Socratus- The Proximity Project

[arvind]

About Socratus

Socratus is a studio for thinking through and solving wicked problems’. We bring together the right people in carefully designed spaces and prototype tools to surface the collective wisdom that’s already among us.

Context
The climate crisis is worsening. Temperatures are rising, resources are under stress, and extreme weather is disrupting lives everywhere. We know the data. We’ve heard the warnings. Yet, knowledge alone hasn’t been enough to shift how we live.

That’s because our daily surroundings quietly encourage us to repeat the same habits. Unsustainable choices remain today’s defaults. To change this, sustainability needs to feel normal, close at hand, and built into everyday life.

That’s what the Proximity Project is about.

Our Approach
We are clustering multiple initiatives- learning, livelihoods, and community projects within the same neighborhoods. This way, sustainable practices reinforce one another and become the new normal. The focus is on shifting from isolated programs to nurturing long-term, place-based change.

Three principles guide our work:

• Proximity: embed sustainable choices in people’s immediate environments.

• Persistence: stay engaged for at least five years to make change stick.

• Public Purpose: nurture values that go beyond self-interest, strengthening community responsibility.

What We’re Building

Local Experience Centres: Neighborhood hubs where people can directly experience sustainability through rotating exhibits, workshops, and interactive activities on themes like rivers, waste, textiles, and heritage.

Livelihoods & Green Jobs: Practical pathways for young people and entrepreneurs to build careers in the green economy through fellowships, training, mobile upcycling, and shared tools.

Community Sustainability Projects: Hands-on neighborhood initiatives—such as waste and water assessments, repair days, and placemaking—that make sustainable living part of everyday life.

We’ll be sharing stories, progress, and reflections on Grove as we go.

Follow along with us as the Proximity Project takes shape, one neighborhood at a time.

[arvind]

Newsletter (1).pdf (8.6 MB)

[Sharanya]

Updates from our Local Experience Centre**

Blockquote

On 10th September , we hosted 55 budding journalists from Christ College, Koramangala at the Vrishabhavathi River and our Rivers Experience Center .
The visit evoked a powerful range of emotions among the students—disgust at the current state of the river, helplessness at its neglect, and a strong determination to act . Channeling this energy, they created impactful jingles and bite-sized advertisements designed to raise awareness about the river’s plight.
The group spent over three hours at QLO and the Experience Center , immersing themselves in the journey of the river. The session concluded with a collective pledge to make personal lifestyle changes and to contribute in their own ways toward restoring the lost charm of Vrishabhavathi.

[Sharanya]

Updates from our Local Experience Centre
*Community Event at Vishwabhavathi River – 21st September
Socratus, LVBL Accelerator, and Paani Earth, in association with
the Bengaluru Apartments Federation (Kengeri Cluster), organized an event on 21st September at the banks of the Vishwabhavathi River and the Rivers of Bengaluru Experience Center. The aim was to engage community members and explore collective actions for the river’s revival.
Around 20 participants joined at the river, and 11 visited the center.

Key highlights included:

1. Youth Engagement: Children sang songs highlighting the river’s plight, while students shared hopeful messages envisioning future community gatherings at the river.

2. BAF Members’ Support: Federation members expressed their commitment to collaborating with government officials, key stakeholders, to advance impactful initiatives.
   Despite the modest participation, the event served as a valuable step in building awareness, inspiring optimism, and strengthening partnerships for the revival of the Vishwabhavathi.

[Sharanya]

Updates from our Livelihoods & Green Jobs vertical

The RRR Maadi campaign held at G Corp on 27th September, Saturday was extremely well received by the community. Residents actively participated and expressed interest in making this a recurring event. The community has requested that we organize the campaign on a quarterly basis going forward

[Sharanya]

Updates from our Local Experience Centre
Visit by Jain College – MA Journalism Department
Today, 27 students from Jain College’s MA Journalism program, along with Dr. Bhargavi (HOD), Dr. Abhilasha, and Prof. Sanju, visited the Rivers Experience Center.

Arriving with little prior exposure to the issue, the group was deeply moved by the river’s condition and motivated to act. Guided by their faculty, students brainstormed impactful ways to respond—through vlogs, reels, awareness campaigns , and reflections on the policy changes needed for long-term solutions. Their curiosity extended to understanding government plans, the role of STPs, and practical interventions possible at their level.

They also created posters and jingles during the activity, blending creativity with social responsibility. The team left committed to shaping an impactful narrative and reaching the right stakeholders