On February 1st and 3rd, 2025, students under the Karnataka Model Schools Pathways Programme (KMSPP) in Chitradurga and Tumkur experienced the Living Lightly Utsav where landscapes, wool, and traditions came together to tell the story of pastoralist communities. The students had their first-ever Virtual Reality (VR) experience—watching stories of pastoral life unfold in an immersive format. They also had the chance to work with Deccani wool, learning about its role in rural livelihoods and cultural identity.
For many of these students, who come from pastoralist families, the experience was personal. They traced their communities’ presence on the Deccan map, understanding how these landscapes have supported pastoralism for generations. As they moved through the exhibition, conversations emerged—about grassland conservation, the challenges pastoralists face, and the meaning of land and belonging. They asked thoughtful questions, documented their reflections through zines and stories, and shared their perspectives with one another.
Understanding pastoralists’ role in maintaining grassland ecosystems is crucial at a time when sustainability is at the heart of global conversations. As these students return to their communities, they carry with them not just knowledge but questions and reflections that can shape their future choices—both as individuals and as changemakers.
Living Lightly — Journeys with Pastoralists is a travelling exhibition that brings the stories of India’s pastoralists to life—tales of mobility, resilience, and harmony with the land. Their knowledge and traditions carry a quiet wisdom, holding possibilities for navigating the uncertainties of a changing climate. The exhibition shines a light on the resilience of pastoralists in a world that has gradually come to overlook mobile ways of life.
The Model Schools Collaborative, spearheaded by Sattva Consulting, brings together esteemed donors such as the JSW Foundation, Young India Philanthropic Pledge, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Swiss Re GBS India to transform 210 schools in Karnataka under KMSPP. The programme is being implemented by the India Literacy Project, Sikshana Foundation, Quest Alliance, Udhyam Learning Foundation, Gramalaya and Yuva Unstoppable, with monitoring and evaluation conducted by Sambodhi Research and Communications Pvt. Ltd. This initiative is paving the way for the State Government of Karnataka to develop model schools through frameworks co-created with the Department of School Education and Literacy.
Sattva has been working with various corporates, non-profits and social organisations to help them define their social impact goals. Our focus is to solve critical problems and find scalable solutions. We assist organisations in formulating their long-term social impact strategy by strategically aligning with business to provide meaningful solutions to social issues.
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