Chennai, 22nd May 2018: The unveiling of the British Council Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show marks the 70th anniversary of the British Council in India. The cricket theme was chosen to reflect the love of the sport that is shared so deeply and passionately by both countries. The unveiling of the garden also marks the launch of Changing Moves Changing Minds, an international education programme devised to enrich the lives of thousands of children in India through integrated dance and sports lessons that encourage equal participation by girls and boys in the classroom.
The garden includes images of Indian children playing cricket in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. The British Council funded two landscape architecture students from India to work with Sarah on the build of the garden during the 19-day preparation period for Chelsea.
Changing Moves Changing Minds aims to enrich children’s lives through integrated dance and sports lessons that encourage girls and boys to play together. Specially designed lesson plans will get pupils to collaborate, and will spark conversations in the classroom about gender equality.
The programme will be rolled out to schools in India from September 2018. In its first year 1,200 teachers in government and private schools throughout India will receive specialist training. Changing Moves Changing Minds aims to reach over 100,000 pupils aged 10 to 12 through integrated physical education (PE) classes, using cricket and movement to challenge gender stereotypes and open up opportunities for everyone.
The programme will be delivered by the British Council in India following a successful pilot devised and delivered in partnership with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). The pilot ran between February and May 2018, with 18 teachers and over 250 students benefiting from the project.
