Equality Clubs


 
At YLAC, we have been working to set up Equality Clubs in schools across India to sensitize students about the different types of inequalities that exist in society. The aim is to raise consciousness, help build empathy and appreciation of one’s own privilege, and inspire students to take action.

The clubs adopt an experiential learning approach to help students explore challenging societal problems, break stereotypes and equip them with the skills necessary to take on leadership to re-write societal norms. With an intricately designed toolkit, full of activities and resources for a facilitator to use, we hope that the Equality Clubs will become India’s catalysts for change – a place where thought-provoking debates and discussions trigger ideas to #SmashInequality that exists around us.

 
See:   Theory of Change   |   Club Themes   |   The Approach   |   Partner with Us  |   Explore the Club Website


 

Theory of Change

Three elements – (1) Awareness; (2) Empathy; and (3) Action – encapsulate our theory of change. Our goal is to instill a spirit of Active Citizenship and enable students to create an impact on the world around them.

If we create spaces where rich discussions on inequality can be ignited through experiential lessons and facilitated interactions, then emotions of empathy and justice will inspire students to take action against the inequalities that exist in society.

 


 

Club Themes

The one year club cycle is divided into four quarters, and each quarter features some pre-decided activities. The first three quarters deal with gender inequality, economic inequality, diversity and inclusion. The fourth quarter is modelled as an ‘Equality Project Incubator’ to support initiatives run by students that further the cause of equality. Each quarter is designed as a mix of activities and discussions, as well as stimulating competitions and exercises.

To facilitate the work of the clubs, we support schools by providing a dedicated curriculum and toolkit, skill-based workshops, support for interactive sessions with experts and an overall framework of active citizenship to enhance students’ understanding and ability to create impact.

 


 

The Journey

During the academic year 2019-20, we piloted the clubs across 7 schools in 4 cities – Bengaluru. Hyderabad, Lucknow and Raipur – and graduated 360 students. Our partners in 2019 included schools such as DPS Secunderabad, International School of Hyderabad, Study Hall Lucknow, among others.

In 2020, we tweaked our curriculum and toolkits to adapt to the online learning environment and ran the club in 15 schools. In 2021, we were able to reach 40 schools in 19 cities, and in 2022, we expanded our footprint to 100+ schools across the country.

 
See:   Theory of Change   |   Club Themes   |   The Approach   |   Partner with Us  |   Explore the Club Website


 

Partner with Us

We are very keen to expand our network and get more partner schools to join us in our mission to develop the next generation of changemakers. If you are an individual, teacher, principal or trustee and would like to discuss the possibility of hosting the club at your school, we would love to hear from you! Please reach out to us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to share details.

 


 

Raising Citizens of Tomorrow