We are building Dreams of Tribal Children through Open and Experiential Learning

The Problem We Address

6 out of 10 students from Adivasi and Dalit communities in Rajasthan drop out by the 10th grade. This limits their employment opportunities, leading to exploitation and an increased risk of them getting involved in crime and anti-social activities like liquor smuggling on the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, robbery, and cheating. Adivasi tribes like Bhil, Garasia, and Mina, along with Dalits, suffer from high dropout rates due to both home-related issues, such as financial struggles and child marriage, and school-related challenges like language barriers, untrained teachers, lack of access to modern technology, and poor infrastructure. The lack of economic resources forces many students into labor instead of school, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and limited opportunities.

The central government’s Eklavya Model Schools and Ashram Schools and New Education Policy 2020 aims to improve dropout rates among tribal communities, but its implementation has been largely ineffective. While various NGOs focus on infrastructure and teacher development, their efforts are general and not specifically targeted at marginalized communities. As a result, the actual impact remains minimal, with many programs often limited to reporting rather than achieving substantial change.

To break this cycle, there is an urgent need to create an innovative learning environment that focuses on wholistic development of underprivileged children. Thus, Swapnisthan offers an open learning environment where education extends beyond the classroom, integrating the natural surroundings and local community into the learning process.

Our Solution

Empowering Children Through Skills

Providing essential skills – 4 C’s (Communication, Critical thinking, Creativity, and Collaboration)

Transforming Learning

Through our innovative curriculum – The Panch Tatva of Transformation

Building Pathways for Future

Encouraging students toward self-reliance, confidence, and solving personal and social problems

Our Approach - The 3 E's

Exploration Activities

Experiential Learning

Exposure Opportunities

About Swapnisthan

Swapnisthan (Place of Dreams) is an alternative learning center that offers an open learning space for children from socially disadvantaged communities. We envision a world where these children have access to quality education. We follow a need-based curriculum tailored to address the specific needs of our children. This flexible curriculum allows students to focus on subjects and skills that align with their interests, strengths, and weaknesses.

For example, children interested in complex mathematical concepts receive more in-depth instruction, while others may focus on agricultural concepts. We also provide diverse learning materials, such as charts, pictures, videos, audio stories, textbooks, and board or spinner games, to suit different learning styles.

Learners are categorized into five learning phases: Jal: Water (Age 5-7), Vaayu: Air (Age 8-9), Akash: Sky (Age 10-12), Prithvi: Earth (Age 13-14), Agni: Fire (Age 15-16), each tailored to their developmental stage. For example, younger children learn through play and physical activities, while older learners engage in debates, stage performances, and specialized exposure visits.

Latest Updates

WOW Lab: Transforming Waste into Wonder

What happens when children are given the freedom to explore, experiment, and create?

WOW Lab (Waste to Wonder) was a four-day experiential learning workshop at Swapnisthan where children transformed discarded materials into toys, models, structures, and imaginative creations of their own design. Using old bottles, cardboard, and other waste materials, they learned to see possibilities where others might see limitations.

More than a craft activity, WOW Lab encouraged children to think critically, solve problems, collaborate with others, and express their ideas with confidence. The workshop created a space where there were no fixed answers, no fear of making mistakes, and no pressure to compete—only curiosity, creativity, and joyful learning.

This film captures moments from that journey through children’s creations, reflections, and a parent’s perspective. It offers a glimpse into Swapnisthan’s approach to education, where learning happens through experience, exploration, and meaningful engagement with the world around us.

At Swapnisthan, we believe that every child is naturally creative and capable. When provided with the right opportunities and environment, children do not just acquire knowledge—they learn to imagine, innovate, and become active participants in shaping their own futures.