Year 1
Off on a no money, no technology cycle yatra!
The aim of the first year is to unlearn the dependence on external sources of knowledge and to engage in co-creating their self-directed learning path. Khojis also learn basic jugaad (playful improvisation), planning, facilitation, media and communication skills, as well as identify a practice area to pursue in more depth. There are various explorations and experiments to understand the meaning of Swaraj, and the core principles related to it, which are sustainability, social justice and holistic living. Khojis are exposed to different kinds of community contexts – rural villages, social movements, entrepreneurs and non-profit organisations.
The first year is divided into Khoji meets and mentorship periods. The duration of the Khoji meets is around 3-5 weeks in the first year. Between the meets is the mentorship or ‘guru’ period of 2-3 months each. The khojis learn with their chosen ustaads during the mentorship period and return to the campus for the Khoji meets, where they cross-fertilize their learning with other khojis. Khoji meets are also spaces for reflection, deepening our emotional understanding and healing ourselves from the hurt and stress caused by the System.
During the first year, khojis also go on Learning Journeys to various parts of India and get exposed to new livelihoods, initiatives and organisations which are engaged in new ways of learning and living. One Learning Journey is on cycles, without money, technology or first aid, with the aim of going to the heart of India – its villages – and learning from nature and those living in harmony with it.
Here is the proposed time-table for the 1st year:
Gathering 1: Preparation for Self-Design Learning Programme@ Udaipur (6 weeks)
Learning Journey 1: Whole group goes to one city or area to meet various inspiring activists, artists, social entrepreneurs, and change agents (2 weeks)
Mentorship 1: Individually or in pairs (2 months)
Gathering 2: Re-thinking development, co-learning and community living with peers and through workshops @ Udaipur (6 weeks)
Learning Journey 2: Cycle Yatra to villages (10 days)
Mentorship 2: Individually (2 months)
Gathering 3: Co-learning and community living with peers and through workshops @ Udaipur (4 weeks)
Learning Journey 3: Whole group goes to either South India or North-East India to meet various inspiring activists, artists, social entrepreneurs, and change agents (3 weeks)
Mentorship 3: Individually (2.5 months)
Gathering 4: Khoji Milan and Graduation (of previous batch) (2 weeks): A lively gathering of all the batches of Swaraj University @ Udaipur. Reflecting on the year; naming practice areas for long-term study; brainstorming and networking for starting one’s own social/green enterprise.
The first year is divided into Khoji meets and mentorship periods. The duration of the Khoji meets is around 3-5 weeks in the first year. Between the meets is the mentorship or ‘guru’ period of 2-3 months each. The khojis learn with their chosen ustaads during the mentorship period and return to the campus for the Khoji meets, where they cross-fertilize their learning with other khojis. Khoji meets are also spaces for reflection, deepening our emotional understanding and healing ourselves from the hurt and stress caused by the System.
During the first year, khojis also go on Learning Journeys to various parts of India and get exposed to new livelihoods, initiatives and organisations which are engaged in new ways of learning and living. One Learning Journey is on cycles, without money, technology or first aid, with the aim of going to the heart of India – its villages – and learning from nature and those living in harmony with it.
Here is the proposed time-table for the 1st year:
Gathering 1: Preparation for Self-Design Learning Programme@ Udaipur (6 weeks)
Learning Journey 1: Whole group goes to one city or area to meet various inspiring activists, artists, social entrepreneurs, and change agents (2 weeks)
Mentorship 1: Individually or in pairs (2 months)
Gathering 2: Re-thinking development, co-learning and community living with peers and through workshops @ Udaipur (6 weeks)
Learning Journey 2: Cycle Yatra to villages (10 days)
Mentorship 2: Individually (2 months)
Gathering 3: Co-learning and community living with peers and through workshops @ Udaipur (4 weeks)
Learning Journey 3: Whole group goes to either South India or North-East India to meet various inspiring activists, artists, social entrepreneurs, and change agents (3 weeks)
Mentorship 3: Individually (2.5 months)
Gathering 4: Khoji Milan and Graduation (of previous batch) (2 weeks): A lively gathering of all the batches of Swaraj University @ Udaipur. Reflecting on the year; naming practice areas for long-term study; brainstorming and networking for starting one’s own social/green enterprise.
Year 2
Social entrepreneurship with Sandeep and Pradeep from CLIPS Foundation
The focus of the second year is to move into deeper learning around the khoji’s emerging vision for community action. Khojis begin to gain leadership, management, resource mobilization, marketing and networking skills in engaging others to support their vision. They learn about the basics of swaraj entrepreneurship, starting a green business or a social initiative, fund-raising, basic accounting and budgeting, etc.
Here is the proposed time-table for the 2nd year:
Gathering 5: Co-learning with peers through workshop on Swaraj Entrepreneurship @ Udaipur (10 days)
Project Work 1: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 6: Co-learning with peers through workshop on Entrepreneurship @ Nashik (10 days)
Community Learning Journey 1 (optional): Organized by the khojis in their communities (5 days)
Project Work 2: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 7: Co-learning with peers and through workshop on Entrepreneurship @ Udaipur (10 days)
Community Learning Journey 2 (optional): Organized by the khojis in their own communities (5 days)
Project Work 3: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 8: Co-learning with peers and through workshop on Swaraj Entrepreneurship @ khoji community (10 days)
Community Oasis Game 1 (optional): Open to both batches (6 days)
Project Work 4: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 9: Co-learning with peers and through workshop on Swaraj Entrepreneurship @ khoji community (10 days)
Community Learning Journey 3 (optional): Organized by the khojis in their own communities (5 days)
Project Work 5: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 10: Khoji Milan and Graduation (2 weeks): Gathering of all the batches of Swaraj University @ Udaipur. Review of 2 year journey and sharing of future plans including business development plans and project proposals.
Here is the proposed time-table for the 2nd year:
Gathering 5: Co-learning with peers through workshop on Swaraj Entrepreneurship @ Udaipur (10 days)
Project Work 1: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 6: Co-learning with peers through workshop on Entrepreneurship @ Nashik (10 days)
Community Learning Journey 1 (optional): Organized by the khojis in their communities (5 days)
Project Work 2: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 7: Co-learning with peers and through workshop on Entrepreneurship @ Udaipur (10 days)
Community Learning Journey 2 (optional): Organized by the khojis in their own communities (5 days)
Project Work 3: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 8: Co-learning with peers and through workshop on Swaraj Entrepreneurship @ khoji community (10 days)
Community Oasis Game 1 (optional): Open to both batches (6 days)
Project Work 4: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 9: Co-learning with peers and through workshop on Swaraj Entrepreneurship @ khoji community (10 days)
Community Learning Journey 3 (optional): Organized by the khojis in their own communities (5 days)
Project Work 5: Making our dreams into reality: working on dream projects of choice (1.5 months)
Gathering 10: Khoji Milan and Graduation (2 weeks): Gathering of all the batches of Swaraj University @ Udaipur. Review of 2 year journey and sharing of future plans including business development plans and project proposals.
