Moving on

It has been quite sometime since I have last updated this blog, October was very very busy with lots of house hunting, busy at work and generally still adapting to the hectic way of London life. There is another -long- winter to go through and I dream countries in the southern hemisphere where 'summer' just begins! In couple of weeks I travel to Portugal to visit a good friend so there is something to look forward to. Not in the south hemisphere but still in southern Europe!

Working with schools for the last month and the next, this is what I mostly do at work. I really enjoy it, I visited many primary schools and there is another 20-30 to do. We are undertaking energy audits and advise the local County Council and Headteachers how can they improve the energy performance of their school buildings, make them more efficient and why not more environmental friendly. Lots of infant and primary school kids around, they are all so cute, so British! 

I do bring in my mind the school in Dhawa and I realise how different the world is from places to places. One thing only is standard though, kids are happy with the minimum little something. As long as this something sparks their imagination and creativity. And this can happen without the need of unnecessary toys or plastic dummies. It's us, the grown ups who should make them feel important (and they are indeed) and facilitate them to learning. I, personally, find it very interesting to interact with them and believe me, some of the most difficult questions to answer are made by children. 

Learning Planet has another project in planning, this is the infant addition for Shree Prabhat, the school we installed the solar panels on. It is located 2 hours walk from the main school and the kids aged 4-7 are too young to do the walk therefore they study there till the grow up a little so they can walk to the main school. This is not a school as we know it. This is just a shed! LP is planning to built a proper 3 classrooms building instead, with respect to its surroundings and the environment. A fully passive building, design with the help from Architecture for Humanity. Our corporate Xmas card will feature the school so all donations will also go towards improving further the learning conditions of the school. More information soon.

            

                              Dhawa_Infants classroom!

I have also received some photographs from the completed library room in the main school. It looks amazing! It has been painted, with nice carpets on the floor, all the furniture is colourful and many cushions to sit their bums! Creating such a space in a such remote part of the world is just a huge success! Have a look at the photos.

Dhawa_Finished school library/study room

Dhawa_Finished school library/study room (including Deepak, little Babbu, Dita, Amrit and Kashindra relaxing:)

A really interesting website I've recently browsed

www.ted.com   Watch  - Tim Jackson - Economic reality check

                                     - Ken Robinson - School kills creativity  

Best wishes and hope to see you all soon

Nektarios~