Dwaraknath Reddy Institutes for Knowledge
DRIK - Knowledge and Action
DRIK - Dwaraknath Reddy Institutes for Knowledge is an initiative of Dwaraknath Reddy Ramanarpanam Trust (DRRT) founded in May 2011.
DRIK was established with a vision to ensure that the children and youth from urban poor, rural and indigenous villages are made mindful of their rights through innovative and relevant educational interventions. The learning curriculum has been specially designed and developed by DRIK to help change these communities through knowledge, awareness and action.
Recognizing the enormity of difficulties and the challenges that the poor face in our society, DRIK’s educational efforts are driven by the single focus of embracing humanity and transforming communities, investing energy, expertise and finances into a variety of progressive and strategic educational interventions.
DRIK’s mission is to ignite the spirit of inquiry, creative thinking, values through community rights-based education and building leadership in indigent children and youth in urban and rural areas.
11 year old Mahalakshmi impacts her community
Fifth Grade students of DRIK Patashala in Chittoor were taught a theme based on
"The Ants and The Bees."
The relevance of this chosen topic was to communicate through the behavior of this insect kingdom, the values and virtues of being united, disciplined, persevering and committed to the future of their own communities.
Little Mahalakshmi was in awe of what was taught to her. Looking at herself through
the eyes of the queen bee she took on the leadership to sort out squabbles of the women in her community who stood by the drinking water tanker with pots in their hands nudging and muscling each other to get their share before another in line.
She explained to them that if they followed the ants behavior there would be no squabbles amongst themselves and there would be enough water for all. The women appreciated and respected little Mahalakshmi, and interestingly obeyed her too!
If not now, then when?
If not us, then who?
"Four decades of work in the slums of Bangalore, and villages of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu in India has been an affirmation to me that when our children, youth and women from these communities are encouraged to participate, think, debate, discern and speak for change, their fetters of silence are unshackled against exploitation and poverty. Communities get liberated and society is transformed.
Each child can make a difference. And so can we. Join us in the DRIK-DWARAKA Movement."
- Anita Reddy, Managing Trustee
Action And Impact
DRIK programs are breaking the norms of formal classroom teaching with an inclusive, innovative and integrated rights based learning.
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school."
Albert Einstein
“Climb the mountain as high as you can.”
DRIK’S
Initiatives and Networks
DRIK JEEVANOTSAVA
Cultural empowerment network invoking the inner potential of every child, youth and women.
DRIK NACOLDEV
Development of indigenous children through knowledge based learning.
DRIK CEF
Children's education fund –A unique initiative to promote higher education and leadership.
DRIK PATASHALA
Children and communities rights based education.
DRIK DRISHYA
Sustainable learning and inspiring young minds. An initiative of DRRT, with DRISHYA Foundation.
SATSUNG RURAL SCHOOL
Sustainable learning inspiring young minds. An initiative of DRRT, now merged with Satsang Vidyalaya
DRIK VIVEKA
Widening the horizons of learning for the indigent communities.
DRIK DWARAKA ARC
Art, Culture and Community Rights come together.
DRIK JEEVATMA
Government schools networked initiatives.
New Initiatives
DRIK-DWARAKA ARC
DRIK DWARAKA ARC is an Arts, Rights and Communities based initiative to synergise the DRIK and DWARAKA experiences in working with women and communities, evolving relevant rights based knowledge and learning capsules that also strengthen the revival of art and culture for children and youth. It is to strengthen heritage and traditional skills, and revive inherent cultural strengths of regions with history that rejuvenate the indigent segments of people.