Setting up Physics laboratory in NESS school.

-SriBhavani

As part our volunteer work with schools, this year we have started supporting Higher Secondary grades in NESS school. I started supporting 12^th grade children for their Physics laboratory.

What was the first step I take?  I looked at the lab setup and its environment. I started preparing the lab before I engage in the classes. Make myself familiar with the materials which are working condition and list what are not working. Listed the requirements to setup the laboratory.

In this process, I noticed a old underground drainage is inside the store room of the lab area. I care for all beings equally, I thought of no one should be affected because this small unused place. I have inquired about this with the physics teacher, and understood that entire lab setup cannot be changed to a new place in a short period of time.

I take up this challenge as the opportunity to learn. I have split up the actions items as follows.

1. Setting up the Physics laboratory.
2. Organize the available materials.
3. Request for new materials.

I anchored myself in my values Love and Equality, and had a conversation with the school principal about the laboratory condition. I practised RTL tools framework, conversation for action to create a committed request. I have explained the issues about the physical condition of the lab, like odour from lab store room, possibility of roof leakage during rainy season, materials maintenance etc. Created a committed request to allocate a new room to setup the Physics lab in the possible time.

I and the School principal was aligned with our values on caring children growth and sustainability, he agreed to allocate one store room for new physics lab, and asks for the facilities to be arranged for the lab setup like power socket, tables, cupboard etc.

He requested his school renovation team to get things done and removed all the other unwanted materials from the room in 3 weeks.

Parallelly, we have started working in the current physics materials to test the materials and apparatus which are in good condition. I have requested STEM Land team to support in the checking the materials. During this process, I learned to use multimeter efficiently, to check the apparatus or materials are in good condition. From my learnings, I am able to support the team to test the materials and segregate the number of items as working and not working.

I felt accomplished in generating the conversations meaningfully with school management. I was inspired from his action; he acts from his full potential and created the new space with healthy environment for the laboratory. I also learned that, if we create a better space for learning, children will be happy and excited in learning new things. I can see, I am the change I wish to see. I have courageously initiated the conversation, to do things differently and narrow the gaps.