Let’s Revive Local Spaces!

By: Sehaj Sahni

Upcycling into the Mindset and Youth Spaces: Combining Affordability and Sustainability by reviving local spaces( dis-utilised, under-utilised spaces, etc. )

An upcycled terrace made completely with upcycled furniture: Old Electricity Cable Bobbins sourced from TNEB costs INR 30 per stool and 50 for painting- Ready to Use, Used Doors converted into Tables: Sourced from Scrap shop at 500 INR.

Should we just throw old things? This question, if honestly answered by scientists and researchers around the World can open up many avenues in the field of sustainability and #ClimateAction. The microplastics problem in the seas is nothing but plastics thrown by us which we almost never give a second look at. Here comes an interesting topic of Upcycling which if used wisely can surely lessen the burden of #ClimateChange. Upcycling works on a simple mantra: Old thing(s) for you might be a treasure for someone else. The general sustainability quotient revolves around the REUSE factor majorly. But it is often not easy or socially acceptable to reuse things that are worn out, needs repair; or simply needs a makeover.

“Upcycling can give second life not just to the furniture or wood pallets, but also give new life to previously abandoned or under-utilised or spaces”

Reviving Abandoned Physical Spaces with Upcycled Furniture and Art:

Integrating upcycled furniture into previously abandoned or disused spaces greatly reduces the start-up costs of any physical space whether residential or commercial. Moreover, many of the Cafes and other commercial spaces have already been starting to realise the creative, cost benefits and environmental impacts of using old things to provide new experiences.We strongly believe in the positive vision for the future of cities and without collaborative spaces for climate action built with inculcation of eco-friendly and self-sustainability practices is the need of the hour!

#Upcycling #MyMarkMyCity #MyMarkMyChennai #IndianYouthCafe #AffordableSpaces #SelfSustainableSpaces #Eat #Sip#Relax #Cowork #UpcycledSpaces #SafeSpaces4Youth #MySafeSpace #YouthAdda #YAChennai #YouthAdda_Official #Sustainability #GenZSpaces #OpenArt #ArtistSpace #Chennai #ChennaiCafe #YouthCaf

#LetsReviveLocalSpaces

#AdoptWhatyouPreach

Relationships 💑

A view by Varsha Venkataramani

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"What are all the complications of a relationship?" they asked. "Relationship itself a

complicated one!" came my answer.

You may wonder why I stated it in such a way.

Have you ever thought why some bond breaks?

They would have been the best and dearest friend once upon a time, but now it would have been

the complete reverse case scenario. No communication, no texts, no talks. Everything would

have been seized.

From sharing each and every thing, be it happiness or sorrow to gossiping about everyone, once

there was a strong sisterhood between those two girls, but now they don't even wish each other on their birthday!

"They were so cute together as a couple! I liked every social media pictures of them. Admired

them for that chemistry! But why did they got separated" our thoughts on seeing most of the divorced couples!

And many, many ,many more relationship goes futile! Be it in case of friends, lovers, couples,

brothers or sisters, or some other important relatives.. And I see in certain places, the bond

between a Parent and a child is itself in a weakened state!

So why this happens? What are all the root cause?

"The major factor is we expect more! We tend to be in a state of mind that wishes to receive the

love from other person, than to give it to them". We often come to a misconception about particular person or an incident without actually knowing the truth! We believe what we feel, rather than taking  a step further to know the truth behind!

"Why it is always me who should go behind them, let them come if they truly love me"

"Why can't he/she make a call?"

"Why didn't he/she tell it to me first?"

"Why is he/she hiding something from me?"

tend to run in our mind, when things don't happen as we expected!

The other person would have been in a severe traumatic position, may be they would have

wanted some solitude time to spend, they would have thought if sharing things may put us in a

state of sober, so would have avoided it!

We should train our mind to think it in an optimistic way, rather than troubling ourselves with

over thoughts!

Over thinking is one such monster of relationship!

Possessiveness, Ego, Jealousy, Dominance are the real time killer of any relationship!

Silly doubts, anger, childish behavior, taking superior power over the other person, considering

oneself as the best person, taking pride and proud about oneself, not giving the needed priority,

negative remarks, pessimistic thoughts and most importantly MISUNDERSTANDING are the

ingredients to spoil the human relations, however strong they are!

There are two types of people:

1.The one who don't ask sorry what ever the situation is.

2.The one who refuse to accept the sorry.

No one can save these kind of relationship from being broken!

Things aren't as smooth as they appear! They are tangled in every possible aspect!

We need to see deeply into the underlying factors of human emotions rather than superficially

seeing the expressions.

Here comes the 3As of a strong relationship:-

1.Accept

2.Adjust

3.Apologize

"We should be ready to accept our mistakes"

"We should adjust ourselves, without complaining about the other"

"We should apologize the other person's mistake when he/she realizes it and comes forward with a Sorry"

There is this one quote which I personally follow,

"If it is important to you, you will find a way; if it isn't, you will find an excuse!"

Remember:

"It is in our hands to make a bond or to break a bond!"

Be wise and be nice!

Varsha Venkataramani

(Writer, Speaker)

A Sensitive Child’s Humane World

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I was recently speaking to a big class of tiny humans, discussing the emotion of human displacement by war and conflict. Invariably, the room was full of different reactions. It is impossible to grasp all of it. But, there was a little girl I couldn’t miss. Quietly sitting in a corner with tears streaming down, plum red in cheeks, and moved beyond her own understanding of things. When I was her age, that would have been me.

I know this kind of little girl, with nerves that wreck you desperately enough to have to put yourself out there to do something about it. Or, else you cannot sleep at night. These are special children- they feel life in many more colors than most people are able to fathom. As they grow up, they begin to understand the nuances of their own emotions a lot more clearly. But for now, trust me when I say- their minds are in a state of constant chaos. Between this, is a very moving journey. I hold a bunch of these children very close to me today. I pin my hope on them every day. I believe it has become increasingly important for us to tell our children that the power of the strength is not in the ability to not feel. There is immense strength in vulnerability, in the complexity of emotions, in expressing and standing up for what we feel and believe in.

Too often, we teach our children to be ‘strong’ by telling them not to cry in pain or anger. I question fundamentally, this very idea of strength. Are we telling them it is weak to express anything that is unpleasant? Do we only expect children to express happy emotions and not anger, pain, sadness? Are we teaching our children to bottle up their expressions? Are we hiding away the harder, real humane emotions? If yes, then how do we expect our children to grow up sensitive and empathetic towards somebody else’s pain?

When I see children experience tumult in their hearts while we discuss the issues we need to address in this world, I live in the hope that someday they will do something about it. Nobody felt inspired to bring about a change until they felt the pain (their own or somebody else’s) in the core of their hearts. Like, that little girl in my class- who after wiping her tears asked me, if she could share her home with a Syrian refugee child. My heart burst open and I couldn’t stop smiling. 

That is the hope we live in. Let us hold close the sensitivity in our children and inspire them to make this world, that is theirs- equal, just and more beautiful to live in. But for that, first, let us allow them to feel. 

By: Anokhi P