Dandappagoud I Patil, Assistant Teacher, Government High School, Ankalagi, Kalaburgi District, comes with years of experience as an educator. Given his interest in the literary arts he has conducted several creative writing workshops in the school.

This project attempts to develop empathy among students through the sharing of personal narratives, written and performed as monologues, Nanna Swagatagalu. This will enable students to generate, refine, and express ideas, and communicate their challenges and identities through storytelling. The hope is that the experiences of the student when shared with peers, parents and the teachers in a positive, participatory and supportive environment, will build empathy and confidence. One of the issues that Dandappa wants to focus on is child marriage for girls in this region. A study says that two out of five girls are married off before they attain 18 years of age. Dandappa will attempt to create a space for girls who have gone through this experience and are still pursuing their studies in his school, to express and share their stories.

The outcome of this grant will be a publication. The Grantee's deliverables to IFA with the Final Report will include photographs from the workshops and the publication.

This description is part of the institutional records created by IFA at the onset of the grant. The project may have changed in due course as reflected in the deliverables from the Grantee.