many times life we meet people who change the
life we meet people who change the
life we meet people who change the course of our life forever it could be
course of our life forever it could be
course of our life forever it could be someone who offered you a new job on a
someone who offered you a new job on a
someone who offered you a new job on a flight
flight
flight it could be someone whom you met on a
it could be someone whom you met on a
it could be someone whom you met on a volunteer work could be a stranger who
volunteer work could be a stranger who
volunteer work could be a stranger who donated an organ of his to you after a
donated an organ of his to you after a
donated an organ of his to you after a conversation in a bus this could all
conversation in a bus this could all
conversation in a bus this could all happen to people I met Anne in a shelter
happen to people I met Anne in a shelter
happen to people I met Anne in a shelter home during my days in college and of
home during my days in college and of
home during my days in college and of all the things that she could ask a
all the things that she could ask a
all the things that she could ask a stranger she asked me if I could give
stranger she asked me if I could give
stranger she asked me if I could give her a couple of storybooks me being in
her a couple of storybooks me being in
her a couple of storybooks me being in hostel in a college in Kochi I did not
hostel in a college in Kochi I did not
hostel in a college in Kochi I did not have any storybooks I knew people who
have any storybooks I knew people who
have any storybooks I knew people who did I went back to college asked two of
did I went back to college asked two of
did I went back to college asked two of my good friends Cindy and identity we
my good friends Cindy and identity we
my good friends Cindy and identity we have to we have to get her some books
have to we have to get her some books
have to we have to get her some books can you do something about it they were
can you do something about it they were
can you do something about it they were like okay and they come back with a
like okay and they come back with a
like okay and they come back with a couple of Jambox if I’m right and two
couple of Jambox if I’m right and two
couple of Jambox if I’m right and two famous fives and they gift it to Anne
famous fives and they gift it to Anne
famous fives and they gift it to Anne and they come back to me asking Noel how
and they come back to me asking Noel how
and they come back to me asking Noel how can we do this again I had absolutely no
can we do this again I had absolutely no
can we do this again I had absolutely no answer for that we named this program
answer for that we named this program
answer for that we named this program storytime and this is our story
storytime and this is our story
storytime and this is our story sitting across a coffee table with
sitting across a coffee table with
sitting across a coffee table with identity and Cindy that day I did not
identity and Cindy that day I did not
identity and Cindy that day I did not know that that conversation three years
know that that conversation three years
know that that conversation three years back would later on go to empowering
back would later on go to empowering
back would later on go to empowering thousands of kids in India none of us
thousands of kids in India none of us
thousands of kids in India none of us had an idea
when was the last time any of you read a
when was the last time any of you read a storybook we have all read these story
storybook we have all read these story
storybook we have all read these story books as kids and you know what happens
books as kids and you know what happens
books as kids and you know what happens to these storybooks when we are done
to these storybooks when we are done
to these storybooks when we are done with that it goes onto a shelf catches
with that it goes onto a shelf catches
with that it goes onto a shelf catches dust and later to be eaten by termites
dust and later to be eaten by termites
dust and later to be eaten by termites this is a true story sad but true
this is a true story sad but true
this is a true story sad but true three of us knew this was happening
three of us knew this was happening
three of us knew this was happening across a lot of households in India at
across a lot of households in India at
across a lot of households in India at least good Chi to start with so we
least good Chi to start with so we
least good Chi to start with so we thought okay here’s the plan we collect
thought okay here’s the plan we collect
thought okay here’s the plan we collect all these used story books from
all these used story books from
all these used story books from households in the city and we use them
households in the city and we use them
households in the city and we use them to set up a library somewhere else
to set up a library somewhere else
to set up a library somewhere else this was the empirical idea that three
this was the empirical idea that three
this was the empirical idea that three of us had we were not trained for this
of us had we were not trained for this
of us had we were not trained for this and we had zero clue on how we would do
and we had zero clue on how we would do
and we had zero clue on how we would do this there is a huge difference between
this there is a huge difference between
this there is a huge difference between an idea and a plan we had an idea we
an idea and a plan we had an idea we
an idea and a plan we had an idea we were far away from a plan very typical
were far away from a plan very typical
were far away from a plan very typical of engineering students in the state
of engineering students in the state
of engineering students in the state when we decided to change the world the
when we decided to change the world the
when we decided to change the world the first thing we did was to start a
first thing we did was to start a
first thing we did was to start a Facebook page and a website because we
Facebook page and a website because we
Facebook page and a website because we had computers students and what did we
had computers students and what did we
had computers students and what did we do we asked people to like the page
do we asked people to like the page
do we asked people to like the page share the page and comment on beautiful
share the page and comment on beautiful
share the page and comment on beautiful codes that we post about reading books
codes that we post about reading books
codes that we post about reading books we asked people to donate books through
we asked people to donate books through
we asked people to donate books through the Facebook page website Bogata Bogata
the Facebook page website Bogata Bogata
the Facebook page website Bogata Bogata nothing worked something was wrong we
nothing worked something was wrong we
nothing worked something was wrong we knew that we were not reaching people
knew that we were not reaching people
knew that we were not reaching people who had these we decided to we decided
who had these we decided to we decided
who had these we decided to we decided to get our hands dirty we wrote on
to get our hands dirty we wrote on
to get our hands dirty we wrote on sheets of paper saying your used books
sheets of paper saying your used books
sheets of paper saying your used books can change the world this is one of
can change the world this is one of
can change the world this is one of those papers that we documented this was
those papers that we documented this was
those papers that we documented this was this was saying
this was saying
this was saying use books useful donated storybook today
use books useful donated storybook today
use books useful donated storybook today and on the other side it says your used
and on the other side it says your used
and on the other side it says your used books can change the world and we were
books can change the world and we were
books can change the world and we were handing it out standing on the street in
handing it out standing on the street in
handing it out standing on the street in college uniforms after 430 me and my
college uniforms after 430 me and my
college uniforms after 430 me and my group of friends were doing this did not
group of friends were doing this did not
group of friends were doing this did not work more ridiculous we went to the
work more ridiculous we went to the
work more ridiculous we went to the International Book Fair which was
International Book Fair which was
International Book Fair which was happening in Kochi and we were standing
happening in Kochi and we were standing
happening in Kochi and we were standing there at the exit handing these to
there at the exit handing these to
there at the exit handing these to everyone who comes with bags full of
everyone who comes with bags full of
everyone who comes with bags full of books does not work where do we get
books does not work where do we get
books does not work where do we get these books from we was so passionate
these books from we was so passionate
these books from we was so passionate with this idea and did not have a plan
with this idea and did not have a plan
with this idea and did not have a plan we sat down we thought for a minute who
we sat down we thought for a minute who
we sat down we thought for a minute who other than children would have these
other than children would have these
other than children would have these books children themselves so the next
books children themselves so the next
books children themselves so the next step was to go to the a private school
step was to go to the a private school
step was to go to the a private school in Kochi and ask the headmistress madam
in Kochi and ask the headmistress madam
in Kochi and ask the headmistress madam this is the plan can we go around your
this is the plan can we go around your
this is the plan can we go around your classrooms and ask the kids for one
classrooms and ask the kids for one
classrooms and ask the kids for one story book each we were flooded with
story book each we were flooded with
story book each we were flooded with books we couldn’t be happier we had so
books we couldn’t be happier we had so
books we couldn’t be happier we had so much books now we was still away from a
much books now we was still away from a
much books now we was still away from a plan of bed to set this up we reached
plan of bed to set this up we reached
plan of bed to set this up we reached out to a little primary garment school
out to a little primary garment school
out to a little primary garment school in Kochi and asked them if they wanted
in Kochi and asked them if they wanted
in Kochi and asked them if they wanted some storybooks they said yes okay come
some storybooks they said yes okay come
some storybooks they said yes okay come over with books so we go to the school
over with books so we go to the school
over with books so we go to the school with boxes of books expecting a space a
with boxes of books expecting a space a
with boxes of books expecting a space a shelf and probably a librarian to take
shelf and probably a librarian to take
shelf and probably a librarian to take care of all this we couldn’t be more
care of all this we couldn’t be more
care of all this we couldn’t be more wrong studies say that 40% of public
wrong studies say that 40% of public
wrong studies say that 40% of public schools in India does not have a library
schools in India does not have a library
schools in India does not have a library the situation is worse in rural parts of
the situation is worse in rural parts of
the situation is worse in rural parts of the country we were in Kochi a very
the country we were in Kochi a very
the country we were in Kochi a very happening city in South India and we
happening city in South India and we
happening city in South India and we were finding schools which does not
were finding schools which does not
were finding schools which does not have a room or a single shelf we were
have a room or a single shelf we were
have a room or a single shelf we were not prepared for this we had to go back
not prepared for this we had to go back
not prepared for this we had to go back to college
to college
to college ask people guys we have a lot of books
ask people guys we have a lot of books
ask people guys we have a lot of books we don’t have a shelf please help we
we don’t have a shelf please help we
we don’t have a shelf please help we were being crowdfunded in 20s 40s and 50
were being crowdfunded in 20s 40s and 50
were being crowdfunded in 20s 40s and 50 rupees and we ended up setting up our
rupees and we ended up setting up our
rupees and we ended up setting up our first library in a small school yep
first library in a small school yep
first library in a small school yep that’s me in my college days these are
that’s me in my college days these are
that’s me in my college days these are my friends this is the first shelf that
my friends this is the first shelf that
my friends this is the first shelf that we assemble that they to set up a small
we assemble that they to set up a small
we assemble that they to set up a small reading corner in that school the next
reading corner in that school the next
reading corner in that school the next question was what do we do with the rest
question was what do we do with the rest
question was what do we do with the rest of the books you saw all those boxes of
of the books you saw all those boxes of
of the books you saw all those boxes of books out there so friends gather again
books out there so friends gather again
books out there so friends gather again we think about okay so what do we do the
we think about okay so what do we do the
we think about okay so what do we do the rest Cindy was the one who proposed me
rest Cindy was the one who proposed me
rest Cindy was the one who proposed me know why don’t we do as a couple more
know why don’t we do as a couple more
know why don’t we do as a couple more libraries I was like silly this even
libraries I was like silly this even
libraries I was like silly this even this happened after four months of
this happened after four months of
this happened after four months of effort and we were not prepared to go
effort and we were not prepared to go
effort and we were not prepared to go through it again
but then we decided okay let’s try let’s
but then we decided okay let’s try let’s try until we are done with the books so
try until we are done with the books so
try until we are done with the books so we found out three more schools
we found out three more schools
we found out three more schools crowdfunded for three more shelves and
crowdfunded for three more shelves and
crowdfunded for three more shelves and was happily done with the project this
was happily done with the project this
was happily done with the project this was when a teacher from Chennai her name
was when a teacher from Chennai her name
was when a teacher from Chennai her name is Anjali she messages us on the
is Anjali she messages us on the
is Anjali she messages us on the Facebook page don’t forget the Facebook
Facebook page don’t forget the Facebook
Facebook page don’t forget the Facebook page it’s been there right so this
page it’s been there right so this
page it’s been there right so this teacher sends a message on Facebook page
teacher sends a message on Facebook page
teacher sends a message on Facebook page saying okay guys I think you can help me
saying okay guys I think you can help me
saying okay guys I think you can help me set up a library in Chennai so how how
set up a library in Chennai so how how
set up a library in Chennai so how how do we do this process how do we go about
do we do this process how do we go about
do we do this process how do we go about this B was so not prepared for this at
this B was so not prepared for this at
this B was so not prepared for this at all we did not dream outside Kochi
all we did not dream outside Kochi
all we did not dream outside Kochi forget outside care lab we come to it
forget outside care lab we come to it
forget outside care lab we come to it again okay
again okay
again okay this looks like a challenge this is good
this looks like a challenge this is good
this looks like a challenge this is good let’s do it we were students in college
let’s do it we were students in college
let’s do it we were students in college plenty of time in hand a lot of energy
plenty of time in hand a lot of energy
plenty of time in hand a lot of energy and wanting to change the world we pick
and wanting to change the world we pick
and wanting to change the world we pick up our phones call our friends in
up our phones call our friends in
up our phones call our friends in Chennai to see if they can help they
Chennai to see if they can help they
Chennai to see if they can help they said yes that is how a small group of
said yes that is how a small group of
said yes that is how a small group of friends in Chennai started doing what we
friends in Chennai started doing what we
friends in Chennai started doing what we were doing in Kochi there was this big
were doing in Kochi there was this big
were doing in Kochi there was this big confusion in the group thinking what
confusion in the group thinking what
confusion in the group thinking what what are you planning with this we were
what are you planning with this we were
what are you planning with this we were all engineering students who was
all engineering students who was
all engineering students who was supposed to be learning digital system
supposed to be learning digital system
supposed to be learning digital system design system architecture what else
design system architecture what else
design system architecture what else solid-state devices and the waves the
solid-state devices and the waves the
solid-state devices and the waves the technology you know how to build the
technology you know how to build the
technology you know how to build the next big thing in tech startups all that
next big thing in tech startups all that
next big thing in tech startups all that self and Viva this group of friends who
self and Viva this group of friends who
self and Viva this group of friends who are building little libraries the
are building little libraries the
are building little libraries the program which we lovingly call story
program which we lovingly call story
program which we lovingly call story time has now developed into a platform
time has now developed into a platform
time has now developed into a platform where we design human centered spaces
where we design human centered spaces
where we design human centered spaces where kids can learn today a network of
where kids can learn today a network of
where kids can learn today a network of youngsters within the country and
youngsters within the country and
youngsters within the country and outside India are supporting the cause
how do we do this a lot of people ask me
how do we do this a lot of people ask me this being an all voluntary movement
this being an all voluntary movement
this being an all voluntary movement with everyone who’s involved with the
with everyone who’s involved with the
with everyone who’s involved with the project having other jobs to sustain
project having other jobs to sustain
project having other jobs to sustain their health and living how does this
their health and living how does this
their health and living how does this happen what I say is share the idea if
happen what I say is share the idea if
happen what I say is share the idea if you have an idea don’t keep it to
you have an idea don’t keep it to
you have an idea don’t keep it to yourselves talk about it talk about it
yourselves talk about it talk about it
yourselves talk about it talk about it while you’re on a flight talk about it
while you’re on a flight talk about it
while you’re on a flight talk about it while you’re on the bus talk about it
while you’re on the bus talk about it
while you’re on the bus talk about it while you travel
while you travel
while you travel talk to your cousins talk to your
talk to your cousins talk to your
talk to your cousins talk to your friends talk to your friends or friends
friends talk to your friends or friends
friends talk to your friends or friends this is what we do and when people
this is what we do and when people
this is what we do and when people contact us we train them over the
contact us we train them over the
contact us we train them over the internet on how to set up a small
internet on how to set up a small
internet on how to set up a small library in their small town we send out
library in their small town we send out
library in their small town we send out messages
messages
messages on facebook asking schools if they want
on facebook asking schools if they want
on facebook asking schools if they want one we design spaces with the kids how
one we design spaces with the kids how
one we design spaces with the kids how the kids want it to be we don’t want to
the kids want it to be we don’t want to
the kids want it to be we don’t want to plan the library with the kids do not
plan the library with the kids do not
plan the library with the kids do not want in their space we design with the
want in their space we design with the
want in their space we design with the kids and when it comes to cutting cost
kids and when it comes to cutting cost
kids and when it comes to cutting cost there has been amazing moments when the
there has been amazing moments when the
there has been amazing moments when the kids have come up with innovative ideas
kids have come up with innovative ideas
kids have come up with innovative ideas one time I remember asking a kid what do
one time I remember asking a kid what do
one time I remember asking a kid what do you want in your library that kid comes
you want in your library that kid comes
you want in your library that kid comes up with an answer
up with an answer
up with an answer Chetta we need a beanbag I don’t know
Chetta we need a beanbag I don’t know
Chetta we need a beanbag I don’t know how that fits into your idea of a space
how that fits into your idea of a space
how that fits into your idea of a space to learn but if that is the idea that
to learn but if that is the idea that
to learn but if that is the idea that you have be going to fly it out we could
you have be going to fly it out we could
you have be going to fly it out we could not afford a beanbag that’s how a set of
not afford a beanbag that’s how a set of
not afford a beanbag that’s how a set of school kids and our volunteers came
school kids and our volunteers came
school kids and our volunteers came together with the idea of transforming
together with the idea of transforming
together with the idea of transforming triple-xl t-shirts into beanbags we take
triple-xl t-shirts into beanbags we take
triple-xl t-shirts into beanbags we take a used t-shirt fill it up with tailoring
a used t-shirt fill it up with tailoring
a used t-shirt fill it up with tailoring waste that you get in plenty in tailor
waste that you get in plenty in tailor
waste that you get in plenty in tailor shops the links as they call it fill it
shops the links as they call it fill it
shops the links as they call it fill it up and there you have a triple XL bean
up and there you have a triple XL bean
up and there you have a triple XL bean bag for a primary school kid there has
bag for a primary school kid there has
bag for a primary school kid there has been plenty of innovations in the
been plenty of innovations in the
been plenty of innovations in the process this was our first library in
process this was our first library in
process this was our first library in Chennai the story associated with there
Chennai the story associated with there
Chennai the story associated with there are kids who come early to school to use
are kids who come early to school to use
are kids who come early to school to use the library these days there are kids
the library these days there are kids
the library these days there are kids who eat their midday meals as fast as
who eat their midday meals as fast as
who eat their midday meals as fast as possible to come to the space it’s a
possible to come to the space it’s a
possible to come to the space it’s a space in velocity in Chennai where this
space in velocity in Chennai where this
space in velocity in Chennai where this space was used to store junk and we had
space was used to store junk and we had
space was used to store junk and we had to clean this up and make it into this
to clean this up and make it into this
to clean this up and make it into this this is how we revamp a little library
this is how we revamp a little library
this is how we revamp a little library in a 120 plus year old school and the
in a 120 plus year old school and the
in a 120 plus year old school and the library was like abandoned for the past
library was like abandoned for the past
library was like abandoned for the past 12 years and this was a transformation
12 years and this was a transformation
12 years and this was a transformation this is a project which was very
this is a project which was very
this is a project which was very recently
recently
recently crowdfunded in Bangalore where we use
crowdfunded in Bangalore where we use
crowdfunded in Bangalore where we use used tires and materials to set up
used tires and materials to set up
used tires and materials to set up furniture for the library
furniture for the library
furniture for the library this happened in Mumbai where a teacher
this happened in Mumbai where a teacher
this happened in Mumbai where a teacher named Komal wandered her classroom to
named Komal wandered her classroom to
named Komal wandered her classroom to have a library of its own with a very
have a library of its own with a very
have a library of its own with a very very welcoming visual this is an image
very welcoming visual this is an image
very welcoming visual this is an image from Kochi where a kid from a private
from Kochi where a kid from a private
from Kochi where a kid from a private school not only helped another school
school not only helped another school
school not only helped another school set up the library but also go to them
set up the library but also go to them
set up the library but also go to them to read it this image is from Jharkhand
to read it this image is from Jharkhand
to read it this image is from Jharkhand this is another storytelling session
this is another storytelling session
this is another storytelling session from Kerala it’s a visual from Singapore
from Kerala it’s a visual from Singapore
from Kerala it’s a visual from Singapore where people come together to collect
where people come together to collect
where people come together to collect books the University students group in
books the University students group in
books the University students group in Sharjah has been collecting books
Sharjah has been collecting books
Sharjah has been collecting books five-year-olds in Dubai who move from
five-year-olds in Dubai who move from
five-year-olds in Dubai who move from house to house collecting storybooks for
house to house collecting storybooks for
house to house collecting storybooks for India over this period of time it’s been
India over this period of time it’s been
India over this period of time it’s been 24 such reading spaces across six states
24 such reading spaces across six states
24 such reading spaces across six states of the country making use of 13,000 used
of the country making use of 13,000 used
of the country making use of 13,000 used books the message I leave is our
books the message I leave is our
books the message I leave is our education system will have a lot of
education system will have a lot of
education system will have a lot of systemic issues but let’s do our bit and
systemic issues but let’s do our bit and
systemic issues but let’s do our bit and encourage others to do their bit thank
encourage others to do their bit thank
encourage others to do their bit thank you so much
you so much
you so much [Applause]
”
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