Sustaining the Foundation Through Community Action
December Days 6 to 9 of the School for Social Transformation (SST) 8.0 marked a shift into deep reflection, community living, design thinking, and solution-building. Hosted at the Changemakers Ashram in Calicut, this phase focused on slowing down, reconnecting with purpose, and translating learning into actionable community projects.
Day 6 – Rethink. Reflect. Resume.
Theme: Arrival, Rest & Reconnection
Participants reached the Changemakers Ashram by late morning and were given time to rest and acclimatise to the space. The evening began with a treasure hunt, encouraging teamwork and exploration of the ashram environment.
Following the tea break, Naji led a session reflecting on learnings from the first five days and setting expectations for upcoming community projects. This was followed by an orientation session on the ashram and its values by Jazim.
The night featured an ice-breaking session facilitated by Sulfiker Ali, followed by dinner and an informal cultural space with dance, creativity, and an acting challenge led by Naji and Sulfiker, helping participants unwind and reconnect as a group.
Day 7 – From Inner Reflection to Collective Flow
Theme: River of Life & Community Processes
The day began with gardening activities, grounding participants in care, sustainability, and shared responsibility. Later, Naji facilitated the River of Life session, guiding participants through reflective storytelling and personal journeys.
In the afternoon, Jaseel conducted a session on gate checks, introducing participants to reflective checkpoints within the learning process. As evening set in, gate-checking activities began, encouraging self-assessment and group dialogue.
The night unfolded as a vibrant learning commons with parallel sessions like fun games with Anas, a classic rock music jam by Abhilash, travel stories around a campfire with Jazim, and conversations on revolutions facilitated by Farbani. Late-night sessions included discussions on five love languages by Jaseel, star gazing with Jazim, and informal late-night dialogues such as Cinema Kottaka and Ask Me Anything session by Jaseel.
Day 8 – Stories, Skills & Shared Dreams
Theme: Expression, Networks & Futures
Day 8 continued the spirit of open learning through storytelling and skill-sharing sessions. Jaseel presented Short Cuts to Tomorrow, focusing on future thinking and pathways ahead. This was followed by reflective sessions such as break-up stories facilitated by Naji and love stories by Jazim, creating safe spaces for emotional expression.
Participants also engaged in song practice, local exploration narratives, and storytelling sessions led by Yasar, Farbani, and Ashif. Skill-based sessions included LinkedIn and networking basics by Jaseel, alongside late-night cinema discussions and star-gazing reflections, keeping learning fluid, human, and experiential.
Day 9 – Solutions Festival
Theme: Action, Gratitude & Closure
The final day culminated in the Solutions Festival, facilitated by Abhilash, where participants presented their community project ideas developed through the design thinking process. This marked the transition from reflection to action.
The day also featured a beekeeping workshop conducted by Vijitha, connecting sustainability with livelihoods. A closing gratitude session led by Naji created space for appreciation, closure, and collective acknowledgement of the journey.
Sustaining the Foundation
Days 6 to 9 at Changemakers Ashram allowed participants to integrate learning, build solutions, and strengthen community bonds. Through reflection, creativity, and collaboration, this phase prepared participants to carry their ideas forward into long-term community engagement and action.