Soulful स्कूल | Session 21 | Poornima Arun - Marudam Farm School, Tamil Nadu

Qualification: M. Sc., B. Ed. (special education), Diploma in counselling Work experience: 1. Head teacher, at Marudam farm school since June, 2009 2. Science, Maths and language teacher at primary, middle and secondary levels at Olcott memorial High school from 1996 – 2009 3. Worked with street children in Dharavi, Mumbai, 1993 -1996 Languages: Tamizh, English, Hindi, Malayalam (only speaking) Interests: Dance, Music, Theatre, Crafts, all traditional art and craft forms, Environment

I was part of an Action research programmed conducted by the British council, called the – Teaching English to the disadvantaged [TED]. This was a very useful and educative programme for all of us. Employment generation Working in close contact with Hemant from Centre of scientific research in Auroville, we created a model of employment generation with a group of my ex- students, replacing kerosene lamps with solar lanterns in the shops on the Elliot’s beach. This was a very simple but impactful move as it had great beneficial health impact for the shop keepers. With kerosene lamps they were inhaling a lot of sooty smoke. It was of course very beneficial for the environment. Hemant went on to win a Green Oscar based on this work. Child safety I began to work towards child safety, preventing child sexual abuse, working in close connection with Lois Engelbrect an International expert on the issue. We have been in close contact for nearly two decades and work in close collaboration. I regularly hold child safety workshops for teachers and students of various schools. Marudam farm school - from 2009 As a family, we moved to Thiruvannamalai, in 2009. My partner and I along with a British, Israeli couple and a few friends formed a new trust, called “The forest way”. The forest way is involved in afforesting the sacred Arunachala hill, running an Organic farm and the Marudam farm school. More about the forest way is available on – www.theforestway.org As a founder member and Head teacher of the Marudam farm school, which started, in 2009, with 20 children and has around 120 children now, I have been involved in all aspects of running the school, from curriculum development, teacher training, teaching at all levels, creation of education resources, time tabling, administration, Education department interfaces etc. I regularly conduct workshops for various schools and work closely with Azim Premji foundation in Pondicherry. I have been conducting the annual craft week in Marudam farm school for 8 years now, in which traditional crafts people and artisans from all over come and teach children from various schools these skills. It is one of the most popular activities in Marudam. More about Marudam farm school at – www.marudamfarmschool.org