The Forgotten Folklore Project
Addressing: 'Children's books lack contextualized content, impacting their ability to relate and learn.'
65
Storybooks
4
Languages
8
States
About
Imagine a child, surrounded by vibrant local stories and traditions, yet finding their schoolbooks filled with content that feels distant and unfamiliar. This is the challenge The Forgotten Folklore Project (TFFP) was created to solve. The objective of the project is to revitalize early childhood education by developing engaging, culturally relevant content that incorporates the rich folklore and wisdom of local communities.
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TFFP has published 45 original storybooks with 135 in translation, read-along, and audiovisual materials that capture Meghalaya's rich cultural heritage , helping children grow up with a strong sense of their roots. The project collaborated with local storytellers, experts, and creators to create child-friendly stories. Contextual characters, illustrations, and audio-visual content based on these books were also developed in collaboration with local artists.
In its second phase, the project scaled its approach to 7 other states of Northeast India through the TFFP Fellowship. The TFFP Fellowship has also published 20 books from these 7 states showcasing the region's unique traditions, folklore, and natural beauty, helping children connect with their cultural roots.
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The storybooks developed as part of the project will essentially go back to the children from these same communities, thereby contributing to the objective of developing contextual stories for children. During the development of the stories, local artists, content creators, institutions, and resource persons will provide perspectives and local context. It aims to visit communities where these stories are rooted, authenticate them, and document more voices from these communities with the help of the local team members.
​Available in digital and physical copies, the books promote learning in different languages and help children understand other cultures
Project Partners
Approach
The team selects a subject or community of interest and conducts preliminary investigations before scheduling a site visit. Next, the team will initiate contact with members of the community to establish a sense of trust and establish a rapport.
The team transcribes and condenses the gathered information while preserving the authenticity and essential elements of the stories.
Launch the 45 curated books through Anganwadi centres and initiate activities relevant to the content of each book.
The team interviews the identified storytellers from the communities to collect cultural narratives and ensure that they precisely capture the essence of the community's traditions, customs, ceremonies, and lifestyle.
Authors and illustrators use condensed information and footage to create culturally accurate stories for children in the community.
Gather feedback from Anganwadi workers to monitor book impact on children's learning and enhance effectiveness.
Read our Books
Each of our books embarks on an enchanting literary voyage woven with creativity, local wisdom, and collaborative spirit. Our project is dedicated to harnessing these elements to craft narratives that not only impart knowledge but also immerse children in a captivating experience. These tales resonate not only with the young readers but also with those guiding and nurturing children of Meghalaya. So far, we've proudly launched three of our books on Pratham Book's Storyweaver Platform.
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The books launched as part of TFFP's effort in Meghalaya and then in other states through the fellowship are available in both digital and order based printed physical copies:
