Page 29 - 10x GOOD_Issue 4_V4

INTERVIEW

‘Without a Gandhi at COP 26 in Glasgow, about climate change, was during COP 26, and I decided to

stay connected with Sunita Gandhi
significant. We also teamed up
where I was organizing a youth
with the Mumbai-based theater
initiative known as C6 World,
afterward. It was a program focused
foundation in in collaboration with the World group, Rang Bumi, for engaging and on the economics of creativity,
Norwegian Climate Network’s EU
enjoyable online training sessions.
emphasizing the power of ideas that
truly resonated with me. The notion
Drawing inspiration from India,
programs.
we adopted the metaphor of the
that a dream becomes a shared
basic literacy The collaboration between C6 spinning wheel to keep the world in reality when more people embrace
it was central to our vision. We
balance and nature thriving.
World and the World Climate
School, along with DEVI Sansthan’s
aspired to create a global school that
This partnership forged its roots
involvement in online education
facilitated rapid learning.
and numeracy, However, the advent of COVID-19
forced us to reassess our plans.
With the world in lockdown, we
understanding had to adapt to this disruptive
environment. Notably, we
recognized that teaching climate
change to young children
climate change was challenging, especially
considering that many of them
were not in school during the
pandemic. Without a foundation
was a distant goal’ in basic literacy and numeracy,
understanding climate change was a
distant goal.

This realization further reinforced
our determination to collaborate
with DEVI Sansthan and bring
orld Climate Development Goals (SDG) 4 and driving force behind this initiative the ALfA program to our school in
School, a 13. Milita Halder of 10X Good was Hans Jorgen Rasmussen, a Norway. Our dream, born during
Norwegian engaged in a conversation with visionary who had been actively those pivotal moments at COP 26
non-profit Inger-Mette Stenseth, Co-Founder involved in climate efforts in Glasgow in December 2022,
Worganization, of World Climate School, during her since 2015, including the Paris was to contribute to a global
has partnered with DEVI Sansthan, visit to the capital of Uttar Pradesh. Agreement. With a background educational ecosystem that could
renowned for its groundbreaking Here are the highlights of their in psychology, he was motivated adapt and thrive, even in the face
pedagogy ALfA (Accelerating enlightening discussion: to create a support network for of unforeseen disruptions like the
Learning for All). This innovative teachers, emphasizing teacher pandemic.
approach not only facilitates MH: Can you tell us about the training to expand climate education
FLN (Foundational Learning & motivation behind your decision to on a global scale. MH: How do you envision the ALfA
Numeracy) at a 10X learning speed collaborate with DEVI Sansthan and program benefiting the students
but also nurtures the development implement the ALfA program in your The online format turned out to and staff of your school and other
of essential 6C skills: collaboration, school in Norway? be incredibly successful due to communities globally?
communication, critical thinking, the pandemic, as people had more
creativity, character, and IMS: Our journey began in 2021 time to engage online. Our reach IMS: As I currently find myself
citizenship. with the establishment of the extended globally, particularly immersed in the lockdown situation,
Rural Climate School in Norway, to regions like Africa, Peru, Latin visiting schools in collaboration with
This partnership marks a significant coinciding with the onset of the America, the United States, and DEVI Sansthan, and delving deeper
stride towards achieving universal COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, it India. It was during this period that I into the ALfA program, it becomes
literacy and realizing Sustainable operated as an online initiative. The had the privilege of meeting Sunita increasingly clear to me how this

28 29