My time at CHIRAG in Sitla, Uttarakhand, were an eye-opening experience, as I worked with academically challenged students to help them regain confidence through fine motor activities. These activities were designed to be both engaging and therapeutic, encouraging the children to improve their coordination and dexterity while having fun. Watching them grow more confident as they succeeded in tasks that once seemed difficult was incredibly rewarding.

One of the most impactful initiatives I implemented was the d.school "school lunch experiment." This exercise went beyond the act of eating—it emphasized how lunch could foster a sense of community and belonging. By incorporating fine motor activities into the process, such as serving food, using utensils, and even simple social interactions like passing dishes, I helped the students view lunchtime as an opportunity to connect with one another. The visible improvement in their fine motor skills during these interactions was profound, but even more striking was the sense of camaraderie that emerged.

Through this experience, I realized how essential it is to create environments where learning and growth happen naturally, often in the most unexpected ways. The experiment showed me that something as simple as eating lunch can transform into an educational and communal activity, fostering both skill development and deeper social bonds. These two weeks not only allowed me to contribute to the children’s development but also deepened my understanding of how learning is a holistic and multifaceted process.

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