Joy of Learning Weekly | Wednesday #12

The special edition of our Joy of Learning Weekly, proudly curated by Kunal Rajpurohit, our Fellow Analyst at the Learning Forward India Foundation #BrewingKnowledge

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Good Schools of India Joy of Learning Weekly | Wednesday 12

Christmas - Manisha Deora

Courtesy Source: Goodhousekeepiing. com

Christmas is a well-known Christian holiday set in December, celebrated the world over and famed for its decorations and Santa Clause. The Christmas means “Feast day of Christ”.It is a yearly celebration marking Jesus Christ’s birth it is observed on the 25th of December as a cultural and religious celebration among a lot of people all over the world. Christmas is celebrated in all Christian countries but there are differences in the way each nation celebrates this date.

Christmas is a cultural festivity that entails a lot of preparations. It is a public holiday and so people get a Christmas break to celebrate it. Preparations for Christmas start early for most people so that celebrations begin on the eve of Christmas. Preparations for Christmas involves a lot of activities. People usually buy decorations, food, and gifts mostly for children in the family and friends. Some families shop for matching Christmas outfits for everyone.

The common preparations include decorations of the place with Christmas trees, lighting. Before decorations begin, the house must be deep cleaned. The Christmas tree brings the Christmas spirit in homes. Presents are placed under the Christmas tree in wrapped gift boxes and are not to be opened until Christmas day. The church is also decorated for the special event.

Christmas reminds us of the importance of giving and sharing with friends and family. Through Christmas, we know that Jesus birth is the beginning of great things in the world. It is generally an opportunity to think about nature and the reason for our existence. Christmas is such a festival which people from all religions and faith celebrate worldwide despite it being a Christian festival. It is the essence of this festival which unites the people so much.

Manisha Deora

The Fabindia School

mde@fabindiaschools.in

Unity & Caring - Penta BHIS

UNITY

CARING

 “Saavi, look out!” cried Ria. The horrid boys in my class were in the middle of one of their usual fights. In order to hurt each other very badly, one of them had hurled a metallic bottle at the other. Unfortunately, I was in the way. Despite Ria’s warning, I could not ‘look’ out. You see, I can’t see very well. I have a genetic disorder that clouds my vision. I am one of those ‘special’ children you see in classrooms of inclusive schools. Everyone tells me that I am fine. But I am not, really. The teachers print large question papers for me, I have difficulty reading the textbook or any other book for that matter.

At school, Ria has been my eyes. I cannot fathom the depth of her affection for me. We are neither related nor are our parents, friends. Ria has, since grade 3, volunteered to help me in every grade that we have moved together. Even after 4 years, we are as thick as thieves.

There are two other ‘special’ children in my class. These two boys, Avi and Krishna, are so hyperactive that they can stir up a hornet’s nest in virtually seconds! They have always been naughty but luckily were in separate sections. Suddenly I found the two in my section this year, much to my annoyance. But then, who am I to judge anyone?

The Avi-Krishna combination proved to be a disaster for my class. They fought between themselves and instigated the other naughty ones (I gather, there were around 3 or 4 more) to join in the fracas. The class erupted in a frenzy of fistfights with dusters, shoes, and water bottles being used as missiles. None of the teachers liked coming to our class. Our charts on the soft boards were torn, fan blades bent, door handle broke, and so on and so forth. Whenever these boys fought, innocents were caught in their fights and got hurt.

Strangely, they had been exceptionally careful about me. I always had the first place, in front of the teacher, and so very often in the way of the crazy fights. Ria was instrumental in keeping me safe. But I always sensed a tenderness or whatever these boys could be mellowed down to – in their attitude to me. It was certainly not pity, as nature developed a very sharp nose in me for it. Were they even capable of care?

I think I had the answer then. In the middle of the fight, somebody had hurled a 1-litre metal bottle that was filled with water. It headed straight for me. I stood stupefied in spite of Ria’s cry, “Saavi, look out!” Within seconds Avi shielded me (how did he manage to fly in my direction so soon?), while Krishna leapt and caught the bottle. It hurt his index finger. If he winced, I could not see it.

Somehow, something changed in my class that day. Of course, the fights remained but were less intense. They fought but their aggression had mellowed. Perhaps they had seen what damage their behaviour could inflict? They argued, exchanged a few slaps, but realized that together they can change.

  "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
– Helen Keller

Penta @ Billabong InternationalHigh School, Thane

- Jeeji Sanjeev, Sanika Joshi, Arpita M.G., Muskaan Menda, Radhika Anand, Supriya Naravankar & Bhavani Swamy.

Dr Tazeen Siddiqui: New year...

Dr Tazeen Siddiqui

... Celebrate every moment ...

We make resolutions and get on a new day with hopes, dreams and aspirations.
We celebrate the most positive moments that we had enjoyed in the passing year and celebrate it with passion, happiness and lots of love.

We celebrate the last day of the year thanking God, smiling and enjoying every bit of it, why do we not celebrate every end of the day in the same way and enjoy every bit of moment of happiness that we spend in a day ,why don't we thank god for the beautiful moments we  enjoyed every day why wait for the last of the year to celebrate

Every day is a celebration of thoughts and moments that brought smiles and calmness at your heart.
The first sun ray that shines bright and enters your room to brighten the house with calmness and freshness of a new day, welcome it with open arms and lots of love as every morning is a new life and all that happened a day before is over the moment you sleep and every morning make your beautiful day with your amazing thoughts and actions.

Every day is special and every morning is beautiful to live it and love it.
#Live life with smiles and channelize your worries with hopes and dreams#

We support the work of CNN-INN Special Heros

Dehradun: Two friends Jo chopra and Manju Singhania have set up a school for children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Down Syndrome. Their school is responsible for transforming the lives of more than 1500 special children.

It all started with a child who was neither meant to be born nor was she meant to survive. But Moy Moy was born and even survived. In many ways this happy girl is like any other 22 year old, but there is one thing that makes Moy Moy special - she is down with Cerebral Palsy.

"Moy Moy was her mother's 13th baby and she didn't want to be pregnant, she was steralised. When she realsied she was pregnant, she came down to Dehradun for the abortion and the doctor she went to convinced her to have the baby. She went into labour when she was in a bus, 12 weeks premature, and left at the hospital. We adopted her when she was only two weeks old. A few years later we understood that she was the kid with special need," said Jo Chopra.

That's when friends Jo chopra and Manju Singhania decided to set up a school for children needing special care, and Karuna Vihar - a school for the mentally disabled - was born.

Moy Moy's school also serves hundreds of other children from all over the country and in a way it's Moy Moy who is responsible for transforming more than 1500 lives. Since 1995, the gates to Karuna Vihar open at 8 am every day and in come children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Down syndrome.

To unlock the young minds, the curriculum at school is modeled in a creative way. So, when it's the maths class, the daily attendance count teaches the children the number game. And when it comes down to Remembering and registering days and dates of the week, some placards help the children to do so.

"Each child is different from peer, and individual education plan is made for each child. And depending on the needs of the child, the people who are involved in it - the doctors, the therapist, the social people, the counselors, the physiotherapist - we involve the parents do it, because the needs, what goes on in school shouldn't be ending here," said Manju Singhania.

Once children graduate from Karuna Vihar, Jo and Manju have plan B waiting for them. In the vocational training institute, the potentially employable are taught to achieve the ultimate goal of "self reliance". And to accomplish this, the dinning table and the kitchen are important classrooms.

"Some of our trainees have become shop keeping assistants, some work in our own projects as helpers, we have got kids working in local grocery stores," said Jo Chopra.

Every time Jo turns to Moy Moy, she knows that a story that started small has woven many little lives into it.

In 2011, Karuna Vihar Director was the Guest of Honour at the Training Workshop at The Doon School.

Indian Special Projects - Adventure in the Eastern Ghats

Panchlingashwar: landscape that has drifted from heaven

Special Projects  Expedition

PANCHALINGASHWAR) FROM 22^ND TO 26^TH JANUARY 2011

IAYP gave us this wonderful opportunity to enjoy the expedition with ICNL (Institute of Climbers Nature Lovers) Kolkata.

Panchlingashwar is situated in Orissa, near Balasore. Forest and hills stay together in this grand Eastern-ghat mountain range. The forest here is called “Shimlipal”.  Elephants, porcupine, deer, hill-goat, shambar, squirrels etc  live here. Of course here lives the tiger too, but they don’t bother ICNL. They live in the core area of the forest and they don’t invite anyone. So, we did not go there.

Panchlingashwar is a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the kingdom of God. This land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race of villagers and wild creatures.The laziest individuals are converted into lively and highly energetic ones by rock-climbing, rappelling etc. Numerous walking trails in this region are a favourite with trekkers. Birds, bees, and butterflies are there to give you company. Wild cocks , squirrels, and monkeys keep a watchful eyes from the trees.

My students (Manav Vikas School- Jamshedpur) gained a little bit of knowledge about mountaineering and climbed some hills. We were sharing the thrilling experiences with some experienced climbers and they were briefing some of the difficulties they faced during the climbing of mountains. It was so interesting indeed.

The climb to Panchlingeshwar, which is in the eastern ghat mountain range of India brings you the panoramic view of the misty landscape. Panchlingeshwar temple is a bonus. The monks in red and yellow robes are amongst the many surprises that await the visitors searching for the heart and soul of India.

Kalyani Chakraborty
Award leader and teacher

Manav Vikas School (Indian Special Projects of IAYP India)
For more about the Indian Special Projects visit our website

APF Trustees support Updated Strategy 2011

A strategy to Equip for life 100,000 Young Indians aged 14 – 25 by 2013

1. Work for YES (youth engaging society)– to facilitate build up of Volunteers and encourage the participation of youth in the 14 - 25 age groups.

2. Programme inclusion by enrolling more students from vernacular / government schools, from the current near 400 largely private sector schools. 

3. Raise the annual enrollments for the program to a total of 100,000 in Year 3 of the plan.

Partner with other NGOs, Volunteer groups and the business community and work on our  CSR of Cherish, Service and Relationship.

Youth Engaging Society (YES)

The Award works for youth engaging society and the YES Centre model gives a new direction; for the first time the Programme is now available to the 14-25 age groups in addition.

YES centres not only trains Award Leaders, they also house a chapter of the
Award Holders’ Association and supports the office with good volunteer support.
In addtion serve as model Award Units and train young people. 

Young people in the 14-25 age groups who wish to take up the challenge, and do not have access to an Award Centre / registered School or College, may enroll with the nearest YES Centre.

Over 2000 young people are participating in the Special Projects programme on an equal footing.Year 2010, a renewed focus and the launch of the YES (Youth Engaging Society), has helped us double the number of Special Projects. In 2011 alone more than 1000 fresh entrants will join us.

The IAYP team will promote, provide and preserve the Award Programme in India.