Gully Labs
A hands on learning program imagined by and for kids.
Education should be more than reading and writing and it shouldn’t just reach those who can make it to a school room.
Gully Labs (that’s “Street Labs” in Hindi), is an innovative, youth centered, play and learning platform designed by and for children from marginalized Indian communities, including orphanages and slums.
Combining play, hands-on learning, and inspired mentorship from experts and educators in and around local communities, kids are inspired to find their own creativity and talents resulting in self-realized empowerment.
Education is failing too many children throughout India.
While India has made significant progress toward universalising elementary education since the enactment of the 2009 Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, the sad truth is, according to the government’s own estimates, six million children remain out of school – and more crucially, two out of five drop out before completing elementary schooling. Numbers are much higher for children from disadvantaged groups.
Our solution:
Create low-barrier programs that inspire vulnerable children to develop a love of learning and provide positive connections to educators and mentors within their communities.
“By immersing themselves in topics as wide-ranging as their own imaginations, kids find inspiration, develop curiosity, and feel supported in a safe environment.”
Mission and Guiding Principles of Gully Labs
Mission: Gully Labs is a low-barrier program which provides a network of diverse, fun, hands-on learning opportunities that are driven by their own interests and contextual to childrens’ environments. The topics provide inspiration for children to find their own creativity and talents resulting in self-realized empowerment.
Guiding principles:
Local Clubs: Each Gully Lab will exist as an opt-in club which meets weekly and club members work together on projects along with a facilitator & community experts.
Project-based Exploration: Month-long topics driven by children’s interest that combine field trips, workshops, divergent explorations, individual projects and documentation/blogging their learnings.
Library of DIY Content: A shared knowledge bank of videos, articles & DIY project ideas along with a blog/diary that each club maintains to record their doings.
Community Exchange: Discussions & workshops with students, artisans, technologists to learn and interact with.
First Gully Lab Club - “Movement of Thinking”
