Navnirmiti is a self-reliant organization founded by the renowned scientist &

educationist Dr. Vivek Monteiro. NN believes that knowledge should be free and
should be available to every one at no cost or at very low cost irrespective of
his/her class, caste, gender and geographical location.

Navnirmiti has been working specifically on the problems of Universalisation of

Mathematics and Science Competencies over the past eight years. On the basis of this
work and extensive field experience, we have developed a comprehensive system for
achieving norms of universalisation in primary school mathematics. These norms
are achieved not in ideal, but in realistic situations. We have termed this system as
“Universal Active Mathematics”. This system is today being implemented in about 5000
schools mainly in the government sector but also including some well-known private
schools.
Background:
Navnirmiti started its activities in 1995 during the Total Solar eclipse with the object of
educating people about the eclipse and giving scientific information of the same. It also
aimed at science promotion and popularisation. It successfully conducted a mass
campaign all over India.
Since then it’s focus area has been science and maths education. Alternative methods
which emphasis on ‘ do and discover ’ approach are being developed and promoted by
the trust. Navnirmiti is conducting intensive primary maths improvement programmes in
tribal, municipal and private schools. Navnirmiti also develops educational learning
materials in the form of solar filters, the sunspot kit for Sun Study. We have developed
the Total Maths kit for alternative learning and teaching of maths in the classroom.

Navnirmiti works in the following areas:

a) Elementary mathematics and science education by alternative Activity

Based Comprehension and Discovery (ABCD) methods.
b) Science popularisation activities
c) Innovation, development and production of teaching tools and toys.
d) Dissemination of low cost, high quality learning tools and toys sourced
from all over India.
 e) Income generation for needy women through producer’s co-
operatives.
f) Training workshops for teachers and educators. Educational services
for schools.
Some of its achievements:-
• During the 1995 and 1999 Total Solar Eclipse Project in India we could reach to
more than 10 lakh people all over India via the Solar Filters developed and
distributed by Navnirmiti.
• Navnirmiti first implemented “Universal Active Maths”programme in 92 tribal
schools of Chandrapur and Yavatmal district of Maharashtra.
• Navnirmiti is implementing “Universal Active Maths”programme in 63 BMC
Schools of ‘S’ward in Mumbai from this academic year.
• Implemented UAM in private schools in Mumbai and set up a Math lab like in
Holy Family school in Andheri.
• Teacher training programmes have been conducted in rural, tribal and urban
schools in different parts of India.
• Navnirmiti has been inventing and innovating learning tools which support the do
and discover method of learning. The Jodo kit – 3 d wonder kit for geometry
learning has been designed and developed by Navnirmiti, which is a unique toy
for all ages.
• The women’s co-operative has been a part of Navnirmiti for the past 10 years.

• The jodo kit, total maths kit, solar filters and other materials produced by
Navnirmiti are made by a women’s co-operative of Navnirmiti. This co-
operative provides viable and sustainable livelihood for needy women &
unemployed youth.
‘Annual summer camp’ – for the BMC School children

Back ground:

As an ongoing annual event we organize a summer camp every year where

children from in and around Powai participate. This is inspired by past
several years’ experience and enthusiastic participation of children in large
numbers.

One of the main objectives is to give children an opportunity to learn skills

they do not normally get. We have an excellent team of resource people to
conduct these activities.

In the past 3 years navnirmiti has been conducting exclusive camps for
children from the Municipal schools. It begun with incorporating 10
underprivileged children free of cost in the paid camp organized for children
from the affordable backgrounds. How ever the overwhelming responses to
such initiative lead us to holding an exclusive camp for 100 children in the
year 2004. Since then the effort has been growing in multifold as in the last
year we successfully conducted two camps for 200 children and this year we
aim to reach 1,000 children.

On a broad sense this apart from schools aims at a community level

intervention with an effort to link up the communities with school activities
as children from these neighbouring communities go to BMC schools.
Enthusiastic parents and school staffs come forward to further this effort
beyond our expectation by volunteering in enrollment, providing space in
the municipal schools etc.

In spite of their immense unexplored talent and keenness these children

hardly have any exposure to a learning atmosphere of this kind which
supports, enhances their skills and provides a chance to come face to face
with the experts from the respective fields. Given the importance of an
activity camp of this nature it is more than required for the children coming
from socially disadvantaged back ground.

In all our earlier initiatives children have participated all through the camp
with never ending enthusiasm and interest. They have made best use of the
opportunities provided to them whether in dramatics, nature, creativity, art,
or are it science. They have exhibited exemplary performances post the 6
day interaction. And most of all they have had lots of fun while learning.

This has been a great motivation for us to go ahead and hold an event of
this sort year after year attempting to benefit as many children as we can
from this programme.
Objectives:

Provide unique opportunities of learning

Alternative concepts of learning
provide exposure to wide range skills
emphasis on activity based joyful learning
generate interest in various subjects other than the curriculum
develop skills, confidence
link communities with the schools with the community cum school
level intervention

Achievements:

Through out participation of children in all days with rarely children

dropping out of the camp.
Immense eagerness in participation and learning
Increase in the level of confidence and skills enhancement
Established community based linkages in association with parents
and local volunteers.

• A detail 2009 report of the camp is attached along with.