Story & Photos
By Suus Van Lee
Article and Photographs by Suus Van Lee 2,400 Words
Published by ETHNOMAD for Fading Cultures Magazine
November 2025
The Heart of Acomedido
In 1998, long before smartphones and Google Maps existed, I travelled alone to Rajasthan, India, for the first time. I was 25, carrying only a paper Lonely Planet guide in my backpack. My surroundings considered it unwise:
“Alone as a woman? That’s far too dangerous. And what if you get sick?”
Still, I felt a deep inner drive to go. Years of gymnastics training had taught me discipline, perseverance, and confidence in my abilities. I had even won the Dutch championship. That same strength gave me the courage to embark on this unknown journey, one that would change my life.
India overwhelmed me: the scents, the colours, the people. But it was the children who left the most profound impression. On the streets, I saw children playing without school, often with handmade toys and eyes full of light and curiosity. I gave them paper and pens; they immediately began to draw. For a brief moment, they could just be children, free from their daily worries.
Perhaps it touched me so deeply because it reminded me of my own childhood. I grew up in a family of five children. We were always outside: playing in the fields, exploring nature, surrounded by animals, and helping wherever needed. We were very independent. We helped at home, repaired things, and cared for each other.
Nothing was given to us, and precisely because of that, we learned so much. By the age of eight, I was already patching my own bicycle tyre. That was our way of contributing without being asked, without expecting anything in return, something later known as Acomedido.
Acomedido: A Principle of Upbringing
Acomedido is a Spanish upbringing principle still visible in parts of Latin America and Spain. It is about being helpful without being asked, taking responsibility, and contributing to the community without expecting a reward. In many Latin American villages, children help with cooking or cleaning during local festivals, not because anyone orders them to, but because it feels natural to be part of the whole.
This resonated deeply with what I felt in India. Rajasthan, where Bodh Shiksha Samiti operates, faces enormous educational inequalities. Many children, especially in rural areas like Bodhgaon, have limited access to schools, or the schools are poorly equipped. Often, children must help at home or work to support their family, making regular school attendance a challenge. Girls face an even greater risk of missing out on school due to cultural and social barriers.
In such a context, the idea of Acomedido becomes visible in small actions. Children help without expecting anything in return. Those childhood memories resurfaced in my work in the Netherlands. First as a pedagogical staff member, and later as a pedagogical coach, I discovered how the idea of Acomedido could be translated into everyday educational practice.
In childcare, I saw that children, even from a young age, have a strong need to contribute. They want to do things themselves, help, and take responsibility. Instead of doing things for them, I gave them space and the opportunity to feel responsible for the day. This insight became even stronger when I worked at BSO Wildwoozt as a pedagogical coach. We allowed children to plan their own activities, carry them out, and reflect on what they had learned. There were no expectations of perfection, only the freedom to make mistakes and grow. The result was that children felt more ownership and built self-confidence. They experienced that their contribution mattered within the group, giving them pride, motivation, and a sense of self-worth.
Return to India
In 2023, the year I turned fifty, I decided to return to Rajasthan exactly twenty-five years after my first trip. Much has changed: mobile phones, the internet, and Google Maps. Now, years later, I know that independence and trust matter more than fear. My intention was clear: I was going back. I wanted not only to understand Acomedido, but to feel it in the people, in the rhythm of daily life. I wanted to see how children in India live today. Do they go to school? What do they learn there? And if they don’t attend school, what do they do? With my backpack and camera, I set out to experience it firsthand and document where I could.
With these questions in mind, I set out on my journey in Jaipur. There, I arranged for a tuk-tuk driver to take me to the old fort. By chance, I met Sasha Priyo and his wife, Radhika Shivhare, from Bodh Shiksha Samiti. They were with a large group of
children from the Sariska tiger reserve. When I asked if I could photograph the children, the first contact was made. Later that day, our paths crossed again in a small roadside restaurant. It felt as if everything was coming together.
Bodh Shiksha Samiti: Acomedido in Practice
Bodh Shiksha Samiti is a long-established non-profit that has provided education to children from marginalised communities
in Rajasthan for over 35 years. Its mission is to build an egalitarian society through quality education and care for all children. Their model is rooted in collaboration with the community, parents, teachers, and children, who share responsibility for the learning process.
Bodh now works directly with about 6,000 children, while also serving as a technical knowledge organisation that contributes to educational innovation across India. Over three decades, Bodh has reached nearly one million children. Their work extends beyond academics, nurturing values such as responsibility, trust, equality, reflection, democracy, creativity, music, and respect. Everything Acomedido represents.
The organisation actively promotes girls’ right to education, something that remains far from guaranteed for children from disadvantaged families in India. Founded in 1987 by Yogendra Bhushan, Sasha’s father, the spirit of Acomedido is tangible in every word Sasha spoke. Here, children learn to contribute without expecting anything in return, to help without reward, to make mistakes without shame.
Just as at Wildwoozt, in my own extended family, and on the streets of Rajasthan, the principle is alive. It felt like the circle was complete. What I had intuitively experienced in Rajasthan in 1998 now had words, meaning, and depth. Acomedido was not a method but a way of life, something from my childhood that now has a voice, a voice I want to share with children, parents, and in everyday life.
I stayed in contact with Sasha. How wonderful it would be to combine our knowledge? Not long after, he told me that the annual children's festival of Bodh Shiksha Samiti would take place in March 2024, with 260 children from surrounding villages.
"Do you want to join?" he asked.
Of course, I said yes. There was only one problem: technically, my trip was already over. I was about to return to the Netherlands. But I didn't hesitate. After three months, I decided to return. I couldn't miss this.
The Children's Festival: Baal Utsao in Bodhgaon
The "Baal Utsav festival" is held almost every year, bringing together selected children from Bodh schools to showcase performances, play games, and celebrate learning. Participants are chosen through rounds at their schools and then mixed into new teams regardless of background, Acomedido in action.
The heart of the event is participation itself. There are no champions; the joy lies in taking part. It reminded me of cycling with my club in the Netherlands, where our motto is that participation is the real experience. I also know the other side, in my gymnastics past, only winning mattered. Seeing sport here as open, collaborative, and pressure-free was deeply moving. The festival took place in Bodhgaon, about an hour from Jaipur. Leaving the bustling city behind, we drove deeper into the villages along dusty roads and open fields. Upon arrival, I was immediately surrounded by dozens of children in their school uniforms. With my blonde curls, and as the only Westerner, I stood out. Their energy was contagious. The openness and connectedness of these children struck me. Boys and girls sat side by side without embarrassment or irritation. Everyone laughed.
More Than a Rehearsal
My arrival coincided with the general rehearsal for the festival. From my hut, I heard music, drums, and children's voices. I followed the sound without hesitation. A large group of children sat in a circle with their instructors, practising songs for the next day. The music teacher played a xylophone-like instrument with a mesmerising sound.
I was allowed to watch on one condition: I had to dance. 'Of course! No problem.'
The energy in the air gripped me immediately. You could feel mutual respect. The children practised freely, with discipline that came from connection, not fear. They seemed genuinely grateful to be there. Boys and girls were proud of who they were. They sang about spring, and every word seemed to come straight from their hearts, for each other, their instructors, and the earth itself.
I stood in the middle of the room, smiling with a lump in my throat. In over twenty years of working with children, I have seen much. But this felt different. Not better, not worse, pure. It was as if these children knew exactly: I matter. They called me forward. To my surprise, it didn't feel awkward at all. On the contrary, I felt proud. Proud to be part of this and among these wonderful people.
Acrogym: Building Together
A little further on, another group of children practised acrogym and hoop activities. I sat with many watching children next to the field. They climbed, built human towers, and supported each other when wobbly. Sasha Priyo guided the group. It was not just about skill, but about how they did it: with trust and focus. What relaxed discipline. They literally lifted each other up. Everything radiated teamwork. With pride and respect, a boy at the top waved the Indian flag, as if representing his whole country. Here I saw Acomedidoin action. The large group of children clapped as much for the first as for the last performer. They shared responsibility for the activities. There was no jealousy or complaining, only respect.
Everyday Independence
After acrogym, we walked to the dining area. A girl suggested making me some chai tea. She didn't make it just for me, but also for all her friends. No one asked her if she did it; she did, gladly and with care, a simple, natural act.
The dining area was a large tiled room with small mats on the floor, no chairs in sight. One table held three large pots filled with chapati, rice, and vegetable curry. Children washed their hands carefully with green soap, then served themselves in turn. They sat with their teams or mixed groups and ate with their hands. When someone finished, they helped refill others' plates. No adult directed them. They cleaned up afterwards, washing dishes and even the floor. This was Acomedido, not as an idea, but as daily life.
In all my years in childcare, after-school programs, and coaching, l had never seen hundreds of children function so calmly, respectfully, and independently in a relatively small space. After eating, activities continued as if the night were no reason to stop.
High-jumping took place under lamps and the stars. Their energy seemed endless. I retreated later to process everything | had seen and felt. This is why I came. This is where Acomedido breathes. Before the sun rose, I could already hear voices and movement. A new day began, a day of celebration and connection.
Festival Day: Colours and Culture
There was so much to take in. Families came to watch the performances, dressed in their finest Rajasthani traditional clothing. Women in vibrant colours, men in white garments and turbans. Their faces told stories in their lines and eyes.
The festival began with a ceremony led by the founders of Bodh Shiksha Samiti: Sasha’s father, Yogendra Bhushan, and the elder members from the organisation’s early days. The youngest children lit a small flame, symbolising the next generation.
The festival officially began. Children performed acrogym and dance on the large stage, as the audience clapped enthusiastically. Then came the sports and games.
Returning Home
After the festival, the children returned to their villages in their regular clothes. What Bodh Shiksha Samiti offers these boys and girls, access to education and sport, is truly invaluable and life-changing.
This festival showed what happens when children are truly given the freedom to grow, play, and explore. This is not a luxury; it is a necessity. I saw Acomedido not only; I felt it, in a child who shares without words, in hands that help without expectation, in the quiet power of being together.
During that week, I formed a bond. And now, seeing our paths diverge again, everyone back to their own worlds, two worlds miles apart yet connected, even if briefly. Looking back, I understand more than ever: children do not need perfection. They need trust, space to explore, and opportunities to contribute, not for a reward, but from within themselves.
Acomedido is not a method but an attitude, a way of being. Whether in the deserts of Rajasthan or a classroom in the Netherlands, the message is the same: children grow best when trusted and taken seriously.
The festival confirmed what I had always felt: it is not about applause or recognition, but about growing together. Give trust, give space, and children will flourish. That is the lesson I bring home, one I will carry for the rest of my life.
