www.agastya.org

Proposal for Agastya’s Kuppam Campus

.

2 | P a g e C a m p s a t C a m p u s P r o p o s a l

Background of Agastya:

Agastya International Foundation (Agastya) is a transformative educational Foundation. Since its formation in 1999, Agastya is actively engaged in propagating hands-on learning among poor rural children and teachers. It streams its vision and mission to rural India through a variety of channels including Mobile Labs, Science Centers and a Creativity Lab located at its 172-acre campus in Gudivanka, Andhra Pradesh (near KGF, Karnataka), 30 rural science centres in Karnataka and 75 Mobile Labs have touched over 4 million children and 150,000 teachers. Consistent with its goal to infuse a creative temper in 50 million children and 1 million teachers in India, Agastya seeks to build on its existing work to lead a transformation in grassroots education for the poor. Agastya believes that such transformation is essential to produce leaders, creators and technologists for an economically prosperous and sustainable society. Agastya’s hands-on program aims to spark curiosity and addresses significant gaps in the education system including lack of practical exposure to science concepts and poor teacher student interaction. The main goal is to provide access to, attract and retain vulnerable and disadvantaged children to quality educational programs. The programs are holistically designed to spark creative-thinking and problem-solving skills, improve learning achievement and expand opportunities. Agastya’s educational intervention programs complement government programs. Agastya’s aims/objectives:

Reach out to remote corners of the district through Mobile Labs, Science Fairs and Teachers’ Training.

Locate, expose and attract disadvantaged children to science education.

Expose disadvantaged children to new ways of learning both in the classroom and at the village doorstep, and spark their innate creativity.

Give children opportunities to question, express themselves and teach other children.

Establish a model Science Centre based on interactive, as opposed to passive, learning.

Train teachers to become teacher-learners and better communicators.

Train and motivate children and teachers to become change agents.

Motivate parents and community members to send their children, especially girls, to school.

Involve government officials and local agencies.

Know more about Agastya

Website - http://www.agastya.org/

‘Like’ us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Agastya.Foundation.

‘Spirit of Agastya’ -http://www.youtube.com/user/Agastyamedialab?feature=watch.

3 | P a g e C a m p s a t C a m p u s P r o p o s a l

Partnerships An independent core group of educationists, scientists and investors leads Agastya’s efforts: This includes Late Dr P.K. Iyengar, former Chairman, Indian Atomic Energy Commission, Mr K.V. Raghavan, former Chairman, Engineers India, Rakesh Jhunjhunwalla, stockmarket investor, Alok Oberoi, former Goldman Sachs partner, Dr Balasundaram, former principal of Rishi Valley School, Dr R. Krishnan, former Director, Gas Turbine Research Establishment and H.N. Srihari, former General Manager, ICI Group, support Agastya in its efforts to spark curiosity and transform science education in rural areas. Several scientists, including Prof.SVS Subramanyam and Prof. MA Ramaswamy formerly of the Indian Institute of Science, Prof. Parthan, Ex-Professor, Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur, Mr. Shivkumar, former Chief Designer of HMT and Prof. Balurgi have helped to develop models to explain concepts in science. Agastya has also collaborated with the Homi Bhaba Center for Science Education – HBSCE1, which has emerged as a premier institution in the country for research and development in science, technology and mathematics education. For its ecology project, Agastya collaborates with noted environmentalist Dr. AN Yellappa Reddy, and Dr.Harish Bhat professor of the Indian Institute of Science. Agastya has had media coverage in India and overseas. Articles on Agastya by its Chairman have appeared in the UN Chronicle, Inflections and Education, Knowledge & Economy. Agastya’s Chairman. Ramji Raghavan has made presentations at the Institute of Physics, London, the IISc Centenary Conference, PanIIT meetings, the Indian Space Research Organisation, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the National Institute of Advanced Studies among others. http://www.agastya.org/what/what-the-press-says Agastya is funded by such foundations as the R. Jhunjhunwala Foundation, Oberoi Family Foundation, Deshpande Foundation, Schlumberger Foundation, Global Fund for Children, TK Foundation and has received corporate donations from Agilent Technologies, ENAM, i-flex solutions, Jain Irrigation Systems, Synopsys and Honeywell among others.

“The objective of Agastya is clearly path-breaking, and has already yielded results…these efforts, related to a qualitative change in stimulating creativity, will influence a new generation”

Dr. P.K. Iyengar Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, India

4 | P a g e C a m p s a t C a m p u s P r o p o s a l

Achievements and recognition

Agastya has implemented programs for over 5 million children (of who 50% are girls) and 150,000 teachers, from vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. With 75 Mobile Labs and 30 science centres Agastya provides annually over 1.5 million exposures.

Recently Agastya’s efforts were recognized at the Initiative for Research & Innovation in Science (IRIS) competition for 5th year in a row where our trained rural students won a silver and two bronze medals competing with the best private schools in the country.

Furthermore the Prime Minister’s National Knowledge Commisssion has also recommended the Agastya model for India-wide scale-up.

Agastya’s ‘commitment to action’ was recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative in 2008.

Agastya was also invited to present its work at the Centenary Conference of the Indian Institute of Science and at the PanIIT2008.

Agastya Kuppam Campus: The campus is where Agastya develops all its teaching-learning methodologies, models, curriculum etc. This unique 172-acre rural Creativity Lab (factory of ideas) boasts science, model-making, art and ecology labs, a Discovery Centre and teacher education centre. Learnings are disseminated via the outreach channels; new ideas are evaluated and assimilated. The Agastya Campus is continuing to grow and evolve with significant investments in time, money and intellectual resources. Today it has an international reputation as a truly unique, innovative and integrated creative learning establishment.

5 | P a g e C a m p s a t C a m p u s P r o p o s a l

View of the Kuppam Campus during Monsoon 2013. Camps at Campus Program Agastya’s Camps at Campus programme is designed as a unique combination of hands-on learning and teaching, along with a first-hand experience of how an NGO works at the grassroots level. Direct interactions are facilitated between students and rural children, farmers, women self -help group members and other members of the village community. The aim of this initiative is to expose students to:

• Understand the functioning of an NGO in a rural setting: Student participating in these Camps get a chance to understand and contribute towards Agastya’s work in a rural setting. The experience will give them not just a taste of how an NGO functions, but also a chance to make a difference. All participating students will be given a certificate as a testament of their contribution.

• Gain Hands-on knowledge in Science and Ecology: By participating in hands-on activities, students can see, touch, feel and imbibe scientific and ecological concepts, which will result in long-term retention of acquired knowledge.

• Learn to care for the Environment we live in: While learning and experiencing Agastya’s open Ecology Lab, students will gain a significant awareness and respect for the environment. Eco-walks and outdoor programs will help students learn how Agastya continues to create and manage a sustainable ecological environment on its Gudivanka campus, preserving and protecting its bio-diversity.

• Exposure to Village life, Arts and Crafts: Agastya will conduct folk art, puppetry and music workshops.

• Improve their interpersonal skills: The outdoor program is designed to build stronger interpersonal skills while interacting with the village community members, SHG’s, Agastya Instructors and Agastya Young Instructor Leaders [YIL’s]

• Improve their Leadership skills: The process of unlocking one’s creative potential and exposure to transformative work by Agastya will help build a broader awareness and build long-term vision and leadership skills among the youth.

6 | P a g e C a m p s a t C a m p u s P r o p o s a l

What we Offer

• Residential camp for one day up till two weeks and at Agastya’s Kuppam campus. • Exposure to Agastya’s model and experiment-based learning modules in Physics,

Chemistry, Biology, Math, Astronomy and Ecology (without clashing with current stream of rural students)

• Exposure to the Discovery Centre and Hands-on learning • Visits to rural schools and rural community. • Hands-on Art and Model-making, Puppet Making & Pottery Workshops. • Peer-to-Peer teaching, as a learning method • Exposure to Folk Music, Dance and Culture. • Evening sports, Athletics, Basketball, Volleyball, TT, Carrom, Chess, etc. • Night Treks / Bird Watching. • Astronomy, through the Night sky Telescope • Space Show at the Planetarium. • Camping, hiking and adventure activities for longer trip students. • Doctor on call. • Other Adventure add-ons over a period of time.

[Type a quote from the document or the summary of an interesting point. You can position the text box anywhere in the document. Use the Drawing Tools tab to change the formatting of the pull quote text box.]

Tod Fod Jod - Lamp

7 | P a g e C a m p s a t C a m p u s P r o p o s a l

Cost: As an NGO, we depend on the generosity of our sponsors and we look for donations at least covering the cost of the program - if not more as contribution from the children visiting the campus. The excess funds thus collected will go towards various programs focused on disadvantaged children of India. The program cost would include all program content, residential accommodation on campus, food, trips within and around the campus including pickup from and drop at Kuppam railway station. Benefits from Camps at Agastya Campus:

• ‘Hands-On’ experimental learning arousing curiosity, creativity and a questioning scientific temper.

• Supplementary and supportive to curricula, enhancing performance. • Awareness and involvement in ecology, regeneration, conservation. • Opportunity to be socially aware of Rural India and Agricultural society, its potential, problems

and solutions. • Excellent as a quotable experience towards value when applying for higher education in Global

universities. • Building self-confidence through a rounded multifaceted experience. • Opportunity to bring a new binding among friends through teamwork and practical projects.

Agastya’s Objectives in the Camps at Campus programme:

• To leverage the infrastructure at Agastya’s Gudivanka, Kuppam campus for learning and

showcasing Science/Ecology through models, experiments and field experience, to larger and more advantaged sections of students from urban, upper middle/high end backgrounds.

• To cross-fertilize knowledge, and bridge the learning and experiential divide between advantaged urban children and disadvantaged rural children, and to facilitate the exchange of the positives from each other.

Students in a Hands-On Physics Session

8 | P a g e C a m p s a t C a m p u s P r o p o s a l

A selection of schools that have participated in the Camps at Campus programme:

1) TISB (The International School, Bangalore) 2) BIS( Bangalore International School) 3) ASB (American School of Bombay) 4) Mallya Aditi International School, Bangalore. 5) RNS Vidyanikethan, Bangalore 6) The Valley School, Bangalore. 7) Shishuvana School, Mumbai 8) National Public School (Koramangala), Bangalore 9) Rishi Valley School, Madanapalli 10) Deccan International School, Bangalore 11) Sri Vivekananda School, Hoskote 12) Jain Global School, KGF

Testaments from participating schools: On behalf of the Principal, management, staff and students of NPS Koramangala, I wish to convey our heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful hospitality extended to us on our visit to Kuppam on 29th and 30th August, 2011. The trip was not only pleasurable but also an enlightening one. Our students enjoyed all the activities organised for them. The rooms were comfortable and the food was nutritious. The hands-on activities were done in a thought provoking ambience under expert guidance. The caretakers created a home-like atmosphere, which made the students feel relaxed and made the learning experience great fun. The folk singers regaled us with their wonderful music bringing out the fragrance of rural India. I must admit that Agastya provides an ideal learning environment, complete in every sense.... not to mention the warm hospitality it extends to its guests. We look forward to more such engaging sessions for our students in the future and would also like

to avail the teacher training sessions.

Thanking you once again. Mrs. Sudha Balan Vice-Principal, National Public School, Bangalore Agastya was a combination of fun and studies with its spic and span rooms and fun learning. It was great for our school to bring us here. The staff was kind and caring and did their job with great enthusiasm, they explained in great detail and made sure we understood each and every thing. Anvita Anand Kumar Student, National Public School I had an amazing day. I had a lot of fun. I would like to come back again. Mallika Student, Valley School, Bangalore Agastya is a very good place to discover science. Rashi Ranawat,Student, Shishuvana School, Mumbai

9 | P a g e C a m p s a t C a m p u s P r o p o s a l

Budget S.No Schedule Cost (per person/ per day)

1. 1 day visit Rs.2200 /- (24 hours)

2. Special Rate for a week / 5 days trip Rs 2000/- (24 hours)

As mentioned earlier, this program fee covers all program content, residential accommodation on campus (wherever applicable), simple Indian vegetarian food, trips within and around the campus including pickup from and drop at Kuppam railway station. 1 teacher can travel for free with every 30 children and the rest will be charged as much as per child per day is charged. We can customise the itinerary basis the school’s requirement.

Guest House – Mallika Mallika - Rooms

Discovery & Art Centre

Village - Papaya Farm Visit