Welcome to Vidya Vanam, a school for rural and tribal children in Anaikatti near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
Vidya Vanam is a school with no prescribed textbooks. The children learn their subjects in themes. Last year, for instance, the theme was ‘Rice’ and their learning included cultivating five micro-plots of paddy themselves. Two teams of first-generation English speakers even had a debate on genetically modified crops: Debating rice in the forest of learning
It is a school where children learn to speak their minds and explore their talents. And they do this at their own pace. Some of the smallest children are clearly born ‘leaders’.
Welcoming faces at Vidya Vanam. Photo by Suzanne ter HaarA born ‘leader’. At 12:15 it will be lunch time, so the paatis (older women, grandmothers) and akkas (younger women, sisters) get things ready, while some children enjoy their favourite time of the day: playing games. Photo by Suzanne ter Haar
An aspiring Lionel Messi?Photos by Suzanne ter HaarThree-in-one hoop. Photo by Suzanne ter Haar
Left: In the open dining hall, there is silence before the storm. Right: Plates and mats just before the children storm in. Photos by Suzanne ter HaarEager faces above still-empty plates: a short while later the younger children are enjoying their lunch and the sounds of laughter fill up the open air dining area. Photo by Suzanne ter HaarAfter about 10 minutes the laughter is replaced with the chanting of ‘paati, paati’ as the children request another serving.They are rewarded with that second helping. Photo by Suzanne ter HaarMeanwhile, the older students gather on stage for the daily assembly. Today is ‘Comedy Day’ and whoever has something prepared or wants to improvise is given time to do so. These two boys enact a short skit on ‘The elephant and the tree’. Photo by Suzanne ter HaarSome students conduct a quiz and others tell jokes. Photos by Suzanne ter HaarThe children from the senior classes often steal the show.The day’s comedians are a hit with the audience. Photo by Suzanne ter HaarAfter lunch the children have some free time for doing what they like most – playing with the hula-hoops. And soon the lunch break is over and the students walk back to their classes, though some girls want to keep playing right until they reach the classroom. They can’t let go the hoops even while walking back to class. Photo by Suzanne ter Haar
Left: Senior students, Vindhya and Aravali, are preparing the newspaper that will come out on ‘Project Day’ on November 27. During discussions with group members, they are highly focussed, jotting down important points in their neat handwriting. Photos by Suzanne ter Haar
Art class and preparing pages for the forthcoming newspaper. Photos by Suzanne ter HaarGetting the artwork ready. Photo by Suzanne ter HaarA leaf for a painted eye. Photo by Suzanne ter Haar‘Group photo’ time has them bubbling with smiles again. Photo by Suzanne ter Haar
Editor's note
Suzanne ter Haar is a journalism student from Ku Leuven University, Brussels, and founder of the Gutz Foundation that works on HIV testing among youth in Tanzania. The photostory is a part of her 10-week internship with PARI.
This photo story was originally published on the PARI website on November 12, 2015.
