Children are not “empty vessels to be filled with knowledge”. This utterly misguided belief, which mainstream education institutions such as schools and colleges still propagate, has caused much harm and despair for young people all around the world. Instead of enabling children and youth to discover and develop their own interests, talents, dreams and aspirations, mainstream education assumes that its students need to be fed with a standardised, abstract, pre-given set of knowledge. This knowledge, it is assumed, will make students into productive, obedient, and thus efficient workers and labourers, who keep the economy going and find their pre-destined place and role in society.

At Project DEFY, a holistic education organisation based in Bengaluru, India, we don’t think that any human beings, young or old, are “empty vessels”. We believe that everyone has their own skills, talents and dreams that are waiting to be unleashed. Based on the principles of experiential learning and a self-designed education, our “Nook” learning spaces enable everyone to find their calling and chase their dreams.