Saroja Harti

The Foundation Project implemented by IFA will engage fifth grade students of the Government Higher Primary School, Noolvi, in Hubballi taluk, Dharawad district. Titled Hatti Bandhisuva Mattu Vibhajisuva Daragalu (Cotton: Threads that bind and divide)—an inquiry through soil, society, and self. This 15-month initiative aims to foster environmental awareness and research thinking through folk stories, puppet performances, and creative writing by integrating science, culture, and art into a meaningful learning experience. Saroja Harti is the Project Coordinator for this foundation project. 

Saroja Harti is currently serving as an Assistant Teacher and takes keen interest in creative pursuits such as writing poetry, crafting, and designing rangoli. She has actively participated in the State Government Employees’ Sports Meet and handicraft exhibitions, which she considers a source of pride. Her hobbies also include taking part in essay competitions and engaging in various artistic and literary activities. Given her experience, she is best placed to be the Project Coordinator of this Foundation Project of IFA. 

The school caters to over 230 students from Grades one to seven, steered by a team of eight dedicated teachers, six women and two men who work collaboratively to nurture each child's academic growth. Community involvement is a cornerstone of the school's success, bolstered by an active and committed School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) that regularly engages in school activities and developmental initiatives. Students have consistently excelled across diverse fields, earning recognition at both the taluk and district levels through platforms such as Pratibha Karanji

This project is envisioned to explore the journey of cotton from seed to fabric through science, social studies, art, and storytelling. The project is built around six concept-based engagements: Whispers from the Soil, Land and Labor, Stories from the Field, Prints of Protest and Pride, Cotton Threads – A Play of Many Voices, and Threads of Memory and A Letter to the Loom. Each activity helps students connect with nature, understand people’s lives, and express their thoughts through creative work.

Students begin their journey by planting cotton seeds on the school campus, closely observing their growth and learning firsthand about agricultural practices and the environmental impact of farming. This hands-on experience fosters curiosity and respect for nature. As the plants grow, students delve deeper into the geography of cotton by creating detailed maps of cotton-growing regions across India, connecting local activity to national patterns.

They explore the lives of farmers, laborers, and weavers uncovering the human stories behind each stage of cotton production. Field visits to farms and Khadi centers provide immersive, real-world exposure to the transformation of raw cotton into fabric, bridging classroom learning with lived experience.

Through storytelling, performances, and block printing, students creatively express the often unseen narratives of labor, identity, and cultural heritage embedded in the clothes they wear. This integrated approach not only builds knowledge but also nurtures empathy, artistic expression, and a deeper understanding of sustainability and social equity.

In the later stages, students collect fabric pieces tied to personal memories like school uniforms or festive clothes and stitch them into a quilt, creating a living artwork of shared experiences. They also write letters to people connected to the cotton journey, such as farmers, weavers, child workers, and future readers. These activities help students imagine different lives and build empathy, encouraging them to think kindly and deeply about others. Students will share their learning in a series of performances.

This project encourages students to be curious, creative, and caring. It helps them understand that everyday items like a shirt or a scarf are not just pieces of clothing, but carry stories of the land they came from and the people who made them. It turns into a meaningful journey that inspires deep learning, emotional connection, and lasting respect for the hands and hearts behind the fabric we wear.

The outcome of this project will be a series of performances. The Project Coordinator’s deliverables to IFA with the final report will be still and the video documentation of the entire project.

This project suitably addresses the framework of IFA’s Arts Education programme in the manner in which it attempts to connect students and schools to the cultural knowledge of the local communities they live in. 

IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens promptly and funds expended are accounted for. IFA will also review the progress of the project at midterm and document it through an Implementation Memorandum. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees.

This Foundation Project is made possible in partnership with InterGlobe Foundation.