Home > Projects > Spin-a-Yarn
Goal : To use the spinning wheel as an educational and meditative tool that can teach about man’s connection to nature and encourage respect for differences in class, color, creed, faith, beliefs.
History and Past Projects:Ms. V.R. Devika learned to spin at the Gandhi Peace Foundation where she eventually volunteered to help others learn the skill. She soon discovered the power of introducing Gandhi and his thought through his style of dress in a project called “Gandhi through his clothing.” Discussion points in spinning workshops expanded to include bravery and courage on truth, economy, environment, self-reliance, and respect for differences. Upon demand, Devika continues with teachers’ workshops in schools and colleges, community groups like the rotary club, women’s associations, and for students and young people. Devika hopes that with adequate sponsorship, the Aseema Trust will expand this model to be incorporate in the formal curriculum of several local schools.
Looking Ahead: After leading several workshops in spinning and Gandhian thought, Ms. Devika is excited about the possibility of incorporating hands-on spinning lessons throughout a variety of academic subjects in formal curricula. In mathematics, for example, one can learn about the economics of hand looms and the cloth industry. In geography and biology, one can explore the different types of soil needed to grow cotton. In history one can learn about the role that spinning played in India’s non-violent, independence movement. If expanded upon, a formal program can promote and develop alternative forms of teacher training. Devika also sees the spinning sessions as great opportunities to share, and “weave together” stories about how people can rise above difficult circumstances. She hopes to collect a variety of inspirational stories about how people have retained dignity in the face of adversity.
A Personal Side: While attending the International Partnership Conference in London in November, 2004, Devika chanced upon a youth summit meeting as part of the conference. There, she met a team of two boys and a girl from Tasmania in Australia, who were part of a skill training programme for out-of-school youth. They constructed a crib and put it up for auction donating the money raised to a the charity of Devika’s choice. She chose Karnaprayag receiving centre for babies in Chennai. Touched by their gesture, Devika held an informal spinning workshop for them. The boys took to the spinning skill, and reveled in the gift of their own spinning wheel after the summit. To read more about the summit, check out the December newsletter at the following site: http://www.napehq.org/ .
The Aseema Trust
“Spin a Yarn - Self and Society”
With Support from Sir Dorabjee Tata Trust
A Project on self reliance and civic responsibilities through spinning on the Charkha in schools of Chennai.
July 2008 – June 2009
Introduction
M.K.Gandhi's basic education ideas of education through craft is the inspiration for this project. The spinning-wheel, as Mahatma Gandhi introspects, emphasizes self-help, self-service, self-contentment, and austerity. “The seeds of national and social cohesion can be sown through the music of the spinning-wheel.” said the Mahatma “The spinning-wheel is the true symbol of humanism and it is an effective vehicle to serve as a spurt both inwardly and outwardly, directly and indirectly. Music should form part of the syllabus of primary education. I heartily endorse this proportion. The modulation of the voice is as necessary as the training of the hand. Physical drill, handicrafts drawings and music should go hand in hand in order to draw the best out of the boys and girls and create in them real interest in their learning. We might add that the pupil would also learn hand-eye coordination, besides developing his or her skills in concentration, balance, and physical intelligence.” So, clearly, what Gandhi had in mind was a sort of holistic or composite education structured around the learning of a craft.
Background
The Aseema Trust has been conducting sporadic workshops with Charkha spinning as a tool to discuss respect for diversity, peaceful conflict resolutions and need for cleanliness in public sanitation. There has been very enthusiastic response and a demand for a sustained workshop in this area from many schools.
Objective
This Project seeks to start "spin a yarn" clubs in schools with spinning on the spinning wheel as a craft activity around which children will discuss and learn about conflict resolution, respect for diversity, sanitation and respect for ecology. The objective of the project is to look at bringing about a change in Attitude, Skill and Knowledge in the participants at the end of the year.
Attitude : At the end of project, the participants will show a change in the attitude to people belonging to other religions, speaking other languages, facing challenges of disability, develop respect for handicrafts, handlooms, ecology and cleanliness, health and hygiene and being brave in decision making.
Skill : The project aims to get the participants to learn the skill of spinning on the wheel (Charkha) making small cloth woven on a frame and acquire the skill of articulation, discussion, listening to others and narrating. They will also compose songs, choreograph dances and make scripts for narration and stage them for their peers. They will organize an exhibition for their peers from their learnings.
Knowledge
The project seeks to create an awareness of the need for concern and taking responsibility for public sanitation first in school and then in public, an awareness of the need to promote handicrafts and handlooms and avoiding of the use of non biodegradable materials, importance of hand skill and physical labor and the use of music, dance, story telling and drama in message dissemination and for self confidence. They will know the sanitation system in the city.
Five of the schools are where children from middle class families study
and five are schools where children from very poor socio economic backgrounds
study.
40 children from each school will be covered. 400 children will be direct
beneficiaries. 4000 children will be secondary beneficiaries with assembly
demonstrations, viewing of the exhibition and performance and many times
this will be the tertiary beneficiaries through media exposure of the
project.
Plan and Methedology
Ten schools in the city will be selected for the first year project. Five schools will be of middle class socio economic level and five will be schools catering to children coming from socio economically challenged classes. Assembly demonstrations will be given in each of the schools on spinning wheel, Gandhi and his ideas on sanitation, respect for diversity, ecology etc. “Spin a yarn” club will be formed with the children of class 7 or 8 in each school.
Pre testing of the children on their attitude to the above mentioned areas, their skill level in spinning, in music and dance and narrative techniques and scripting and their articulation in small groups will be done.
Skill of spinning will be taught to the children. Along with small group discussions on real life conflict situations and reporting of each group discussion will be done to the larger group with the help of charts and the larger group will discuss the issue. Different topics of school and public sanitation, respect for diversity, biodegradable materials, handloom and handicrafts will be discussed in the different sessions. Participants will create songs, scripts for plays and charts for greater dissemination later.
Visits to a handicraft center, a weaver, a meeting with socially conscious and motivating individuals will be organized.
Outcome
The yarn spun by the participants will be used by the school in honoring distinguished guests to the school. The artifacts of woven frames with the khadi woven, charts made, scripts made into play and songs and dances composed through the experience will be in an open house exhibition in the school for peers and public.
A booklet, an edited video, music and songs for use in schools and a functioning website will be published at the end of the project.
Profile of V.R.Devika, click here
Profile of Mr.Ram Mohan, Click Here
Further Readings : http://www.hindu.com/mag/2008/06/29/stories/2008062950110400.htm
Spin a yarn sessions in the schools
5th Aug - spin a yarn session at Bala Vidya Mandir
6th Aug - spin a yarn session at Shankara Vidyashramam
7th Aug - spin a yarn session at Suddhananda Vidyalaya
8th Aug - Spin a yarn session at Besant Theosophical School
13th Aug - Spin a yarn session at Navbharath Matriculation School
19th Aug - Spin a Yarn session at Vidyodaya School.
21st Aug - Spin a Yarn session at Kumararani Meena Muthiah School.
28th August - Spin a Yarn Session at Besant Arundale School
1st September - A Talk by Mr.Ram Mohan about Gandhian Thoughts about health and hygiene in Besant Arundale School
5th September - Spin a Yarn Session at Suddhanandha Vidyalaya School
9th September - A Talk by Mr.Ram Mohan about Gandhian Thoughts about health and hygiene in Bala Vidya Mandir
10th September - A Talk by Mr.Ram Mohan about Gandhian Thoughts about health and hygiene in Navbharath Matriculation School
11th September- Spin a Yarn Session at Children's Garden School
12th September - Spin a Yarn Session at Besant Theosophical School
15th September - A Talk by Mr.Ram Mohan about Gandhian Thoughts about health and hygiene in Shankara Vidyashram School
18th September - A Talk by Mr.Ram Mohan about Gandhian Thoughts about health and hygiene in Kumarah Rani Meena Muthiah School
2nd October 2008, Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations at Dakshinachitra with 50 girls of Avvai Home and Lady Wellington School after their 10 day NSS camp in association with Aseema Trust's Spin a Yarn Project
Spin a Yarn Project in being conducted in the following Schools
1. Shankara Vidyashramam
2. Avvai Home TVR Girls High School
3. Vidyodaya Matriculation School
4. Bala Vidya Mandir School
5. Children's Garden School
6. Navbharath Matriculation School
7. Suddhanandha Vidyalaya School
8. Besant Theosophical School
9. Besant Arundale School
10. Kumarah Rani Meena Muthiah School
Workshops done through the project
11th July 2008- Spin a Yarn Workshop at Besant Theosophical Society School
9th July 2008- Spin a Yarn Projected started at Navbharat Matriculation School
9th July 2008- Inauguration of Spin a yarn Club at Children's Garden School.
8th July 2008- Inauguration of Spin a yarn Club at Besant Theosophical Society School.
7th July 2008 - Inauguration of Spin a yarn Club at Bala Vidya Mandir School.
5th July 2008- Inauguration of Spin a yarn Club at Avvai Home TVR Girls High School.
4th July 2008- Inauguration of Spin a yarn Club at Suddhanadha Vidyalaya School at Uthandi
01st July 2008 - Inauguration of Spin a yarn Club at Navbharath Matriculation School.
27th June - Inauguration of Heritage club and introduction of Spin a
Yarn project at Sri Shankara Vidyashramam 10 am
Photo links to spinning sessions
Inauguration of Spinning Club at Vidyodaya School
Spinning Session at Navbharat Matriculation
Spinning club at Sri Sankara Vidyashramam School
Teachers Workshop at Navbharat School
Spinning club at Navbharat School
Spinning club at Childrens Garden School
Spinning club at Suddanandha Vidayalaya
Other Spinning sessions
International Womens Association