“Reimagine and Organize: Education with a Difference”- 2

Youth Workshop Report | July 17–20, 2025 | MASS, Baroda

From July 17–20, 2025, thirty-two young activists, community workers, and resource persons gathered at the serene premises of Manresa Adhyatmik Sewa Sadan (MASS) in Baroda for a transformative four-day residential workshop titled *Reimagine and Organise: An Education with a Difference*. This wasn’t just another training—it was a space of collective questioning, storytelling, laughter, deep reflection, and intense discussions.

Participants arrived into a space intentionally designed to move beyond conventional education. Structured around introspection and creative collaboration, the workshop allowed participants to explore the root causes of ecological harm and corporate exploitation, while also interrogating the different actors involved. Through interactive theatre, discussion games, and reflective sessions, the group examined privilege, violence, and the interconnectedness of people with land, water, and resources. Grounded by collective songs of resistance and guided by a shared understanding of ground rules, a political context was set—centered around people’s struggles against corporate-driven development in Western India.

Participants connected deeply with the narratives of communities resisting displacement and pollution through a series of immersive sessions. Storytelling, critical dialogue, and group analysis highlighted both the region-specific and pan-Indian patterns of corporate excesses. The so-called Gujarat Development Model was unpacked and understood. Participants learned the importance of setting their own narratives and explored multiple communication tools—video, theatre, song, and more—to tell stories of resistance or set plural narratives.

A enlightening exposure visit to the Vishwamitri River, led by grassroots researchers and environmental defenders, grounded these discussions in a real-life struggle to reclaim ecological justice. The river’s degradation—and the people’s fight to restore it was understood

Returning with new insights, the participants channeled their energy into group presentations. Using theatre, songs, video, and poetry, the teams creatively expressed stories of resistance—from the Vishwamitri to struggles of farmers and fisherfolk. The showcase was emotional, celebratory, and filled with learning. Critical feedback and shared affirmations followed, creating a sense of solidarity and mutual respect.

The final hours of the workshop were charged with a collective reading of the Chief of Seattle’s Letter, followed by reflections that linked indigenous wisdom with ongoing struggles in India. Participants shared ideas for future collaboration, mapping out a roadmap that ensured future possibilities of coming together and sustained engagement on issues.

In a heartfelt closing ceremony, posters were exchanged, gratitude was expressed, and a quiet promise echoed through the space—to carry forward the energy of these four days into sustained action. For many, it didn’t feel like a scheduled training—it felt like a shared life experience. “Reimagine and Organise” planted seeds of solidarity, community, and courage that each participant took back into their spaces.