Sachin, one of our Janwaar kids, is healed from skin TB. After suffering for many years Sachin can now live a happy life. And he does! His healing had also a very positive impact on his father, Seglal. He basically stopped drinking and became more serious with and in his work and even more responsible […]
Another story from a different kind of world. Father and son in the fields around Janwaar. The father was married when he was 12 years old. He was married to the wife of his elder brother when the brother suddenly passed away. Pure economic reasons and to keep the wife out of a life in […]
Last week Ramkesh came to Noida to visit our Open School kids. Arun did an interview with him. On Saturday 21st September I interviewed Ramkesh Adiwashi. Ramkesh lives in my village, Janwaar, in Madhya Pradesh. He was with me when I made a skateboarding tour in Europe. He is a good skateboarder. He came for […]
This is the first time Arun, one of our best skateboarders, he participated in the World Championships in Skateboarding in 2018 in Nanjing China, has done an interview in written English! How did you meet Ulrike for the first time? When I went to the skatepark for the first time, I met Ulrike. When the […]
In the last week of February Danny Schmidt, a documentary film maker and skateboarder from Salt Lake City, US, came with his friend Zag for a visit. We’ve been talking for more than a year about this – and finally they came. The two of them stayed in Janwaar Village in our homestays and they […]
Anil (15) is Arun’s younger brother. When Arun was first confronted with the idea that his little brother would join the Open School team, he immediately responded: “No, he can’t.” He said, his parents won’t allow him. But in contrary, the parents said immediately yes. They asked Anil, if he wanted to join and that […]
Arun (17) has “earned” his first brownie points during our Janwaar Castle Skateboarding Challenge in November 2016 when he won the “social award” of the tournament. He wasn’t among the best skateboarders back then but this event sparked his interests – in multiple ways. He started to go to school, his social skills improved and […]
Asha was the first person in the village to get a passport and go abroad. This was no easy feat. As an Adivasi (indigenous people) AND a girl – there was nothing like a green card for the entire process. What a bumpy journey we had to overcome all the hurdles laid out on the way. From intrigues in […]
Ajeet is part of our Open School Project which we’ve started on January 10, 2019. Here is a portrat of him. Ajeet (15) is the youngest in his family and slightly spoiled. He enjoys all the benefits of being “male” and the last one in line. His sisters and mother would do anything to please […]
Brajendra (15) is part of our Open School Project which we’ve started on January 10, 2019. Here is a portrat of his. Brajendra has always a smile on his face. He is really excited to be part of our experiment – his excitement is almost hindering him to get things done. His major challenge is […]