On Christmas Day, I woke up in Bhavnagar, a city in south-central Gujarat on the western shore of the Gulf of Khambhat. After having a cup of chai and wrapping myself in a thick woolen shawl—an essential for winter mornings— I was out the door. Within minutes, I found myself walking in a parade alongside hundreds of children in bright-pink capes, their chants echoing through the streets for all to hear. As neighbors peered out their windows searching for the source of commotion, the children continued marching with smiles on their faces and a sense of purpose impressive for the 7 a.m. start time.
This parade was the opening event for an entire day’s worth of festivities, a celebration marking the anniversary of Balsena’s founding. Balsena, meaning “children’s collective”, is a flagship program launched by Shaishav in 2003. It is a membership-based, democratic initiative run and led by children, for children. Balsena was created with the vision that every child, regardless of their background, should be guaranteed their rights at all times.
After the parade, which ended in a huge dance party, the day continued with a number of different sessions centered around the theme “Our India, Unity in Diversity.” Through games, classroom activities, and conversations, children had the opportunity to explore topics like equality, fraternity, secularism, and cultural diversity. My role for the event was to photograph these different sessions, so I had the opportunity to witness every ongoing activity. I walked up and down the halls of the building as inconspicuously as I could, capturing the moments unfolding before me. What I saw helped me better understand the importance of giving children a safe space to express themselves freely, explore their interests, and take charge of their own learning and future.
In each activity, whether arts and crafts or debate-style discussion, the children displayed a sense of confidence and self-assuredness which helped them engage thoughtfully with classmates and instructors alike. They were inquisitive, open to different perspectives, and comfortable expressing their ideas, traits nurtured through consistent opportunities to learn and participate alongside their peers. Their confidence did not feel rehearsed or performative; it felt practiced.
Throughout the day, it became evident that Balsena is not simply a program but a long-term investment in children as active citizens. They are not treated as future leaders in waiting, but as individuals already capable of shaping their communities. Being present at this event made it clear that when children are given trust, structure, and space, they rise to the responsibility with remarkable confidence and care.
Beyond annual celebrations like this one, Balsena’s work unfolds week after week through sessions on academics, child rights, and life skills, as well as leadership camps, participatory research, and community audits led entirely by children. The program is structured in a way that allows children to exercise leadership regularly.
Organized into multiple, community-based teams, each with 20-50 members aged 6-16, children collectively decide what they want to learn. Shaishav’s role in this intervention is that of a facilitator rather than an authority figure, which allows for learning to become something shaped by the children themselves, rooted in play, discussion, and lived experience. These activities encourage them to observe their surroundings critically, identify problems in their neighborhoods, and work together toward solutions.
In the 23 years since its founding, Balsena has grown into a nationally and internationally recognized model for children’s leadership, empowering over 20,000 children to drive change in their communities. Today, it has 1,500+ active participants in schools and 600+ members in low-income communities across Bhavnagar. Balsena challenges the idea that children must wait to be heard or prepared to participate. Instead, it shows what can happen when participation is practiced early and often, and when children are given the tools to engage with the world around them.
As I stood waving goodbye to the children, I began to reflect on the day. In my three months with Shaishav, I had read extensively about child rights, empowerment, and the importance of participatory education. I understood our emphasis on child-friendly learning spaces and had practically memorized the organization’s mission, but to witness all these elements come together in a single event was another experience altogether. It is one thing to read about children’s rights, agency, and leadership; it is another to see them alive. I left the event with a camera roll full of photos and a newfound sense of what is possible when organizations work with children, not for them.
