School of Life: Putting the less privileged on the map

Worried that the media and society are not highlighting issues related to gender disparity and domestic violence, the Centre for Advocacy and Research's (CFAR) School of Life initiative is trying to build a discourse with slum dwellers.
The initiative, started a year ago, is gaining new ground.
"Seeing their grievances not getting space in newspapers, they have come up with their own medium. They make newspapers, graphic novels, drawings...To draw attention on their issues.
"We, with School of Life, have provided them with a space to raise their own voice. We sensitise them about social issues, and this is how we start a discourse," Director CFAR, Akhila Sivadas said.

In a recently hosted public art exhibition titled 'Hamare Sapno ke Rang - Youth Pradarshini', CFAR provided slum children a single platform to display photographs, drawings and writings which thus tracing the challenges and dreams of young people who are faced with gender-based violence - both in and outside their homes.
School of Life saw students from Miranda house and Bharati college joining hands to motivate young people from slums question the age-old practices which privileges men over the other gender.

"We listen to their stories and let them ask questions. Most of their stories have elements of violence. Obviously, there are parts of violence which to them looks normal. But once you call it out, they do identify," Miranda House student, Ishani said.

The exhibition also saw young people from slums and colleges performing skits.
Professor Ashok Acharya, Dean, Political Sciences, Delhi University, who was also present at the event, called School of Life a "holistic exercise and enterprise that has allowed individuals to share their life experiences".
"There is an evident disparity in our society, and people at the lower end of the equality struggle with various other things. We need to inspire that little bit strength in their mind. Also, this is not limited to girl child alone as the boys are equally vulnerable," he added.
Talking about their future plan of action regarding School of Life, Akhila said that the "organisation is mere facilitator and it's the collaboration with different institutes that has to take it over."

"Miranda house will be taking it over in a big way. They have plans and will be soon executing it. Good thing is that we now have the pedagogy to build an articulation on violence," she added.