Stories are what KATHA lives by – and what we strive to share and sustain. In KATHA’s Adivasi and Dalit Labs (KADL), we create dedicated spaces for children from marginalized communities, amplifying their voices through inclusive education and culturally relevant content. Here, this wonder unfolds every day.
It was only last year when these children had seen Chandrayaan III shoot into space from a lake near the Magic Lab, close to ISRO’s launch pad in Sriharikota. This year, it was news about Sunita Williams being stuck in space that reached these young ears.
They had read about her in Flying High, one of Katha’s books about space and space travel. Extremely worried about their Suni akka, they ran over to their teachers asking questions, wondering, “What would happen to her if she stayed there forever? Has she gone to God? Will she float there forever? She won’t be abandoned, will she?” These questions left the adults scrambling for answers.
However, instead of remaining worried, they decided to write to her in English with the help of their teachers so that she could understand them. Even though it hadn’t been that long since they had learned the alphabet, this showed the level of empathy they had developed at such a young age.
This story seeped into their classroom learnings as well, where they explored space, the lunar cycle, and how and when the moon wanes and waxes. It sparked a new level of interest in something so distant and unfamiliar to their environment.
With the return of Sunita Williams from the ISS, the kids gathered around the television, watching her land safely and seeing their wishes come true.
This is one of many examples of how KADL has made sure children are engaged in current events, while also bringing those events into their education, creating a well-rounded learning experience.
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