Young Innovators Foundation (YIF) is a sacred space, that creates growth and learning opportunities for children. We believe that providing integrated education to the children of our world today can slowly but steadily help the world heal. We draw inspiration from the words of Rudolf Steiner- “Receive the children in reverence, educate them in love and send them forth in freedom”, “Sprinkle them with some magic dust along the way” - Our addition :)
There are a many educational initiatives within YIF that the children are free to choose from and join of their own volition. Mentors, teachers, facilitators and volunteers are trained to meet the children where they are and honour the uniqueness of each child.
We believe that education is a two way street, one cannot teach unless one is learning! So teachers and mentors stay open and willing to learn each day.
We encourage each one who joins YIF to be authentic in their offering and to sign up only for that which they feel inspired to do. We believe that being of service is a gift to oneself just as it is to the person being served, ‘cause true service uplifts all.
Young Innovators Foundation had a humble beginning on the 17th of August 2008 when Founder, Ritika Arya (who was only a teenager back then) began teaching 4 children from a nearby slum in the living room of her home. The children began to enjoy the sessions and requested to bring in more of their friends. Soon, Co‐Founders, Srishti Arya and Priyam Datta joined Ritika in her endeavour to provide education to the under‐resourced children, with the same passion and enthusiasm that she possessed! With limited experience in teaching, these young fellows followed their heart and treaded an un‐trodden path!
Eventually... the numbers grew and we shifted from the living room to a lawn, from the lawn into a classroom at a nearby school and finally from a school into a jungle (Sanjay Gandhi National Park)! More volunteers, more children and more fun happened... Along the way we also met like minded (and not so like minded) mentors, donors, supporters, educators, friends, well‐wishers & contributors who played their part in helping us learn and grow. Many of whom are still nurturing the space.
We’ve always been involved in thorough research and development within the dynamic field of education. Over time, we have learnt and taken inspiration from several institutes, approaches and philosophies, some of them being:
As of today we have created our own curriculum and approach to ‘Education’, which we continue to develop further as we grow in our understanding of all things within and without.