Suzanne ter Haar

Student Reporter

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Welcome to Vidya Vanam, a school for rural and tribal children in Anaikatti near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.Vidya Vanam is a school with no prescribed textbooks. The children learn their subjects in themes. Last year, for instance, the theme was&#39; Rice&#39;, and their learning included cultivating five micro-plots of paddy themselves. Two teams of first-generation English speakers even had a debate on genetically modified crops: <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/articles/debating-rice-in-the-forest-of-learning/">Debating rice in the forest of learning</a>It is a school where children learn to speak their minds and explore their talents. And they do this at their own pace. Some of the smallest children are clearly born ‘leaders&#39;.

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This photostory is a part of the reporter&#39;s 10-week internship with PARI.

Here, every day is Children’s Day

یہاں، ہر دن بچوں کا دن ہوتا ہے

இங்கே, ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் குழந்தைகள் தினம்

Anaikatti

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Here, every day is Children’s Day

At this school in Tamil Nadu, children grow at their own pace and not under pressure

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