On Elephants, Clocks and Sieves

Thinking back on YouCAN's first team retreat!

"It's all co-creation where we're going.”  -- Rachita, Co-Founder and CEO, YouCAN and TREE 

From 7–11 June, we held our very first team retreat – nestled amidst the pillow-like weather and skies of Coonoor, in the Nilgiris.  Between scheduling arrivals and coordinating materials between the members of the team, the week went by in a flash.  We spent 3 days partaking in sharedness - of ritual, as well as novelty. From meaningful moments like splitting tasks for dinner prep, to working in pairs to create a pinhole camera, and sprawling on the grass pondering and reflecting upon children's books – we brought our whole selves into the communion we built. Through connecting with one another, the team found a rhythm and place in the larger story-fabric that we’re weaving.

Putting words to this tapestry of our stories, as well as the rich history of TREE - our parent organisation -  enabled us to reflect on each of our roles both individually and as a collective. As an organisation looking to move towards foundational ecological and nature literacy, in the massive room of elephants - where are we now? What more needs to be done to fill the gaps between the structural needs of the system, and the needs of the children and of the future?

In spending an afternoon reflecting on the journey of nature and environmental education in India, we found ourselves returning to a shared feeling. That despite the dedication of non-profit organisations, individual changemakers, and state governments, it can sometimes feel as though we are pouring water through a sieve. There is no shortage of effort or intent yet somehow, the whole remains less than the sum of its parts. Something is still missing. How can we (as YouCAN, as TREE),  take the next five years to work together and start moving the clock from 12 to 12 05 am in India's nature education efforts? 

As Rachita puts it, a team's story cannot exist only within the heart of its founders. 

And through the sharing of this rich personal history, it felt like we were all at the start of a movement together, as learners.

And as she mentioned, "It's all co-creation where we're going”. 

Bushra is a communications associate at YouCAN, playing with and exploring the written word, and the many worlds that it creates.