In Jawadhu Hills, India, over half of the tribal children who are the first in their families to attend school drop out. Why? They often need to migrate to work in coffee fields, schools don’t have what they require, and the lessons don’t connect with their lives. All of this is due to an unjust power dynamic at play. Project ‹Not So School› is all about challenging the status quo and existing norms. It attempts to create a safe, welcoming space where students can learn without feeling held back. Plus, it aims to help communities own their schools, know their rights, and fight for them. The project recognises that there’s no universal fix. Instead, it relies on social design methods like research, dialogue, and community collaboration to understand the challenges and needs in the longer term. It experiments with alternatives by creating long-term strategies, interventions, safe and open spaces, community tools, and workshops. The project aims to support first-generation tribal students in Jawadhu Hills and their community. They’ve long faced exploitation, discrimination, and missed chances because of their social status.