In my earlier blogpost I pointed out the similarities between the Netflix movie Skater Girl and the Janwaar story. Now I’d like to focus on what is different in REAL life – and what is written below is based on Mannan’s thoughts while and after watching the movie. Mannan was with me in the days […]
My focus in April-May was: Indian Skateboarding Championships in Chandigarh Distributing water filters in the village Making the kitchen garden near the skatepark Once again the village of Janwaar was on fire. 12 kids were getting ready to travel to Chandigarh to participate in the Indian Skateboarding Championships in Chandigarh. Excitement was in the air […]
Netflix announcement May 13, 2021 – Release on Netflix: June 12, 2021 The “team” below came several times to Janwaar: Manjari Makijani, filmdirector based in Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA Emmanuel Pappas, husband of Manjari Makijani and producer Vinati Makijani, sister of Manjari Makijani, based in Mumbai, MH, India The release of the above trailer caused […]
Thanks to Decathlon Foundation and private donors we were able to provide blankets, warm clothes and shoes to 100 people in the village. We selected 11 elders, men and women who are living alone and 89 children from the poorest families. It was a big day in the village as you can easily see in […]
(Written by Arun) Electricity was always an issue in our Village. Due to no electricity we couldn’t attend our online classes and couldn’t complete the homework because our devices were not charged. The problem is solved now, we solved it because we put the solar panels on the roof. Solar energy does NOT need any […]
In March Asha, Anil and Arun – three of our Open Schoolers – went on a learning excursion to Rajasthan. Rachael Hammerlein, US citizen with a deep affection for India and a dear friend of mine, accompanied them. Their first stop was at The Barefoot College in Tilonia and from there they went up north […]
In March Asha, Anil and Arun – three of our Open Schoolers – went on a learning excursion to Rajasthan. Rachael Hammerlein, US citizen with a deep affection for India and a dear friend of mine, accompanied them. Their first stop was at The Barefoot College in Tilonia and from there they went up north […]
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 […]
Suman, a ten-year-old Adivasi girl, was never seen talking to anyone. Many kids at the skatepark didn’t even know her name. They pointed at her and told me that she had started to skateboard. She always looked a bit shabby and lost in this new environment. Nevertheless I felt challenged so I asked her if […]
In Hindi we have a saying, “Khali dimag shaitan ka ghar hota hai” meaning that a brain that has no work, is a demon’s abode. This – at least I believe – holds true for Ajay. Ajay is a thirteen-year-old Yadav boy in Janwaar. He is pretty good at school, although he doesn’t show up regularly. […]