What does a flight attendant turned sarpanch, a dancer, an adivasi activist and a citizen journalist have in common? They will all be sharing their incredible stories at World Localisation Day celebration on June 20 at NCUI auditorium, Delhi.
Bridging the rural-urban gap is at the core of everything Village Square does. In fact, this is our guiding principle for taking up the World Localization Day celebration as well – where we will facilitate the voices of incredible rural changemakers to reach a broader urban, young audiences.
Since 2020, when it was initiated by Local Futures, World Localization Day has become an annual worldwide celebration of the localization movement. It radically dares to view the world in a new way – by reinforcing the local as part of a global movement for healthier communities and economies. It urges the global community to recognize and honor ecological economies, traditional art forms, and healthy local food systems.
So far the movement has brought notable intellectuals, practitioners, and celebrities across the world together – His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jane Goodall, Russell Brand, Naom Chomsky, and Naomi Klein to name a few.
Village Square’s foremost goal is to bring stories and insights from rural India, ultimately bridging the vast urban-rural divide. Besides showcasing the vibrancy of village life, our platform champions the rural changemakers who drive progress in all facets of life – from livelihood to education and the environment.
Therefore, Village Square is excited to be one of the pioneers of celebrating the localization movement in India. For this year’s World Localization Day (June 20), Village Square is putting up a memorable event filled with energy, enthusiasm, and learning.
At the event, we want our audiences to have taken back a taste of rural India, along with specific learnings about how they can meaningfully promote rural changemakers, producers, and artisans. The event will, therefore, aim to galvanize active urban youth to take more interest in rural issues.
In line with the theme of localization, we will be foregrounding India’s local i.e. rural – the changemakers, artisans, and professionals who contribute to its identity, growth, and development. The event will be divided into three segments:
Five prodigious young rural changemakers will share stories about their endeavors and challenges. From an air hostess turned sarpanch in Bihar to an organization enabling the marginalized to tell their own story – this segment will be filled with inspiration and creativity.
In a panel discussion, six development professionals from across India, working on rural issues, will discuss the joys, hardships, and opportunities of their work. The segment will be particularly relevant for young urban students who are interested in contributing to rural India’s growth.
This segment will give the audience a glimpse into the vast, beautiful, and diverse food and art varieties of rural India. While interacting with the artisans and producers, they can also understand the item’s rich history and context.
If you’re a civil society organization, development professional, artist, foodie, or a student interested in rural stories – this event is for you.
So come join us in celebrating the localization movement at the NCUI Auditorium on 20 June 2022 (12.30 PM).
