Indian girl school offers opportunities for the marginalized

Abstract

Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl's School construction sits in the heart of Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India, with a focus on culture, history, traditional craftsmanship and support for the women and girls throughout the region. In an area with less than 32% female literacy, the ability for girls to attend school means new opportunities for the next generation in a rural area with high poverty. Over 400 girls are registered to the school, which will serve students from kindergarten through 10th grade. Relying on local craftsmen, many of whom are fathers of the girls at the school, the school represents one leg in a triad of buildings that will eventually be completed onsite. "To make a true impact for our students will mean changing attitudes of what girls and women are capable of. This is our first step in that effort." Furthermore, the project honors the planet through a variety of sustainable design elements such as traditional rainwater harvesting and water recycling within the school. Even the school uniforms, designed by Indian Fashion Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, rely on traditional textiles called Ajrak, a block-print and natural dyes technique that predates modern history. "Since the building was built for a non-profit to support girls' education, every effort was made toward economic design," said Diana Kellogg, founder of Diana Kellogg Architects.