Empowering disadvantaged children with self-assurance, skills, and curiosity: Aryann Khokha's eNalanda & Dronashala project
In the bustling city of Gurugram, a remarkable movement is taking shape. Dronashala, an initiative by 17-year-old Aryann Khokha, is a grassroots life-skills program that positively impacts underprivileged children.
Dronashala is more than just a place; it's a community where survivors support one another, forging bonds that go beyond training. The sessions at Dronashala focus on building confidence, self-respect, and resilience among these children.
The core of Dronashala lies in the practice of Taekwondo and meditation. Taekwondo, a martial art known for its discipline and mental strength, helps children physically and mentally, teaching them self-discipline, focus, and resilience. Meditation, on the other hand, fosters emotional regulation and inner calm, contributing to stronger self-esteem.
These experiences, combined, enable children to face challenges with greater confidence and dignity within their communities. Aryann Khokha, the visionary behind Dronashala, dreams of expanding this programme to multiple locations across Gurugram and beyond.
Aryann's vision extends beyond Dronashala. He is also the driving force behind eNalanda, an initiative aimed at revolutionizing STEM education across rural India through gamification. eNalanda has reached over 10 lakh students and directly benefited 30,000+ through gamified learning toolkits in over 100 rural schools in Haryana.
For Aryann, education thrives in open spaces, shared stories, courage to speak, and the joy of learning together. He believes that education should empower, not intimidate, and that curiosity is a child's greatest asset.
Aryann juggles his school commitments with planning sessions and workshops for Dronashala to ensure consistent attendance from children whose home situations can be unpredictable. He meets a group of children from nearby slum areas every week for Dronashala sessions, which often take place in open grounds or borrowed spaces.
Parents of children participating in Dronashala become supporters after witnessing their child's confidence growth. Aryann relies on personal savings, contributions from friends and family, and resourcefulness for funding Dronashala. He aims to integrate digital literacy into Dronashala's curriculum, teaching children to use computers and navigate online resources safely.
Dronashala is the first-of-its-kind specialized Taekwondo academy aimed at supporting and transforming children who are victims of physical abuse. Aryann's vision for Dronashala includes creating a structured volunteer network for consistent sessions. He envisions a future where survivors of abuse are not just 'survivors' - but warriors.
Aryann's work serves as a reminder that education is not confined to classrooms or textbooks. His initiatives, eNalanda and Dronashala, are testament to the power of youth, innovation, and determination in shaping a brighter future for underprivileged children.
- Aryann Khokha's vision for Dronashala, a community-based life skills program in Gurugram, goes beyond just training, aiming to create a structured volunteer network and teach digital literacy to ensure consistency and safer online navigation.
- Through his initiative, eNalanda, Aryann is revolutionizing STEM education by gamifying learning, reaching over 10 lakh students in rural India and benefiting 30,000+ directly.
- Aryann's opinion is that education should empower, not intimidate, focusing on the joy of learning as its greatest asset, and he aims to integrate this approach into Dronashala's curriculum.
- News stories often highlight the impacts of Dronashala, which leverages martial arts and meditation to build confidence, self-respect, and resilience among underprivileged children, transforming them into survivors and eventually warriors.
- In addition to school commitments, Aryann regularly holds learning and personal growth sessions for Dronashala, drawing on education-and-self-development principles to help children face challenges with greater confidence and dignity.
