Risa Halari Wahlang

This Foundation Project implemented by IFA will facilitate research; development and execution of a series of educational and interactive programmes aimed at students from fifth to seventh standard, with the collection at the Ever Living Museum. This project is a collaboration with the Ever Living Museum, Shillong, Meghalaya. Established in 2015, the Ever-Living Museum in Shillong, Meghalaya, is a private initiative owned and curated by Mr Kyntiewbor War. The collections and artefacts on display reflect the dedication of Mr War’s effort to preserve the material culture of the region and the priceless contributions of well-wishers. The diverse nature of the collection allows us a glimpse into the region, its people and their living. Risa Halari Wahlang is the Project Coordinator for this project.

Risa Halari Wahlang is trained in history and heritage studies. She has completed her Masters in History from University of Delhi and also has a Post Graduate diploma in Heritage Studies from INTACH Heritage Academy, New Delhi. Risa has worked extensively on heritage management projects with her last position as an intern in the Conservation Division of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts. She has worked on remedial conservation of wooden pillars from indigenous communities in Nagaland and Chattisgarh; and the conservation of Khasi souvenirs at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. As part of her work, she has also organised heritage clubs in schools. Her interest lies in heritage, history, material culture and using museums as a pedagogic resource to foster a love for learning, thinking, and cultural awareness among young minds. Given her domain knowledge and work experiences, Risa is best suited to be the Project Coordinator for this Foundation Project of IFA.

Drawing from the collections at the Ever Living Museum, this project proposes a series of outreach programmes to provide an enriching learning experience for students, introducing them to the world of museums, and supplementing the knowledge gained through school curriculum with the wealth of knowledge that museums can offer. The proposed outcomes are structured as follows: interactive workshops, guided tours and activities, storytelling, and other collaborative projects The Project Coordinator has identified about 12 schools where she along with various educators, experts and resource persons from the museum and community will engage with the students to inspire curiosity, provide opportunities to learn, encourage critical thinking. These activities will foster problem-solving skills, empower them to analyse and interpret information; and facilitate collaborations with community partners to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Risa has divided the one year of project term into five phases starting with intermittent research and study trips to the museum and finalising the collaborators and resource person for the series of outreach programmes. Each phase will be marked by evaluation of the activities and its impact on the students. 

The outcomes of the project will be as a series of workshops and activities designed to engage students with the collection in the Museum. These will be as follows: Interactive Workshops, where Risa will engage students in workshops that showcase historical, scientific, and artistic concepts; Time Travelers, a workshop that allows students to travel back in time through role-play; Nature Detectives, where students explore and identify the local species of plants in the museum’s collection of living specimen of flora; Artful Expressions/ Art Station, an art workshop that enables students to create their own masterpieces inspired by museum exhibits; Museum Detective, a treasure hunt activity where students follow clues to discover hidden treasures in the museum's collection; Cultural Connections, a series of interactive tours focused on diverse cultures of the various indigenous communities in and around Shillong; Thematic Guided Tours that highlight specific themes or artifacts within the museum; and Legends and Lore, a series of engaging storytelling sessions that narrate myths, legends, and historical tales related to museum exhibits. In addition to these, the Project Coordinator will host lectures and collaborate with local organisations like Dakti craft and the Northeast Audio-Visual Archive to share insights from field experts in the state on the exhibits in the museum. The Project Coordinator’s deliverables to IFA along with the final reports will be photos and video documentation of all the programmes, a comprehensive analysis of feedback from participants, and a report on the outreach programmes documenting the learnings, impact and suggested recommendations. 

IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens in a timely manner and funds expended are accounted for. IFA will also review the progress of the project at midterm and document it through an Implementation Memorandum. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees.