VALUE-BASED EDUCATION - MANAV GULZAR

Working with the NGO Manav Sadhna that brings the children of Ahmedabad education, nutrition, hygiene, arts, and value classes - Rhim Rhim Nagar Slum, Ahmedabad, India

For my final month in India I was fortunate enough to participate in an Independent Student Project studying value-based education for religious unity in the area on the border of Pakistan and India. Due to the Partition of 1947, which occurred after India gained independence from Great Britain, the tension between Muslim and Hindu parties was thick. Areas of Ahmedabad had numerous cases of rioting in 1969 and then again in 2002 but this specific area of Rhim Rhim Nagar seemed to be an "Oasis of Peace" throughout the conflict. I went to understand why and what I found was a unique organization that facilitated this learning of compassion and unity. Value-based classes were held ever week for the children on the surrounding slum to learn how a plethora of values can be understood and used in daily practices. Giving kids activities and critical thinking platforms to actualize having good behavior and using values in life has done a significant amount for this surrounding community; despite their extreme difference in beliefs.