About Us

“Each individual is a special manifestation in the universe; therefore his true path has to be absolutely unique”

Welcome!

The project of Lilaloka takes place in Auroville, Southern India. Auroville is an international township which “wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics, and all nationalities”.
Lilaloka is located in Auroville’s cultural zone dedicated to education.

Lilaloka

Four educators working in various Auroville schools observed the growing need in Auroville for a space dedicated to the child, parallel to the schools, opened to all ages and types of children, attending school or not, with or without special needs, beyond all categories. There, all will meet and benefit from the energy born from these interactions, each individual being enriched through the differences of the others. A Place where Play transforms, where Joy shows the Path. It is Lilaloka’s dream to become a resource center dedicated to this, a place where educators can meet and share their research and experience.
At present, we are only able to admit small groups of children at the time, due to the unfinished building.

Philosophy & Mission

Lilaloka, the place of Play (in Sanskrit), offers an educational approach centered on Joy that assists children in becoming the creators of their own lives. Through Joy the child blossoms, finds his path, and gains trust in his potentialities. Joy connects us to our inner child, and to others, and gives meaning to life.  Albert Einstein said “Play is the highest form of research” and play allows the natural learning process to unfold with joy. « As flowers blossom in the sun, children blossom in Joy» said The Mother. Lilaloka offers this atmosphere of freedom and creativity, propitious to the natural development of the child, through the discovery of oneself as well as through the autonomous learning that ensues from it. The activities that are offered simply give each one the space and time to express themselves in his unique way and at his rhythm. No judgment, no curriculum, no imposed topic, free choice amongst individual and collective (mixed ages) activities, and a calm and concentrated atmosphere that encourages self-observation and self-blooming are a few keys of the project.

Our Goals

  • Establish an inclusive space for children of all ages and backgrounds, irrespective of schooling status or specific needs, fostering mutual enrichment through diverse interactions.
  • Cultivate a joyful and harmonious environment grounded in respect and devoid of judgment, encouraging connection with the inner child—a source of creativity and collaborative spirit.
  • Provide individual and collective activities centered on self-discovery and spontaneous learning through Play, such as painting, horse-riding for children with special needs, a specialized library, a magical garden, and nature’s theater, emphasizing education through Joy.
  • Support children with special needs and their parents, recognizing and nurturing their unique abilities, while facilitating integration within groups through collaboration with schools.
  • Share knowledge, offer training, and showcase innovative educational approaches that regard the child as an evolving soul, collaborating with schools, parents, and educators to redefine our relationship with children.
  • Serve as a hub for active research in alternative education methods, responding to the increasing demand for progressive education within Auroville and beyond, while fostering laughter and Play throughout.

Meet the team

Jitta - Director & lead facilitator

I was born in the Netherlands in 1983. When I was 5, I came with my family to live in Auroville. I have always been interested in why humans think and behave so differently but at the same time we are so similar; why things are the way they are and how they connect to nature’s cycle. I was one of those children that struggled in mainstream education. This led me to do further studies in pedagogy, hoping I would never forget how a child sees and feels the world, wanting to be there for the children.
Through my children and my curiosity for life, I became aware of the importance of a solid self-foundation in the first years of a child’s life. Learning happens naturally in children, but it can take a lifetime to unlearn. “It is like cycling: once you learn to cycle try to unlearn to cycle.” I very consciously chose to work with children as they are the future, and the earth also belongs to them. I want to help guide them to be comfortable in themselves and flourish to their full potential in a safe non-judgmental environment. I have learned and developed ways that are my foundational approach, but that I will adapt to the children I’m working with. In 2017, I found myself in Lilaloka and realized the gift this place is for the children of our world. I am grateful and thank the beautiful ladies who started Lilaloka. They will always be important to Lillaloka as they planted her seed with the utmost consciousness.

Ofa - Yoga instructor & facilitator

I grew up and did my education in Auroville. My 3 children are my biggest teachers in life and am so grateful for all that they have and are still teaching me. I have been teaching yoga to children and teenagers since 2013. I am passionate about Iyengar yoga but for the smaller ones, I include a lot of games and stories working on keeping an atmosphere where there is no competition, acknowledging that each of us is different and one needs to focus on improving oneself.
I also work with beads, ropes & stones to develop fine motor skills and let one creative side come out creating jewelry, macrame, dreamcatchers, and mobiles…
As I believe nature is one of the best healers and learning opportunities we have I do explorations in nature with individual children or in groups where we learn to respect and cherish Mother Earth as well as discover all its magic it offers and to get accounted with the surroundings we live in. I believe in seeing what inspires the children and using that to learn in different aspects.

Stella - Media & administration

I was born in Barcelona, ​​Spain. Since 1999 I had the opportunity to work as an Administrator in an Alternative Therapies Center, leading me to specialize in this area. Following this specialization I had the opportunity to travel to the Canary Islands in 2003 to work as an Administrative Officer of a University, raising my level to Administrative Director and being able to work in the area of ​​education. I have been linked to learning centers which attracts me and I enjoy the organization and administration.
In 2015 I moved with my husband and my first daughter to Auroville, India, offering me the opportunity to carry out my process in the community in the Kindergarten office.
This led me again to participate again in 2023 to be part of Lilaloka. Selfearning Center where I feel that my work as a professional in this area offers me the opportunity to practice this profession surrounded by learning both for me and the environment that surrounds me, where I believe that the course of life is changing and we evolve daily with it.

Veronique - Game facilitator

Veronique’s involvement with the world of children started at the age of 21 years old, as she worked as an activity leader in outdoor centres, holiday camps, and schools. 12 years later, she founded Créalom, an organization whose aim was to offer workshops dedicated to free creativity. Then she felt a call to come to and live in Auroville. Today, Véronique creates board games, as well as transforms existing games, letting war rules evolve into joyful and collaborative games. She understood very quickly that creativity and imagination combined perfectly with education and that children loved it. She naturally developed these qualities and, thanks to the children, discovered infinite possibilities. Playing is for her the most serious thing in the world, the most important also, as it allows a harmonious development of the creative and imaginative potential divinely hidden in the depths of each one of us. In the same spirit, Véronique gives workshops on self-expression through clown and Improvisation Theater. She found in Lilaloka the magic garden she needed to plant these seeds of joy and sharing.

“It is a shame that children are exposed to numbers merely as quantities, instead of qualities and characters with distinct personalities relating to each other in various patterns. If only they could see numbers and shapes as the ancients did, as symbols of principles available to teach us about the Natural structure and processes of the Universe and give us a perspective of human nature.”
“Beginners guide to construct the Universe“ by Michael S. Schneider