The Knowledge Hub is Shicol’s innovation space where we experiment with re-combinations of traditional knowledge and modern science/technology. We will continue work on the Knowledge Hub with a new project that focuses on the links between ecology and economy in our rural context. In the new project we will experiment with creating a combination of biodiverse agroforestry along with cold storage. We want to know how we can increase biodiversity on farms while at the […]

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After the lockdown, building work has now started again at Shikha. The new building will be co-used by the Happy Hands School for the Deaf as well as for Shicol activities. In particular, the building will enable us to provide accommodation to eco-volunteers and eco-tourists. We are using locally sourced materials, and like the rest of the Shikha campus, this building will be off-grid and run entirely on solar power.

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Today we inaugurated our agroforestry site just outside the village of Sindurpur in Binika block (district Sonepur). The project site called “Bhumi Agroforestry” was inaugurated by the local sarpanch in the presence of trustees from the Rural Lifeline Trust, Shicol members, and local people from the village. To mark the occasion, we organised a plantation drive with different varieties of local fruit plants. In the near future, we plan to develop this project site by […]

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In preparation for developing our new agroforestry site, we held an internal planning workshop for our team. The first step was to share our experiences of the agroforestry project so far. We used a workshop technique that involved making a 3D map of the site on the ground, using leaves, stones, sticks, sand, chalk powder, etc. The mapping gave everyone a good understanding of the site. We then played a game that was designed to […]

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Our capacity building programme with young deaf professionals has ended. We worked for six months with eight Indians, two Nepalis, and two Ugandans on the development of curricula and training materials. This was a new experience for everyone because there was no predetermined content or timetable, and we co-created the programme continuously as it unfolded. The trainees learned about language and literacy in deaf communities, general principles of pedagogy, and technical skills for developing visual […]

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