aikyam space
aikyam space aspires to bring people together regularly — to increase the number of interactions local communities and households have with each other, and to improve the quality of those interactions.
What aikyam space did here
The cats have made themselves at home
Our little cat friends continue to make themselves at home at aikyam space. As a pet-friendly space, we are exploring small ways to make the environment even more welcoming for animals, creating a place where both people and pets can feel comfortable.
Heavy rain paused all activities for the day
Due to heavy rainfall, all activities at aikyam space were paused for the day to ensure the safety of community members, children, and staff. While the sessions could not take place as planned, the break reminded us of the importance of putting safety first during extreme weather conditions.
A mural of sea and dance began on the walls
The walls of aikyam space began to transform with a new mural created by artist Mr. Krishnan Ghosh . Inspired by the sea and the movement of dance, the artwork brings colour, warmth, and a sense of identity to the space, making it more welcoming for everyone who visits.
Show all 50 sessions
The team played Albatross Soup together
The team came together for a fun team-building session based on the " Albatross Soup " activity. There was plenty of laughter, discussion, and shared problem-solving as everyone worked together. By the end of the session, the activity had brought the team closer and reminded us how important communication and teamwork are.
Ropes went up for the climbing vegetables
Work continued in the kitchen garden with the installation of support ropes for creeper vegetables. The team also cleaned leaf waste from the drainage ducts as part of regular maintenance, helping keep both the garden and the building in good condition.
Roadside bamboo became supports in the kitchen garden
As we started building our kitchen garden, we needed supports for climbing vegetables. We first explored sustainable options like buying old iron rods from a scrap shop. On our way, to the shop, we came across bamboo poles that had been cut during tree trimming by KSEB and left by the roadside. With due permission, we collected the bamboo and offered them a new life in our garden. It was a small reminder that useful resources can often be found in unexpected places.
Another craft session for the children
Children enjoyed another craft session, exploring their creativity while learning through hands-on activities.
A craft session for children ran again
Children took part in a craft session that encouraged creativity, patience, and learning through hands-on activities.
Children made things from simple materials
Children participated in a craft session where they explored new ideas using simple materials. The activity encouraged creativity, patience, and learning through hands-on making.
A water leak appeared and its source was not found
A water leak was noticed in the space during the morning. Although it did not disrupt the day’s activities, it drew attention to the ongoing challenges of maintaining the space. The team carried out initial inspections, but the exact source of the leak could not be identified. Efforts are continuing to monitor the situation and find a suitable solution to prevent further damage.
The children keep building skill and discipline
Through regular practice, the children continue to grow their skills and discipline.
Beading was shown as a possible way to earn
Children participated in a beading session, where they learned basic techniques while enjoying the creative process. The class also introduced the idea that such skills could become a livelihood opportunity for those interested in developing them further.
Children learned beading patterns and techniques
The beading session introduced children to different patterns, colours, and techniques in a fun and supportive environment. Through making their own creations, they practiced concentration, creativity, and fine motor skills while expressing their individual ideas.
Seventeen women from the palliative care community visited
A group of 17 women from the palliative care community visited aikyam space for a meeting and documentation session. The space provided a comfortable environment for their discussions and coordination. After the session, the group expressed appreciation for the space and their happiness.
Discipline and storytelling taught alongside the steps
Alongside the steps, the children are learning the discipline and storytelling at the heart of Bharatanatyam. Regular practice on steps, expressions and coordination is making their movements more confident.
Children worked out maths by doing, not memorising
Learning maths became a fun and engaging experience as children participated in interactive activities, discussions, and problem-solving exercises. The session encouraged curiosity, teamwork, and confidence, helping children understand concepts through participation rather than memorisation. By making learning enjoyable and hands-on, the class created a space where children could explore mathematics with enthusiasm and ask questions freely.
The banana chips winner was published on catsofkochi.com
The banana chips tasting challenge, led by community members, brought together different chips from shops across Fort Kochi for a fun and detailed comparison. Participants tasted, discussed, and ranked each sample based on flavour, crunch, freshness, and overall experience. After many opinions and a few friendly debates, a clear winner emerged. The results and the best-rated banana chips in Fort Kochi can now be found on catsofkochi.com , helping others discover a local favourite through the community’s collective taste test.
Thirteen banana chips were tasted to find Fort Kochi's best
We conducted a fun banana chips tasting session with aikyam members at the space to find the best banana chips in Fort Kochi. Around 13 different chips from local shops were tasted, compared, and discussed based on taste, crunch, oiliness, salt, and overall experience. A simple activity that turned into a delicious debate. Next we are planning to do with community members soon.
Sriram admired the garden, and Cheeru joined in
Sriram visited the space and appreciated the garden area and the overall atmosphere at aikyam. 🐾 Cheeru also made sure to be part of the visit.
A visit brought talk of the work going on here
The visit included conversations around community engagement, shared ideas, and ongoing initiatives happening within the space.
A group met here to plan its community work
A stakeholder meeting, with discussions around their community initiatives. Encouraging to see different people come together here to share ideas, build connections and plan future work.
The children finished the rest of the crochet class
Children gathered again for the remaining crochet class, patiently learning knots, loops, and simple patterns together. The session was filled with curiosity, mindfulness, and joyful conversations.
Some unexpected visitors from nature walked in
We had a few unexpected visitors walk into the space today, turning the day feel even more special. Nature has its own way of sending us invitations to slow down, observe, and enjoy the space around us.
Members followed a product through the whole process
The stitching class continued with members getting to know the complete process behind making a product. From handling fabric carefully to practicing clean stitching, each session is helping turn learning into confidence.
Shemeer and Rohit discussed fundraising for early-stage non-profits
Shemeer and Rohit spent time discussing fundraising challenges for early stage non profits and how to navigate the challenges.
A visitor wrote down how the space felt
"aikyam felt like a mini world where people of different ages and backgrounds came together to learn, create, and feel a sense of belonging." — Rohit Sharma
Pranava Institute surveyed technology barriers in Fort Kochi
We interacted with Dhanyashri from Pranava Institute, Delhi, to help her with their survey on technology barriers faced by NGOs, Kudumbashree members, ASHA, and ICDS workers in Fort Kochi. After the discussion at the space, the team went around the community to interact with people and understand their experiences and challenges with technology.
Children picked up their first crochet loops and knots
Children gathered for the crochet class and learned simple looping and knotting techniques using colourful yarn. The session became a calm and joyful space where they practiced patiently, helped each other, and slowly created with their own hands.
Children started learning to stitch, step by step
Through stitching sessions, children are being introduced to the basics step by step. It’s a space to learn with their hands, build patience, and slowly gain confidence in creating on their own.
The Community40 group met to check its progress
A meeting by the Community40 group was held at the space to reflect on growth, revisit goals, and align on the way forward. It became a moment to pause, acknowledge progress, and move ahead with clearer direction.
A team session ended with everyone out for lassi
A communication enabler session was held with the team, creating space to understand each other better and build stronger connections for the days ahead. Conversations continued beyond the room, as everyone stepped out together for a simple lassi break, ending the day on a lighter, more connected note.
A Changemakers meeting looked at how people grow
Meeting as part of the Changemakers program, focusing on understanding their journey and approaches to growth.
Five women want to design their own tote bags
Five community women came together to make tote bags, and have now expressed interest in creating their own designs for a few of them.
A festival in Fort Kochi kept most members away from the session
Our community members couldn’t attend today’s session as many were part of a festival at Fort Kochi. Meanwhile, our faculty used the time to plan and prepare for the upcoming sessions.
Nine children learned about the nervous system hands-on
Nine children from our community came together to learn about the human nervous system through simple explanations and hands-on activities.
A saree photoshoot made use of the garden's good light
A photoshoot for handloom sarees in garden and a inside room. With good lighting, saree looked clear and true to its details!
The team prepared for a beach clean-up expecting over 1,600 people
More than 1,600 people have registered for Trash Hunt 4.0 at Fort Kochi Beach on 28 March, and more are still signing up. The team has been working steadily to bring it together — humbling to watch. They enjoyed the lunch Jasentha Chechi provided, and the pickles.
ARISE set goals for 2026 and mapped their stakeholders
A program design workshop with ARISE, who bring mental health awareness and action into local communities through volunteering. The day covered compliance for non-profits, a look back at the past year's work, and goal setting for 2026 — key stakeholders and their top three needs, and draft impact levels L1 to L4. Yasar Arafath and Junide Khalid Odungat took part.
Three CDF fellows met in person for the first time
CDF STEM Femme fellows Fathima Hiba and Sharon C, with their programme manager Shana Shihab, came for the Tools for Storytelling Residency facilitated by aikyam fellows. The three met in person here for the first time. The residency included a website design session, and conversations about setting boundaries and about learning from stakeholders directly.
ARPO's team mapped who holds power over their work
Sruthin Lal brought ARPO's new team together for a workshop on values, teamwork and a shared sense of purpose. One exercise mapped their stakeholders against power and impact, and showed that the tribal and dalit cultural practitioners ARPO works with are the most affected by its projects and hold the least power in shaping them.
Queers Out and About held their first Hard Conversations session
Queers Out and About (Kochi) held the first session of Hard Conversations at aikyam space on February 16, an experimental session on becoming compassionate listeners and on navigating conflict and hurt within the community. Shibli Suhanah helped structure the session, and Rakhi Krishnan provided stickers, badges and chocolates.
The TinkerSpace team came to reflect on their year
On February 4, TinkerHub's TinkerSpace team — Mehar, Arundathi, Kurian, Reema, Saneem, Abid and Jasim — spent the day reflecting on the year so far and what lies ahead in 2025. Shemeer and Abhiram held space for the discussion. aikyam space was itself inspired by TinkerSpace, where the aikyam fellows team spent many months as guests.
Seventeen women built seven projects in eighteen hours
On the night of January 25–26, seventeen women, most of them first-time hackers, built seven projects in eighteen hours. Gouri, a solo participant, took first place with a travel companion website and earned a badge and a certificate. Sahil, Jinso and Abhiram mentored and judged. The event was one of 60+ Kerala venues in TinkerHub's 4000-women hackathon initiative.
A discussion asked who public spaces are designed for
Pragya Sikka of Friends of Toto led a discussion on December 20 with changemakers, queer persons and allies. It began with an empathy walk and a question: what does a public space mean to you? The group drew parks, libraries, street lights, signboards and clean toilets, and talked about naming pronouns at work.
The Global Shapers Kochi Hub inducted its new Shapers
Global Shapers Community Kochi Hub held its induction programme at aikyam space to welcome and onboard newly selected volunteers, known as Shapers. The day ran on activities, team-building sessions and collaborative workshops. GSC is an initiative of the World Economic Forum, and the Kochi Hub works on local projects addressing issues in the city.
Two organisations built their own websites over two days
Over September 24 and 25, Naji Mahfood and Shanija of Ignite India and Khoj, and Aayushee Jevish of Ninety Degrees, worked on telling their organisations' stories. Megha trained them in the basics of Ghost; Jinso covered servers, self-hosting with NGO credits and mapping a custom domain. Naji built an impact storytelling platform for Ignite India, and Aayushee built the Ninety Degrees website.
Sumanta Das Baul and his team performed at Nosh Haus
A Baul performance by Sumanta Das Baul and his musicians, with Shilanjani translating. The dotara, ektara, plucked drum and ghungroo bells carried the songs, and every Baul present sang, including Sumanta's ten-year-old son. The Baul tradition emerged in the early 18th century in West Bengal and Bangladesh.
An art therapy session had everyone draw a four-floor house
aikyam space and Mind Empowered hosted an art therapy session led by Cristelle Hart Singh of Dil Se. Participants drew a house with four floors, each floor holding a different part of their emotional life — the foundation for foundational beliefs, the first floor for habits to refrain from. They then drew the most vivid emotion that came out of it, and shared the drawings.
Treasure Hunt participants came to share stories of transformation
An event in the Air phase of the Great Indian Treasure Hunt, an experiential learning programme in which 12 to 18 young people, selected through written applications and interviews, travel across India in teams of four. The programme has six phases: Sky, Water, Fire, Metal, Earth and Air. Participants shared their stories of transformation.
A design thinking workshop led to a new group called PAPAD
The first in a series of human-centred design workshops looked at introducing design thinking into the school curriculum. Participants worked in two groups to identify who is most affected by curriculum change and who holds the most power over it. They have formed a group called PAPAD — People's Alliance for Process & Agency in Design.
What people said
Leelamma
“It was a wonderful experience to conduct our meeting here. Community spaces like this are very valuable for groups like ours”
Sudina S
“The home-like feeling. Jasentha Chechi who cooked us breakfast at short notice. The plants in the front yard. The spacious and group-friendly furniture. These are the things that made the space special for us.”
Rohit Sharma, Awaaz Leadership Lab
“aikyam felt like a mini world where people of different ages and backgrounds came together to learn, create, and feel a sense of belonging.”
Afsal, CEO of Captains Social Foundation
“aikyam space was really helpful for our pre-works”
One of the attendees
“It's a nice place to just... speak if you [previously] didn't have those spaces available to you.”
Sanal Suhas, Executive member of Rise Up Forum
“The space provided by aikyam for us was exceptionally great. I could spend some creative and peaceful time in there. So much of heartfelt thanks to the organisation. We'll visit again.”
Muhammed Ibnu, Volunteer
“The space is incredible and very much welcoming.”
Vishnavi, Rise Up Forum, queer and diversity
“With the interaction I had with the space and community, I could sense and feel the warmth and love being offered to every passing person and genuinely felt things are being led with love here.”
Community 40
“We have been using aikyam space for multiple purposes, from our internal meetings to full team monthly gatherings. What really stands out is the space itself. It feels like an open home, making it a very comfortable place to spend time and work together.”
Olimalar Foundation
“aikyam space felt like home because they truly let it be. They looked after us like family.”
Make A Difference
“aikyam space offers unmatched positivity that creates a conducive environment for open conversations. We didn’t need to plan additional exposure activities for the participants—the space itself provided the inspiration.”
Sana Fathima
“aikyam serves as a safe, comfortable, and intellectually nurturing space to work on my thesis and build connections with the local community”