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

[Sharanya]

We were delighted to host 32 students from Ryan International School today, 17th October, for an engaging and hands-on learning experience at our Textile Center.
The visit was organized by the Rotary Club, Bannerghatta Road Cluster , and was a wonderful blend of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.
The students—disciplined, attentive, and full of enthusiasm—listened keenly during the textile tour and explored the various textures and stories behind the fabrics through our interactive displays.

Their excitement came alive during the block printing and upcycling workshop , where they transformed reused textiles into beautiful jewelry pieces.

[Sharanya]

Updates from our Experience Centre
We’re super duper excited to announce the launch of our Third Experience Centre – Everyday Materials – under The Proximity Project at Bangalore Creative Circus. Designed as an exploration of how the materials we use every day shape our environment, the centre brings sustainability closer to home.

From household objects to urban infrastructure, Everyday Materials invites visitors to see, touch, and reimagine the building blocks of our daily lives.
Our goal? To make local climate action easy, cool, and viral—through interactive exhibits, community workshops, and design-led learning.

We host guided tours and hands‑on workshops for children and students — get in touch to plan a visit!

Please reach out to us at
- 9980711104
or Write to us at : [email protected]

Everyday Materials.pdf (275.1 KB)

[Sharanya]

Updates from our Community Sustainability Vertical Transforming Hebbagodi’s DWCC into a Space of Pride and Inclusion

Over the past month, the Hebbagodi neighborhood near Electronic City has witnessed a quiet but meaningful transformation. What was once a neglected wall at the local Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC) is now a vibrant mural that welcomes the community and redefines waste infrastructure as an essential part of a clean, sustainable neighborhood.

This initiative, part of the Proximity Project’s Community Sustainability efforts, aimed to make the DWCC clean, attractive, and community‑friendly—turning a site of discomfort into one of pride. Rather than dismissing resident concerns about hosting a waste facility, the team saw an opportunity to listen, co‑design, and reimagine the space.

In partnership with Saahas, the Hebbagodi CMC, and the Aravani Art Project—a collective of transgender artists—the DWCC was transformed through collaborative art and volunteer effort. The mural not only brightens the surroundings but also symbolizes inclusion, dignity, and shared responsibility for sustainability.

Despite rains, coordination challenges, and budget hurdles, partners and volunteers stayed the course. The result is more than just a beautified wall; it’s a powerful demonstration of how small, visible changes can shift mindsets about urban waste, community spaces, and who belongs in them.

This transformation is the first of many. More neighborhood sites are already in the works, carrying forward the same ethos—local listening, community participation, and creative collaboration to make sustainability feel closer, kinder, and part of everyday life.

Before

The After

Our fabulous team + volunteers