Fort Kochi
aikyam space
- 279 activities here
- 5 community clubs
- 4,079 participations here
Fort Kochi
aikyam's own room — open every afternoon, where the community clubs run.
What happened here
Building Stitch Precision: Guided Line Practice for Kantha Mastery
Today, the focus shifted toward building stitch accuracy and spacing consistency in Kantha hand embroidery. Transitioning away from small scrap pieces, the artisans began practicing on a single, larger fabric panel. To train their eye for even spacing, guided parallel lines were drawn across the surface, serving as visual markers for stitch length and gap distance. Working along these measured lines allowed the artisans to develop steady rhythm and control. The visual structure significantly improved stitch uniformity, yielding a cleaner, more cohesive texture across the panel. Trainers noted that with an additional three to four days of focused line-guided practice, the team will develop the muscle memory needed to execute flawless, evenly spaced Kantha stitching freehand without relying on drawn guides.
New MAD volunteers come together for an introductory session
Make A Difference (MAD) held an introductory session at aikyam Space for its new volunteers. The session introduced MAD’s vision, values and work with children, along with the volunteers’ roles and responsibilities. Games and group activities gave them time to get to know one another before beginning their work with the chapter.
Malarvattam: Making Space to Share
We surveyed nearly 100 people in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry to understand what support the community wanted. Their responses highlighted a need for parents and caregivers to share experiences, feel heard and support one another. This led us to create and name Malarvattam ("flower circle"), a monthly parents and caregivers’ circle. 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, rather than give expert parenting advice. We designed a poster and shared it widely through partners and community contacts. On Saturday, the facilitators held a mock circle, working through the slides and practising how they would introduce questions and guide the discussion. They also prepared their own scripts for Sunday’s session. Two participants joined the first circle. Together, we explored memories of childhood, children’s lives today and experiences of parenting and caregiving.
Praise, Precision, and Peer-Led Learning in Kantha Craft
Today began with selecting suitable fabric pieces for Kantha work, which were washed and laid out for future use. The team then took yesterday’s pre-washed fabrics, ironed them smooth, and precisely marked, cut, and stitched them together to prepare fresh base panels for hand embroidery. As the work progressed, the exceptional accuracy of two artisans stood out. Their Kantha stitches showed remarkable neatness, speed, and confidence. We mounted their finished pieces into wooden embroidery frames and shared them with the rest of the unit. The display sparked an encouraging group discussion, with everyone examining the sample stitches and analyzing technique details. Seeing such swift progress exceeded all expectations. To build on this momentum, the team agreed that the advanced artisans will mentor others by sharing their insights. Before wrapping up, the artisans collectively planned dedicated group practice sessions to learn from one another and refine their craft as a unit.
Reflecting on Progress: Organization Sparks Pride and Precision in Kantha Craft
The stitching room felt bright, spacious, and filled with fresh, positive energy today, thanks to the thorough cleanup and reorganization done by the team yesterday. Stepping into a beautifully structured workspace set an upbeat, focused tone for the afternoon. The artisans eagerly jumped into practicing Kantha stitching, tackling two to three distinct new patterns. Their dedication was on full display as every stitch turned out noticeably neater, tighter, and more precise than before. Each completed sample was carefully archived inside their individual portfolio files. The true highlight of the day came when the team pulled out their earliest trials and placed them side-by-side with today's work. Seeing their tangible progress filled the room with visible pride and joy. Realizing how far patience and steady practice have brought them gave everyone a deep boost of confidence in their growing craftsmanship.
Preparing Together for Our Next Sessions
Today was a day of practising, refreshing and preparing ourselves for the sessions ahead. As we prepare for our upcoming sessions with children, we are taking time to rethink how traditional art forms can be introduced in a way that feels engaging, accessible, and enjoyable for them. We are currently drafting and refining the syllabus, revisiting the way the art forms are structured and taught. Along the way, we are exploring new activities, exercises, teaching methods, and ways of presenting movements and concepts so that children can learn through curiosity, play, creativity, and participation. The process is not just about putting together a syllabus. It is about asking ourselves how we can create a learning experience where children can understand the art form, connect with it in their own way, and gradually build confidence through movement and expression. We are trying out new approaches, making changes, and learning from the process as we build a syllabus that works for our students and their pace of learning.
After the Storm: Unwinding with Fabric Sorting and Slow Kantha Craft
After two days of relentless hustle, frantic restitching, and tight deadlines, a collective sigh of relief echoed through the stitching unit today. The team gathered around 2:00 PM, and the moment they heard that their hard-earned tote bags were officially cleared and moving on to the sales stage, the room brightened with genuine excitement. Gone was the high-pressure rush of the previous days; in its place was a warm, quiet sense of accomplishment. Everyone sat together in a relaxed circle, taking time to untangle and sort colorful fabric scraps, share stories, and sip tea while casually continuing their Kantha practice. Without rigid targets looming overhead, it was a day dedicated to slowing down, catching our breath, and celebrating how far the team has come together.
Building Rhythm and Coordination Through Revision
On Sunday, most students were absent, so I used the class to revise Adavus and Mudras and introduced basic Chollu and Thalam. This helped me realise the importance of adapting my teaching to the students’ needs and giving them enough time to develop rhythm and coordination. I learned that even a small class can be a valuable opportunity to observe and support each student.
Nine children joined us this week, as schools were holding make-up classes. We began with LEGO, Dobble and building blocks. When the children asked to try body percussion, we set aside the planned reading activity and made a rhythm to We Will Rock You. We then explored what causes shadows, watched a video about the history of shadow puppetry in China and connected it to traditions in Kerala. Using materials left from previous sessions, the children made people, houses, a cat, a coconut tree, bees and an ant. For our theatre, we tied one side of a white blanket to the window while a facilitator held the other side. A torch lit the puppets from behind, with the audience seated in front. The children worked in teams to create and present three short shadow puppet stories. It was lovely to see them combine their ideas and bring their characters to life.