e.V. · Vereinsregister Berlin Amtsgericht Charlottenburg · VR 36642 B Finanzamt für Körperschaften I · Berlin · St.-Nr. 27/678/57308 Berliner Sparkasse · IBAN: DE44 1005 0000 0190 7388 98 · BIC: BELADEBEXXX Paypal: hello@rural-changemakers.com
APRIL 2020
Shatyam Shatyam is three years old and loves to skate. He has five siblings and comes from a very poor family. Most of his time he spends either at the Villa Janwaar or at the skatepark – together with his older brothers Shiva aka ”Spidermann“ and Akash. Both of them brought him to the skateboard from early on, once he could sit they would push him around on a board. Now he is capable of riding his own board :-)
Little Shatyam in action.
Shatyam one year ago with his older brother Akash.
Janwaar made it into The Guardian A few weeks ago my messenger popped up and there was Jamie Fullerton wanting some information about Janwaar. During our first chat I was very reluctant because the lead he mentioned (to whom he was referring to) I didn’t like at all and I didn't want to interfere and get involved. So I decided to stay away ... Then he came back a day or two before he was planning to arrive in Janwaar. He was travelling with Matjaž Tančič, a photographer. I helped them to reach our remote area and organised a homestay ... and it turned out, that they were some true story explorers, travellers looking for stories, not shying away from discomfort and extra hours. I really enjoyed their company and style ... and here is the outcome, an article in The Global Development section of The Guardian. Thanks to both of you! https://www.theguardian.com/globaldevelopment/2020/mar/13/no-school-no-skating-the-indianskate-park-bringing-children-together
APRIL 2020
Learning Excursion to Rajasthan
Asha, Arun and Anil are discussing home schooling with Vinita at the Learning UnConference.
In March 2020 Asha, Anil and Arun went with Rachael Hammerlein, a friend and supporter of our NGO, on a Learning Excursion to Rajasthan. Their first stop was Barefoot College where they gave a skateboarding workshop but also attended workshops. Asha participated in a puppetry workshop while Anil and Arun worked on waste management. After that they went to the Learning Societies unConference. Main topics there were open schooling and how to become a home schooler. In talks, workshops and open sessions they achieved a much better understanding of their own Open School Project. A lot of new ideas and possibilities opened up for them. Slowly, slowly the kids start to understand how to connect with people, exchange ideas and (hopefully) make something out of it for Janwaar! It’s a process and a long way to go ... but we are getting there :-)
Connecting Dreams Asha and Arun have been selected for the Rural Changemaker fellowship program of the Connecting Dreams Foundation! It's a 6-months-program with all in all 15 young people. The goal for each of them is to tackle one specific village problem and create a prototype solution for it. They will get mentoring and peer support. At the end they need to present their prototype and might get funding to realize the idea. Asha’s project is to set up a little school in the village including those kids with special needs.
Newsletter from Connecting Dream Foundation. 3
APRIL 2020
Fight the Hunger
In one of the courtyards of Janwaar village.
So far we have no reported corona cases in Janwaar, but its impact is tangible. Vegetable prices are skyrocketing! As usual it hits the poorest the most. Those who wouldn’t even realize that they have a virus and simply die ... We have 20 really, really poor families. Widows with small kids, elders and a few families where the parents are alcoholics. These people live below, below the poverty line and hunger will become a daily part of their lives. I went with our Pappu to the local police station and we got the permit to go to Panna market, go shopping and deliver to these 20 extreme poor families. No police checkpoint will stop us! So far we’ve delivered three times – each family got 5 kg of vegetable and 1 kg fruits. Beyond this service for the poorest of the poor, our kids are engaged in raising awareness for the corona virus topic, they explain some rules for precaution and they’ve built hand washing machines ...
An Overdue Visit to Janwaar My two friends and board members of our The Rural Changemaker e.V finally made it to Janwaar. It was their first trip ever to India - and I have to say they really enjoyed it. I was more than happy to welcome them and provide as much ”India“ as possible :-) They loved the landscape, the food and the people, and they fell in love with the motorbikes! Here is what they had to say: ”It feels so good, that we finally made it to Janwaar. It was quite amazing to witness, with how much fun the Janwaar kids skateboard and interact with each other! And what was even better is the fact, that the positive change we saw includes the parents as well. And the very best to see was the the first generation of Janwaar students now take responsibility for the next generation. That was quite stunning!“ The boardmembers of The Rural Changemaker e.V. in Berlin. Ulrike, Andreas and Axel. 4