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ROOTS-The Education Mile

ROOTS-The Education Mile is a three-day design conclave on education, hosted by Vidhya Vidhai Foundation, along the coastlines of Nagapattinam. It weaves together field immersions, hands-on learning, and critical dialogue on systemic change in education.

Across the conclave, participants will explore how education, livelihoods, and policy intersect, not through lectures alone, but through lived experience. You’ll engage with educators, policymakers, artisans, and community leaders in classrooms, villages, and along the coast.

From mending nets to shaping clay, joining cultural circles to participating in focused conversations, every moment is crafted to spark grounded, contextual, and child-centered solutions.

October 9th - 11th, 2025

What awaits you?
More Than A Conclave, It’s Where You’ll Find...

Grounded Insights
from real-world schools and communities

Fresh Frameworks and Tools
to apply in your own context

A Network of Collaborators
working on similar ground challenges

Leave with new perspectives, meaningful relationships, and tools to take your work to the next level.

Who’s This Space For?

CSR Leaders and Corporate Professionals

Driving education investments and seeking meaningful impact.

NGO Founders
and Professionals

Working in the education and designing sector that works on the ground.

Policy
Professionals

Aligning high-level vision with what actually happens in classrooms.

Youth Mentors & Skill Coaches

Shaping real-world readiness through mindset, and modern skills.

Educators, School Heads, and Practitioners

Pushing the boundaries of traditional schooling.

College Students

Curious about changing learning experiences for children.

Explore The Journey

Day - 1:
What Can a Village
Teach About Design?

Have you ever watched a community solve problems without using the word “design”?

Here, you’ll walk through boats and backwaters, rituals and routines and notice how learning is woven into life itself.

Themes: Community Wisdom • Adaptive Problem-Solving • Learning from Livelihoods

Day - 2:
Learn by Doing,
Listen by Being

What if your best insights come not from a workshop, but from moulding clay or cooking over a fire?

Step into spaces where wisdom flows through doing and passed down patiently, purposefully, through generations.

Themes: Indigenous Knowledge • Sustainability • Learning by Making

Day - 3:
Build What’s Next

Now, it’s your turn to create. Not just reflect.

Translate everything you’ve seen, challenged, and reimagined into prototypes that reshape the future of education.

Collaborate with bold minds, design without limits and leave not with ideas, but a solid plan.

Themes: Collaborative Prototyping • System Innovation • Future Roadmaps

Invest In Your Experience: Great Ideas Deserve Access


We’re keeping this space open to educators and changemakers,
no matter their background.


Early Bird Advantage

Be among the first to sign up by September 5 and register for just ₹5,000.

Full Fee: ₹7,500

Includes:
– 3 days of learning, stay, meals
– Workshops, field visits, shared experiences

Our Partners

ONGC
DEEP
TN
Shikshagraha
ONGC
DEEP
TN
Shikshagraha

FAQ's

I’m differently abled, will the zones be accessible?
We are trying our best to make the conclave inclusive for all. Let us know your needs at roots@vidhyavidhai.org, we will do our best to accommodate.
Can I join for just one day?
This is a continuous 3-day journey. Partial attendance breaks the flow; we recommend committing fully.
I don’t have a background in design or education. Can I still join?
Yes! If you're curious, open to learning, and ready to get your hands dirty, you’ll fit right in.
Where will we stay during the conclave?
You’ll stay in clean, comfortable spaces near the coastal villages, close to where the learning happens. The stay is thoughtfully chosen to keep you connected to the context without compromising on rest and comfort.
What should I bring with me?
Comfortable clothes, sturdy footwear, curiosity, and an open mind. A detailed checklist will be shared after registration.
Whom can I contact if I have more questions?