Experiential-Based Learning

Project: Experiential-Based Learning in partnership with Swaraj University
Location: Udaipur, Rajasthan
Category: Education and Income Generation

The Swaraj University program is designed to enable individuals to become self-designed learners, social change-makers and whole, happy, and healthy beings. IDS has supported Swaraj University by providing yearly scholarships for 15 youth leaders; facilitator training programs; and newsletter, program, and website development. Some of the university’s projects that involve Swaraj students have included:

  • Workshops on eco-architecture, basic mud construction, and fuel-efficient natural stoves; rooftop gardening work­shops with urban families
  • Creation of a Corruption Helpline project
  • Design, production, and sales of eco-friendly bags made from discarded clothing from textile industries.
  • Theater for nontraditional learners

Students at Swaraj University are called “seekers,” or khojis. Below is a small sampling of the various fields explored by khojis:

  • Art
  • Astronomy
  • Ayurveda
  • Community Radio
  • Cooking
  • Co-operative Games
  • Dance Therapy
  • Film Making
  • Folklore
  • Healing
  • Journalism
  • Law
  • Mathematics
  • Meditation
  • Naturopathy
  • Organic Farming
  • Philosophy
  • Photography
  • Physics
  • Politics
  • Pottery
  • Psychology
  • Sexuality
  • Social Media
  • Solar Energy
  • Space Designing
  • Spirituality
  • Theatre
  • Traveling
  • Veterinary Care
  • Weather Science
  • Web Designing
  • Working with Rescued Animals
  • Writing

–2013 IDS annual report