SCERT Punjab Launches Project Aawaaz 2026 with Residential Induction of Art Mentors from All 23 Districts
CHANDIGARH: The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Punjab, launched the current edition of Project Aawaaz with a two-day residential induction training for over 62 Art Teachers, designated as Art Mentors, from all 23 districts of Punjab.
The training was conducted on 11 and 12 August 2026, with participants arriving on 10 August. Under SCERT Punjab, Project Aawaaz is implemented by Slam Out Loud in collaboration with Cities Rise as the Knowledge Partner.
Project Aawaaz focuses on strengthening arts education and integrating life skills such as Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into classrooms through creative, experiential, and arts-based approaches. The program enables teachers to use art not only as a subject, but also as a medium for expression, reflection, confidence-building, and holistic development among students.
The induction training was graced by the esteemed presence of Dr. Shruti Shukla, Assistant Director and State Coordinator for Guidance and Counselling, SCERT Punjab, on both days of the training. She addressed the participating Art Mentors and highlighted the importance of art and SEL in creating a more enriching, joyful, and inclusive learning environment for children.
Dr. Shukla shared that Project Aawaaz aims at giving every child a voice through the arts. The initiative seeks to reorient arts education by nurturing creativity, self-expression, confidence, resilience, and essential life skills among students. She emphasised that art is not merely an extracurricular activity, but a powerful medium through which children learn to express themselves, discover their strengths, and build social and emotional skills.
She also highlighted that the project can expose students to diverse possibilities and career pathways within the creative industries, encouraging them to dream beyond conventional boundaries and recognise their own potential. She appreciated the role of teachers and Art Mentors as the key force behind this vision, noting that their passion, creativity, and commitment can help transform classrooms into spaces where every child gets an opportunity to discover, express, and celebrate their unique voice.
On the second day, Dr. Shukla honoured Art Mentors who had demonstrated excellence in the previous edition of the program, recognising their commitment to strengthening arts-based learning in government schools.
The participants were also honoured by the presence of Dr. Ramit Vasudev and Sh. Navjot Singh, Member, State Art Committee, who appreciated the active participation of Art Mentors from across Punjab. They highlighted how Project Aawaaz is making art education more child-centred and innovative, with students responding positively to creative classroom practices. They also encouraged the Art Mentors, reminding them that they are among the few educators privileged to work in such a creative and impactful field.
Through Project Aawaaz, Slam Out Loud has supported SCERT Punjab in strengthening and re-energising art education across the state, giving art classes renewed purpose as spaces for creativity, expression, and socio-emotional learning. The program is aligned with the spirit of the National Education Policy, which recognises art as an important medium for holistic development and student expression.
The induction training focused on preparing Art Mentors to lead implementation in their respective districts, support art teachers, and strengthen classroom practices through arts-integrated and SEL-informed pedagogy. The sessions also created space for collaboration, reflection, and peer learning among Art Mentors from different districts.
Project Aawaaz is not only about teaching art; it is about using the power of art to empower children, build confidence, and prepare them for a happier, more creative, and fulfilling future.
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