Yoga as a tool for social inclusion and combating school dropout
We firmly believe that yoga can be a valuable ally for children and young people living in conditions of severe socio-economic hardship, helping them to regain serenity, self-confidence and motivation to continue their studies.
Over the past few months, we have therefore decided to experiment with introducing yoga into our Edu-Care project, a programme that aims to make schools a safe and welcoming place where education becomes a lever for change in the lives of many young people.
We started by involving 30 children and young people from Mango’s Home, our home for abandoned or troubled children, and 765 students from five high schools in the slums of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Here, many young people belong to the ‘untouchable’ category and are forced to grow up in overcrowded conditions that lack basic services such as drinking water and sanitation.
To help them stay in school and reduce the risk of dropping out, we have set up after-school coaching programmes that offer subjects such as maths, science and English, as well as art, music and yoga. It is a mix that makes learning more engaging, allows children to develop new skills and improves their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Yoga, in particular, is proving to be a valuable resource: for those living in highly marginalised contexts, this practice offers a space for calm and awareness, helping to reduce stress and improve concentration. Combined with music, it becomes a therapeutic tool that allows children and young people to express their emotions and build confidence in their own abilities.
And early results confirm that we are on the right track: teachers and tutors have noticed an increase in student motivation and participation, with a positive impact on academic performance. The innovative and interactive approach has made the school a more welcoming place, while yoga and music have given the children new tools to cope with everyday difficulties.
We are delighted to see that some of the students have started practising yoga at home, adapting the techniques they have learnt to the limited space in which they live. This shows us that even in the most difficult situations, we can ignite a spark of change and give children the chance to imagine – and build – a better future.
