Shillong, October 25: The Sauramandala Foundation successfully hosted the Forgotten Folklore Project (TFFP) Summit 2024 on October 22, 2024, bringing together over 200 stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, and creators, to celebrate a major milestone in early childhood education. The summit marked the culmination of two years of effort in preserving Meghalaya’s cultural heritage through the creation of 45 contextualized storybooks, 135 in translations that draw from the rich folklore, traditions, and indigenous knowledge of the Khasi, Jaiñtia, and Garo communities.
The event highlighted the project’s impact on transforming early childhood education in Meghalaya by using storytelling as a powerful tool to foster creativity, critical thinking, and cultural connection in young learners. The summit featured engaging panel discussions, interactive sessions for children, and inspiring talks that sparked new ideas for education reform in the state.
Attendees included distinguished guests such as Paul Lyngdoh, Cabinet Minister of the Arts & Culture Department and Social Welfare Department, and Dr. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Cabinet Minister of the Health & Family Welfare Department, who shared their support for the project’s vision. Other attendees included representatives from the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission Society, the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, the Education Department (SSA & DERT), the Social Welfare Department, Meghalayan Age, the State Resource Centre for Disability Affairs, Dr. Sapam Ranabir Singh from the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, and all our collaborators-writers, illustrators, animators, and translators from Meghalaya and abroad.
One of the summit’s key moments was a lively panel discussion where experts from education and policy sectors delved into how these storybooks have influenced Meghalaya’s education system. Speakers also explored the intersection of policy frameworks and storytelling, emphasizing the need for culturally relevant content in early childhood education.
Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh from the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, and Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya, spoke about how the Forgotten Folklore Project and its stories have immense potential to raise awareness on sensitive issues such as health. Sharing her feedback on the books, she said, “Thank you for creating these jewels of information in the form of these storybooks. Let’s do something greater; let’s invest in the right direction.”
Attending the event Paul Lyngdoh, Minister Arts & Culture Department, Social Welfare Department, Textiles Department, Tourism Department, Government of Meghalaya said “Our culture is one of the most ancient races that survived the onslaught of time. Stories like this are important to let people know of the diversity we hold as a society in Meghalaya. What would have been forgotten will now be remember through TFFP.”
Another highlight was a children’s storytelling session, where experienced storytellers captivated young attendees with stories from the newly published books, demonstrating the engaging and educational power of local folklore.
The second panel focused on the collaborative process behind the creation of the storybooks. Authors, illustrators, and cultural experts shared insights into how they worked together to ensure cultural accuracy and significance. The discussion also touched on the transition of these stories from digital publications on Storyweaver to printed books distributed through the Storywell Foundation.
The TFFP Summit concluded with a renewed commitment to using contextual storytelling as a transformative tool in early education, ensuring that children in Meghalaya remain connected to their roots while embracing modern learning.
“The first two years of this journey were just the beginning for us at the Sauramandala Foundation. While we achieved our initial goals, what stands out the most is the vibrant community and ecosystem we’ve built around the idea of contextualized storytelling for early childhood education. This network will be pivotal in expanding our efforts, allowing us to create more stories at a faster pace and on a larger scale. We look forward to continued support from both government and non-government stakeholders as we build on the work we’ve accomplished so far. “- Nagakarthik MP, Founder, Sauramandala Foundation.
