Swadhaa, meaning one’s own nature or spontaneity, is envisioned to be a place, where each child blossoms at her own natural pace and fulfills her unique destiny.
Swadhaa Waldorf Learning Centre started in the year 2012 with a belief that when we learn with deep engagement of heart and not just the head, it makes the world of knowledge more colourful and enjoyable.
We are inspired by Dr. Rudolf Steiner’s educational work which is based on a profound understanding of human development. It is a beautiful, gentle and creative way of education for children. The uniquely designed curriculum of Dr. Rudolf Steiner rooted in the Indian context forms the basis of our school. We also derive our inspirations from Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi’s Nai Taleem, David Horsburgh, J. Krishnamurthy and other seers.
Swadhaa is the growing community of teachers and parents who believe in the holistic education which develops not only the intellect but the whole human being. We have strong faith in leaving children with possibilities and not conclusions.
We are a space where responsibility, excellence and compassion come together as one movement and not as fragmented parts to be strung together and where learning is engaging, mutually inspiring and an explorative process of discovery – of the self and all else.
We are a Kindergarten to Grade VII learning centre and adding a higher grade every year and will thus grow to Xth Grade by 2022.
Our commitment is to rear liberal, responsible and individuals with warm, vast and deep hearts!
Know moreCo-founder of Swadhaa, Shefali is a postgraduate in the Vedanta stream of Sanskrit. It was during the course of her education that she was captivated by the beauty and depth of knowledge in Indian heritage. Therefore, though she went on to work in the corporate sector for many years, she kept alive an enthusiastic exploration of alternative living communities. She travelled and interacted with them often – came across many individuals involved in alternative education….thinkers and teachers questioning the why and the how of conventions.
She then started to transition to the education sector herself. She underwent a formal training in early childhood education and worked with children and travelled to alternative schools to explore enriched learning spaces for children. She observed these 'schools' and their 'syllabi', questioning their nature and structures and was fortunate to study places and people giving children an education much beyond the boundaries of syllabi…educating them for life.
Know moreCo-founder of Swadhaa, Shyam is a geologist and a postgraduate in petroleum technology, he has served in the oil rigs in India and abroad. Later he opted for photography, which was his heart’s call, as a full time career as an independent and established industrial photographer. A wildlife enthusiast, flautist, he is a certified teacher of Yoga of the Art of Living and The Sivananda Ashram and conducts Yoga courses and workshops.
As an individual who seeks to live each day meaningfully, learning that enables children to move towards that end is very close to his heart. He is a visionary, giving valuable inputs about overarching principles and values.
I started my journey as a parent with my son Vivan in the second grade of Swadha and today Vivan is in the 3rd grade.
My deepest gratitude firstly to you-Shefali, and Shyam for having the courage to start the school without which the beautiful Waldorf curriculum would have been difficult to implement personally.
My deep bow to Rudolf Steiner, a man who a century back had such clairvoyance which is so fresh even today.
What initiated me into Waldorf education is the beauty of imparting education, giving importance to all the 3 aspects of growth ie the head the heart and the will.To nourish all 3, efforts have been taken to have a curriculum for each aspect.The bringing together of the spiritual with physical being is unique to the Waldorf schools.
A sensitive,intelligent enthusiastic individual shaping up is higher probability with such a holistic environment.
The school has the solid backing of its pedagogy, the Waldorf education system, proven worldwide for more than a 100 years, of protecting and nourishing children at all levels. Besides, the school is taking the essence of the system and rooting it back in the local culture of Bharat. Its teachers are also Waldorf parents themselves for whom it is a life's journey and not a job. Love for children is what binds and energizes this community to do all that can be done for children, not a commercial business disguised as education. The society needs more of such schools who will raise purposeful human beings and not robotic nuts who will only fit into the corporate cog wheels.
When we admitted our elder son to Swadha 3 years ago, we did not know much about the Steiner method. But as we learnt more, during workshops organised by school for parents, we started to appreciate that our son was in a really special place. And that everything being done here was well thought out, had a solid basis in observations of childrens needs: for example, the practise of avoiding too much instruction-giving in kindergarten. Also, the school is responsive to the children's social-cultural context, for example, celebrating festivals like Baisakhi, Id, Holi and Christmas in an elaborate manner.
Last month, our younger daughter also joined Swadha, and the transition has been smooth for her... she's eager to go to school every morning, has made a couple of friends immediately. I think what has helped her is that the easy pace and ample free-play time that KG children have, has allowed her to gradually adjust herself at her own pace.
"Swadha's No-Instruction methodology is the ultimate winner. Robots are generally created by feeding them with instructions in their program; Humans only need empathy, trust, and experience to grow. And that's precisely what we received through Swadha for our son Vismay.
Just like the bamboo tree first grows under the ground for first few years only to become the fastest growing plant species after a few years in the outer world above the ground, Swadha offers an intimate environment for children to grow in their inner world for a delayed but amazing gratification.
If you are on a mission to grow your child as a great human being, an exceptional learner (The inner world champion), Swadha is the right place. However, if you want your child to win the instant race of catching up with established knowledge areas (In the outer world) for instant gratification you might be disheartened by Swadha's holistic approach.
"I enrolled Samvit in Swadhaa almost two year ago. We were to move to Pune and start a huge transition in our lives. Through this transition that has stretched itself longer then we thought, I have witnessed Samvit grow and change into a confident and happy child. Everyone at Swadhaa have been very supportive and understanding of the changes in Samvit’s world both at school and home. His challenge was lightened as Swadhaa provided him a stable, non-judgemental environment to return to each day. I am grateful and extremely happy with my choice of this learning center."
The curriculum by its very nature and content seeks to nurture the development of an individual’s spiritual life and a respect for the natural world.
Cooperation: All learning is based on cooperation, helping and working with each other.Children are not pitted against each other but are encouraged to do their best. Competition and comparison cannot form the basis of learning. Children are allowed to learn at their pace, avoiding stress and compromises on understanding.
Range of teaching methodologies: Though the overarching methodology in the classroom is based on Steiner’s philosophy, the subject matter is conveyed by integrating various methods, based on the child’s needs. The uniqueness of each child is nurtured and the information is conveyed such that each child’s individual pace and bent of learning style is considered, to keep alive the joy of learning for her.
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Swadhaa believes in education that is based on a deep understanding of human development. Come experience the natural rhythm of our beautiful 10 acre campus and learn more about how Waldorf is transforming education.
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Subscript: Rudolf Steiner - 20th Century European Scientist, Educator, Artist and Philosopher founded Waldorf Education 1919
RUDOLPH STEINER WAS A GREAT MIND... He was tremendously talented. In fact, it is very rare to find another mind to compare with Rudolf Steiner. He was so talented in so many directions and dimensions; it looks almost superhuman: a great logical thinker, a great philosopher, a great architect, a great educator, and so on and so forth. And whatsoever he touched, he brought very novel ideas to that subject. Wherever he moved his eyes, he created new patterns of thought. He was a great man, a great mind...
Dr Rudolf Steiner (1861 – 1925) was an Austrian Philosopher and thinker, whose life work enlightened areas such as education, art, medicine, architecture and spiritual philosophy.Although Steiner was born in the West, his philosophy is universal, similar to that of a Rishi.
Dr. Steiner’s educational philosophy is based on his understanding that a child is a multi–faceted being, with a threefold nature comprising body, soul and spirit. His aim is to make the child healthy, strong and inwardly free through education.
The first Steiner school was established in Stuttgart in Germany in 1919. Today, with more than 1,000 Waldorf schools in 83 countries, Waldorf Education is the fastest growing independent educational movement in the world. These schools exist in large cities and small towns, suburbs and rural enclaves. No two schools are identical; each is administratively independent. Nevertheless, a visitor would recognize many characteristics common to them all.
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