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A man sits in a chair against a wall beside a window with patterned glass and a curtain, while a woman sits at a wooden table in front of him, looking toward a large screen mounted on the wall that displays an animated scene of people gathered outdoors. A laptop is open on the table between them, and a smartphone lies on the table surface.
  • 2 took part
  • 3 facilitators

Saturday 3 October 2026

Malarvattam: making space to share

Facilitated by Aarthi Veerupillai, George P J and Sreena Swaminathan

What the work needed: people, time, money, space and materials.
What went in
Community survey questions and responses, invitation poster, session slides, facilitator scripts, chai and biscuits.
Outside help
Partners and community contacts helped circulate the invitation.
Time
2 hours
Cost
₹85

What was done with those inputs, step by step.

We surveyed nearly 100 people in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry to find out what support parents and caregivers wanted. They told us they wanted to share experiences, feel heard and support one another. This led us to create and name Malarvattam ("flower circle"), a monthly circle for parents and caregivers.

For the first gathering, we chose a get-to-know-you conversation. The facilitators reviewed the survey together, developed discussion prompts and prepared slides. Their role was to make space for everyone to contribute, listen and summarise what participants shared. They did not give expert parenting advice. We designed a poster and shared it widely through partners and community contacts.

On Saturday, the facilitators ran a mock circle. They worked through the slides and practised how they would introduce questions and guide the discussion. They also prepared their own scripts for Sunday's session.

The first circle had two participants. Together, we explored memories of childhood, children's lives today and experiences of parenting and caregiving.

What the activity directly produced: sessions held, people reached, things made.
  • 1 Parent and caregiver circle held

What changed for the people who took part, and what showed it.

Participants shared caregiving experiences and concerns. One participant said she enjoyed talking with the group. She also wanted chances for her own personal growth.

(We observed it)

What the team will keep or change next time.

Broad questions helped open the conversation. We learned to include different caregivers and make time for their own interests and wellbeing. Personal sharing showed the need to keep things private and to set clear boundaries around the facilitators' role.

Despite the widely shared invitation, only two attended. One participant named afternoon family duties as a timing barrier. Next time, we will ask about suitable times, advertise a specific topic and follow up personally. We still need to understand why others did not attend.

For focused topics, we will think about asking an expert to help with practical topics. Future circles should help caregivers understand how they respond and how children feel. We will keep space to share and learn from one another.

MeetupsEducationOlimalar FoundationAarthi VeerupillaiGeorge P JSreena Swaminathanaikyam space

Run this activity yourself. You are free to copy, change and share this write-up, as long as you credit aikyam space. Photos are not included. (Creative Commons licence CC BY 4.0)