CBA x Kamla Nehru College, University of Delhi x Rekhi Centre For Excellence For The Science Of Happiness, IIT Kharagpur
CBA collaborated with Kamala Nehru College (University of Delhi) and the Rekhi Centre for Excellence in the Science of Happiness (IIT Kharagpur) to explore how children’s books can be meaningfully integrated into a Happiness Curriculum—this time with college students. The aim was to bring play, creativity, community, and reflection into mental health conversations, using stories as a gateway to deeper emotional insight.
We began with a common ground activity to build rapport. One by one, participants stepped into the center of a circle to share something about themselves. If others resonated with what was said, they stepped into the circle too. This simple yet powerful exercise laid the foundation for connection, safety, and openness—core elements in the reading space that followed.
Building a web of trust and safety with the college students
Together, we read Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco, a moving story based on the author’s real life. The book invited reflection on the “wonder of multiple possibilities” in discovering who we are and what we can become. Through its themes of othering, misfit identities, and the transformative power of community, students reflected on personal moments of feeling misunderstood—and the profound impact of being seen and supported by even one person. It was a collective exploration of vulnerability, acceptance, and potential.
“Children’s Books are not only for children” - A reflection shared by a participant
Following the reading, participants engaged in a junk toy-making workshop. Using discarded materials, we asked: “What do you see—and what could this become?” The results were both imaginative and symbolic: a denim bag made from a beer can, a giraffe from Pepsi bottles, a college chaupal recreated in cardboard, a dollhouse crafted with beads and sticks, and a plant holder assembled from matchsticks. The activity became a metaphor for self-worth, creativity, and transformation—seeing value where it’s often overlooked.
The junk and building material we started with
One of the groups building the college chaupal using junk materials
A giraffe getting built using cans and an empty roll
A purse fashioned out of a beer can and an old denim rag
A beautiul doll house made from discarded items
We closed the session with a web of trust activity, symbolizing the journey of trusting oneself, others, and the community at large. We also received powerful feedback - “children’s books are not only for children”. This final moment highlighted the core essence of the Happiness Curriculum: that joy and connection often arise when we feel seen, heard, and held within a trusting space in a community.
With the students after the workshop
“There is a lot of wisdom for adults in children’s books. It can encourage you to reflect on your past, present and explore the feelings that emerge with it. There is a certain catharsis in that process of revisiting yourself as a child.” - A reflection shared by another participant