Create your Own Corals Workshop by Rachna Narwekar

Lubaina Bandukwala has a master’s in journalism but has been in children’s publishing for a decade. She has written four books and numerous short stories for publishers like Pratham, FunOKPlease, Hachette and Scholastic India. She has edited publications for most major media houses including DNA (DNA ya!), Times of India (KidZone) Time Life (New N’ Stuff) and has served as consulting editor for Scholastic India and Harper Collins. She is passionate about promoting Indian children’s books and authors and has been a curator and creator of literary experiences and festivals for more than 6 years. She founded and ran the children’s literature section at the Kalaghoda Arts Festival for four years, Founded Peek-A-Book Literature Festival as the only children’s literature festival in Mumbai and Hyderabad. She has produced commissioned festivals and pop-ups for the CSMVS museum (Formerly Prince of Wales Museum), Eat India Company Festival, and several schools in the city. She also curates books for India’s first children’s book subscription box, Enchantico. She is considered a subject matter expert in contemporary children’s reading and literature and has been invited as a speaker at TedX (DJ Sanghvi,Mumbai) and on several panels including She The People Writer’s Festival, Avid Learning and Kalaghoda Arts Festival.

Rachna Narwekar, the mother of Rea and Ridhima, has been an educator since the year 2001. Endured by the world of children's education, she went on to do a Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education in Mumbai and worked with mainstream nursery schools and NGOs for six years before opening Rachna's Funclub in Cuffe Parade, South Mumbai. After having her first baby and taking a two-year sabbatical, Rachna discovered that she was running out of places where she could constructively spend time with her daughter, especially in South Mumbai. Rachna transformed her building garage into a space where she would creatively engage with her daughter. Soon the garage became a comfort zone for her friends' children too. This idea sowed the seed for Rachna's Funclub - An Experiential Learning Centre & Library. A professional storyteller with vast experience in the children's recreational space, Rachna today runs a very successful Library & Activity centre. Children of all age groups are excited to participate in the interactive and exciting activities conducted by her and her team. Rachna also runs a training program for teachers of a local Balwadi. Her aim and mission are to get the system to work productively. Bringing unique experiences to children has always been her focus, which is why she started an Event management company in 2017. Events ranged from prominent author readings, workshops, activities and health and wellness for children. In 2020, with the advent of the COVID world, Rachna made the pivot to online teaching, building curriculums and providing courses to children worldwide. Her holistic and innovative approach to teaching and learning is her USP.