Invitation for the Desert Gathering, Sardarshahr

THIS YEAR’S 13th LEARNING SOCIETIES CONFERENCE WILL BE IN SARDARSHAHR AT GANDHI VIDYA MANDIR FROM MARCH 23-27, 2023.
HERE IS THE REGISTRATION DETAILS.

The last LSUC was also in Sardarshahr. Here are some  LOVE LETTERS from previous LSuC’s. Here is also a little video glimpse  and a little article of the immense joy we experienced at the 9th Learning Societies unConference 2016 at Gandhi Vidya Mandir, Sardarshahr, Churu (Near Bikaner)  Rajasthan. It was hosted in Hindi, English and regional languages.

Participants are requested to join for the entire duration of the unConference so as to explore, express and nourish our creative energies together. This intergenerational gathering will bring together leading “thinker-doers” from around South Asia who are active in challenging the monopoly of factory-schooling and monoculture, and nurturing diverse learning communities, vernacular traditions, intercultural dialogues, deep consciousness and swaraj.  There will be alternative educators, organic farmers, artists, artisans, activists, designers, ecologists and nature lovers, filmmakers, healers, social entrepreneurs, homeschoolers, unschoolers, barefoot innovators, grandparents, youth, spiritual seekers, and more. As with all learning societies events, the unConference welcomes families, youth and children.

In an unConference, the participants co-create the agenda together around what matters deeply to them. We believe each participant is a resource person, even children. We believe in sharing our stories, talents and gifts from our hearts. There will be a lot of open space for participants to self-organize in groups around questions, experiences, experiments, workshops, play, music, dance, sports, cooking food, treks, art, etc.in the spirit of deep dialogue and friendship. The gathering seeks to engage the heart, hands, head and home, all of our senses and sensibilities, for re-imagining our lifestyles and systems.

We hope to build upon reflection, dialogue and co-motion that have been initiated in the Learning Societies network already. There will be a lot of space in the unConference to explore radical ideas, proposals and projects. This is a fantastic opportunity to really re-think everything and share our life experiments and questions. Most importantly, the central purpose of this gathering is to build strong friendships and critical connections across the country. Previous unConferences have been held in  Pune, Himachal Pradesh, Udaipur, Mumbai, Brazil, Jordan, Pakistan, Iran,Sardarshahar (Raj), Bangalore and Odisha  .

Co-hosted by: Shikshantar Andolan ·Gandhi Vidya Mandir · Swashikshan Association of Indian Homeschoolers · Vikalp Sangam · Indian Multiversities Alliance · Abhivyakti Media for Development · Digital Empowerment Foundation · Banyan Tree Bookstore · Moved by Love · Blue Ribbon Movement · YES Jam · Aikyam Network for Sustainable Living  · Zero Waste Lifestyle-India  ·  Dariya Dil Dukaan

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN HERE. Please register online before March 18th, 2021. NOTE: Those co-creators who are coming for the entire duration of the unConference will be given priority for registration and accommodation . Read here to know more about the spirit of the Unconference.

More Event Details

Costs: The Learning Societies UnConference is entirely organized in the spirit of gift culture. We feel everyone is a volunteer, a teacher, a co-creator with many gifts to share to help build the larger community. The suggested contribution for the event is ₹7,500 per person (inclusive for registration, food and accommodation). For a family of 4, the suggested contribution is  ₹26,000. You can contribute whatever you are able to from your heart. We would greatly appreciate it if you can give more to sponsor others’ participation. Lack of money should not deter you from attending or from full participation. Contact us if you have difficulty getting there.

Accommodation: There will be shared accommodation available on the site. You must register each member of your family (over the age of 5) so that we can arrange proper beds. We are also encouraging people to bring tents to the venue to stay in as part of the Tent Village. There are also off-site private hotels and guest houses which you can register at on your own.

Food: There will be simple vegetarian food available, with vegan options. We are trying our best to source as much organic food as possible. There will also be some common kitchen facilities for those interested in group cooking.

Special Request: This is a family-friendly event. We would like to create a safe environment for co-creators of all ages. For this reason, we would like to keep this gathering drug-free and alcohol- free. This is a strict policy of the LSUC. 

We also want to make this a zero waste event so please bring your plates, cups, spoons, glasses and leave your plastic at home.

Travel: PLEASE find the details here: How To reach THE DESERT GATHERING, 12th LSuC in Sardarshahr.   

While making travel plans, please note that we will be starting at 01:00 pm on 23rd March and concluding by 5:00pm on 27th March (latest departure is at 9:00am on th).

After you register online, you will receive a mail inviting you to join our mailing list. You can also join our Facebook Group on this link.

If you have any questions, please write to us at [email protected] or call Shikshantar (Udaipur): Harsh: +919958311401 Or  Manish Freeman: +919829640571

                  Regards

Manish, Vidhi & Kanku Jain, Harsh wardhan, Manish Freeman and Himanshu Dugar.

            LSuC 2023 Team