Past Initiatives
Channel 5
The primary aim of 'Channel 5: Online Listening Spaces' was to help people cope with the COVID-19 lockdown. It nurtured the socio-emotional wellbeing of individuals with support from the community as the world took its time to get back to normalcy. This need was high for people in urban areas, who are so disconnected and walled up in concrete buildings, often without any meaningful social relations.
In light of COVID-19 and the
lockdown that was announced throughout
the country members of the Blue Ribbon Movement went into an inward inquiry which led them to the realization that they were among the more privileged people, and as technology users also had the capacity to convene online. The team was able to hold different kinds of conversational and listening spaces- some just for the younger fraternity to lighten up and let one's hair down, and some spaces for the adult community that were more intentional.
Social Artivism
Bringing change creatively.
It intends to build skills in clear communication and the art of dialogue.
It is a 3-month long co-designed course. The intent is to visit social initiatives, to understand their theory of change. It is an experiential learning program focussed on bringing together various
BRM alumni and social enthusiasts for a learning journey to explore different alternatives. 15 Artivists began this journey holding sessions on alternate Sundays.
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The Artivists have held following sessions:
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Indian Foreign Policy facilitated by Neelam Deo and Rajni Bakshi
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Exploring the Alternative Education System with Dilip Jain
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Community living by Leslie Nazareth
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Relevance of conscious use of media in daily life by Mr. Krishna Warrier
Media Lab Fellowship
An initiative to explore the use of media in social movements.
BRM’s Media Lab is a collective of creative professionals who bring together their talents to co-create new media that speaks to the concerns and aspirations of our community. We have collaborated with Mumbai’s Center for Education and Documentation (CED), who supports us with its expertise in documenting social change movements for more than 4 decades.
The Lab’s aim is to share stories from the ground, articulate BRM’s vision, create a space for public dialogue, and produce content intended to create change. Currently, the Media Lab is experimenting with producing video content, social media campaigns, and newsletters.
Jagrik
Jagrik is a wordplay and a concept that combines Jagruk (Awakened and Aware) and Nagrik (Citizen). The Jagriks act as active citizens for the jag (communities). ‘Jagriks’ play this interactive game in pairs over five weeks and undertake tasks which are both self-reflective and social in nature. On completing their weekly tasks, the ‘Jagriks’ come together to share their learnings in weekly meetings called ‘Jamghats’.
Simultaneously ‘Jagriks’ post their experiences and learnings through videos, stories and pictures on a dedicated Facebook page ‘Be a Jagrik!’. Adolescents and young people who participate in this journey are called ‘Jagriks’. Over five lakh young citizens across 17 states in India have experienced the journey through on ground and online engagement.
BRM has facilitated two rounds of the Jagrik program in association with Commutiny - The Youth Collective.
Rurban
An initiative to discuss and build awareness about rural development.
We believe that self and social awareness includes understanding how our actions in urban areas affect those living in rural India. RURBAN discussion circles provide a platform dialogue about the link between cities and villages, rethinking development, and catalyzing support for reforms for the poorest of our society.
Currently, BRM is collaborating with Ekta Parishad, an organization working towards securing land, water and forest rights for farmers from the central government. We are raising awareness in urban areas of this rural struggle through a communications campaign in order to demonstrate our solidarity.
Sustainware
We participated in the Sustainaware 2014 Intercontinental Youth Project, which convened NGOs from Argentina, Croatia, Hungary, Nigeria, Liechtenstein, and the US for a conference on sustainable development. Funded by the European Commission, it gathered global youth organizations with similar strategic objectives to share knowledge and experiences.
