Being an educator isn’t about what you do; it’s about who you are. The best teachers and educators are those who bring their personality, passion, and experience into the classroom — they don’t just teach about a subject, they open up a conversation that includes themselves and us, the learners. For such an educator the classroom becomes a think tank — a place where learning from each other becomes the norm and not the exception. In this co-created space an educator becomes a facilitator. A facilitator of learning guides and assists students in learning for themselves - picking apart ideas, forming their own thoughts about them, and owning material through self-exploration and dialogue.

To bring about a reform in educational systems one needs to understand the role of facilitator. The traditional pedagogical teaching approach emphasizes the role of the teacher as the holder of the wisdom; facilitation puts the onus on the participants to become involved in their own learning. This collaborative approach reinforces more of the 70% in the 70/20/10 formula — 70% of what we learn is on the job and through our experiences. For learners, this is their reality. A good facilitator is one who is a connector and integrator, the glue that brings the collective experiences of the classroom together in a shared learning experience.

The focus of our work with more and more schools is to re-imagine classrooms and teacher facilitation using the Arts.We invite educators, teachers, and heads of institutions to explore this with us as we bring our programs to schools and learning spaces across the country. If enough of us will just think together about reimagining the way we all learn and take steps in converting these to actions, these efforts and ideas to reform education for all will become a reality. If a "critical mass" to shift to a well-established alternative is achieved, a new alternative does not just automatically displace older alternatives, it provides more choices. 

And As John Dewey, philosopher & psychologist says, “Art is not the possession of the few who are recognized writers, painters, musicians; it is the authentic expression of any and all individuality. Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination. Art is the most effective mode of communications that exists.”

My Reflections

Thoughtful musings of an intern from CFL, Nivedita Jajoo, who charmed us all with her enthusiasm, sensitivity and compassion. Her ability, to navigate through the 5 weeks of her internship with creativity and insightful observation, was evident in her presence at the centre. She pens down her experience with her characteristic disarming honesty.

I had the privilege to intern for 5 weeks at Snehadhara Foundation, a not for profit organisation, working with children and adults with special needs. The twin goals of the foundation are art-based therapy (ABT) and education for inclusion. Art based therapy (ABT) is a mental health profession that uses creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well- being of individuals of all ages. 

Working with these kids is demanding, rewarding and fulfilling. The day after New Year, stepping into Snehadhara made me feel uncomfortable and scared. I was nervous as I was stepping into a new place and the fear of working with children with special needs. Also, I reached late (thanks to Google maps which made it even harderJ). My mind swirled with endless questions. How will they respond to me? Will they be scared of my presence? Will they accept me in their day to day activities?

Reflecting back, I now feel that they were the most loving kids I have ever encountered and in fact, I was scared of them during the initial few days.

When Naina says two words, the teachers are in awe. When Umaima gets rhythm and sways to the dance beats, the teachers are elated. Success here in the context of special children is not measured in meters but millimetres, so even the smallest of achievements of these children bring smiles on all our faces.

There is so much to learn from these kids and to grapple their inner worlds. One just needs to interact with them and observe their behaviour. After the initial rapport of 10 minutes, they treat you as their childhood friend! It is so interesting to see this friendship building with no complications, inferiority complexes etc. I think this is the most valuable lesson I have learnt at this place, these children have taught me the true meaning of the term “friendship.” Age is not the barrier to love peers, there is no competition, they are freed from peer pressure/dynamics etc.!! What a stress-free and carefree life is this!

The job here requires patience in abundance and one needs gallons of compassion (if compassion has to be measured). The sessions here are so creative which enhances the physical, mental and emotional well- being. Arts based therapy (ABT) activities here have shown me on how to provide a visual tool for communication, a window of imagination and the ability to make connections with one another.

When someone is labelled as “Special” the “Normal” population get the perception that they don’t have the capabilities or abilities that the “Other” kids do. But to speak from experience I say they have all that but with them, it might just take them a little extra time and practise to get it. If we just work on things and break them down they can really achieve anything!


A question such as what is ‘normalcy’ who is considered ‘normal’ have stayed and has been enforced in me after interning at Snehadhara. Normal is so subjective and open for endless conversations over tea as well as to organise large conferences! To me, it is a spectrum and a continuum. Having learnt definitions of ‘abnormality’ for my psychology exams, I fell there are lots of limitations in these definitions. Firstly IQ test is biased and so very ethnocentric, so what is ‘intelligence?’ Using the word biased is too soft here to describe the test, they are probably erroneous!!

At the end of my 5 weeks, there were some millimetres of learning on my part in terms of patience and yes tolerance, acceptance and even empathy. There is a shift in thinking of inclusion in me. Snehadhara’s tagline – “a continuum of compassion and care” will hopefully remain with me despite the challenges in navigating through the “real” world.

Snehasangiti - With the team from Intel and Kids' Corner School

Our inability to see society as interdependent, to see it as just a part and not as a whole, has given rise to exclusion. The words ‘disabled’ vs ‘normal’ are just the vocabulary we use to further this division. At a theoretical level we appreciate the diversities that create the vibrancy of life yet at a practical and gut level we seem to reject anything that makes us distinct from each other. In the process our innate sense of connect, our humanity is what suffers. But as a society we all are inclusive. What needs to be done is to look at a medium that enables us to access the compassion that rests in all. If we are able to re-look at ourselves and are inspired to live differently and compassionately, we have then together created a world where everyone belongs. In an attempt to introduce the idea of the diversity of human needs and its impact on individuals who may or may not be directly linked to a special needs individual, we connected with Intel through our Creative Connections initiative.

Inclusion must be woven into the fabric of any effort so that it deflects the possibility of exclusion itself. If every centre working with children with special needs can co-locate with a mainstream school in their locality, this is possible. It will benefit not just children but society at large. We started this with a group of our children being at Kid’s corner, JP Nagar once a week for a few hours. They are buddied by the 8-11 year olds at the school. The children interact with each other and find a niche to offer and receive, communicate and learn.

As we approached the days leading to Snehadhara’s 4th Birthday we thought there could be no better moment to weave three diverse spaces to achieve the social cohesion we aspire to. We started our birthday celebrations with children from Kids’ Corner School, volunteers from Intel, and two batches of children from Snehadhara. The group of 60 were divided into 12 small groups and each group worked together to come up with a presentation. Some groups danced, some told stories, and some acted while all the others applauded. The unconditional acceptance shown by the children left every adult present overwhelmed.

Thank you to the team from Intel, the children from both learning centres had new friends, ‘the grown ups’ as the children call them.

One of our friends , Deekshith from Intel shared his experience: 

Deekshith: 

As the gate of the home opened, we were greeted with smiling faces of children, they all eagerly looked to see who had come into their abode.  We as an Intel team volunteered in the program "International Day of Person with Disabilities". As a part of this program, we went to Guinina farms, Begihalli where children with disabilities (from Snehadhara Foundation) were bought for art based learning activities.

As we proceeded to the reception to drop the items we went with and to get any information or rules we need to know and adhere to while we are there, group of adorable children (from Snehadhara and Kids corner) formed a round and Snehadhara people were involved in playing, singing and making children to learn, to be happy and getting them involved. We as a team joined that event and had fun playing, singing songs, and rhymes to teach the children art based learning. We also had fun in doing that. We just remembered our childhood days of playing, quarrelling, singing, dancing, learning, and so on.  I personally felt so happy seeing those children getting involved in the singing and rhyming activities forgetting all their miseries. Children from Kids corner also participated in the event. After singing and rhyming activities, each of us were grouped with two children (one from Kids corner, other child with disability) along with one volunteer from Snehadhara foundation. Each team were given a task to perform an activity.

I got a team with Charan from Kids corner, Sagar from Shehadhara, Bunty (Snehadhara volunteer taking care of  Sagar).

Sagar was so cute but his disability was unable to talk and understand the environment around. He was very much eager to go out and roam around in the garden every time. He was so cute that even though he cannot talk, was dragging me to go into the garden and roam. But the weather was so hot that we cannot roam outside for much time. He was so cute that when we say to sit down, he used to do that. I was so moved when he came and sat on my lap when I asked to sit down. 

Charan from Kids corner was so silent that when I asked to perform an act based on the themes we got to play (our team got Market place theme), he was just repeating the words I say but no other words. When we had to do it on the stage, he stopped saying his dialogue and was frightened to talk in-front of everyone. At that moment, I remembered my childhood days that being silent and fearful to talk to anyone. Later we completed the theme by having small conversation with each other.

Bunty, the volunteer of Snehadhara  was so patient in fact everyone who takes care of those children were so patient that every minute they use to teach the children how to do the daily activities, how to respond to a person, how to eat, drink, behave and so on.

Sneha, an exceptional girl. Cute and very smart. She knows 5 languages. She was so smart and every instruction we give, she followed it exactly and gives a very smart reply.

Later we had lunch with the children. Some of them only had juices and many were fond of muffins that we took for them. Sagar was not eating food but he had muffins.Post lunch, we had an interactive session  with Gitanjali, Founder of Snehadhara. It was sad to know that they  had to go through so many years to maintain the disabled children in a community. She was very happy when we as a team went to spend time with them. She said that many people will give donation but being with the children, spending time with them gives much more happiness, courage and hope. With those words, I was speechless and glad to be a part of this program.

When we were about to leave, we said bye to everyone. At the end Sagar saw me, caught my hand and was ready to come with me. That moment what I felt was speechless and couldn't move from there leaving those children. I took him catching his hand till we boarded the bus. I was so emotional at that moment to leave that place and children.

I am thankful to Intel for organizing  such  volunteering event because so far, I haven’t been to such place or nor volunteered. Being a team, going there was a wonderful experience and had full of emotional great memories to have in my life.Thanks to Snehadhara, Kids Corner childrens and the Intel Involved Coordinator for organizing such a great volunteering event.

These kids were full of smiles, nothing to worry about the rest of the world. Eager to play and even to pray (As when we wanted to share food for them, we gathered around each other and almost everyone wanted to Bless the food and to Ask God to Protect and Guide us).

As we left the Home, a thousand thoughts played and fought for preeminence in my head, a thousand words wanted to burst out of my mouth in expression of my feelings, but yet, nothing came out. Yes! I was overwhelmed. This was my first visit ever to a disability  home and it has left a lasting imprint in my heart.

As I lay down I write this, I'm Grateful for what I have. I'm thankful for my family, for my parents, For Me - just being me, as I am. So many times, I complain about my parents, about my background, but looking at those kids today, I'm Grateful.

I urge you, yes you reading this to Please, HELP SOMEONE TODAY.

Your little effort could mean the world to someone.The world would be a better place if we all agree to help our neighbors that we are better than. Our purpose as humans on earth is actually to serve God and help other people, to do good deeds. Love your neighbor. You can't love without helping, without giving.

"DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN, BY ALL THE MEANS YOU CAN, IN ALL PLACES YOU CAN,AT ALL TIMES YOU CAN, TO ALL PEOPLE YOU CAN,AS LONG AS EVER YOU CAN." 

-John Wesley

We are all dealt hands in life but it’s how we choose to handle that hand that counts, therefore in our world, art is an essential vehicle or catalyst for enabling the shifting of perception. With this experience of the Arts, let us look, absorb, engage, dance-with, ideate, create stories of perception, and entertain the possibility of seeing things in a different way. Problem solving essentially needs creative minds as it takes us out of ourselves, gives us ability to see the whole. Everyone in society has a role to play in creating an empathetic world. It has to be a multi-stakeholder model. See how we can do our bit by starting with ourselves. In a socially cohesive society all individuals and groups have a sense of belonging, participation, inclusion, recognition and legitimacy. Keeping the dialogue with this effort on, we intend to thread this journey with all children using the arts as a catalyst for growth that emerges from a collective past and towards a shared future.