Author: Vaishali Rajan

Nakshatra Reach Out

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NRO..?? What is it about..?? What do you guys do..?? What all programs do you run..?? These questions have been running in so many minds. 

Here we are..!! Providing you with answers through this letter..!! 

KOLORS-NRO NEWSLETTER

NRO-KOLORS

Hello everybody..!! I am sure most of us would be familiar with the proverb – “ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JOHN A DULL BOY”

 As much as education is important, it is equally important for a person to de-stress himself. It is similar to a pressure cooker. You have to let go of the steam, only then is the rice properly cooked. If you just let the steam build inside it, sometime or the other it is going to blast on your face. Education is like rice. We can’t live without food. Steam is the stress that is present in every one of us. We have to let go of it. The longer we keep it within ourselves, the quicker it is going to destroy us. 

Different people have different ways of de-stressing themselves. Some people sing, some play, some dance, some draw. 

 We have grouped the most common ways by which people de-stress themselves under one quotient which we would like to call ‘THE PLAY QUOTIENT’.

 The NRO team comprises of four teams namely the MUSIC team, ARTS team, SPORTS team and the DANCE team who work together in unison to ensure that every kid gets the ‘PLAY QUOTIENT’ in his routine.

 

 

 

Sharing a Dream…

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Sacrificed a Dream for many dreams…
We sleep normally with dreams; here we volunteers sacrificed our one day’s dream (sleep) to fulfil the dreams of many because it is “Nakshatra”. This is the third nakshatra for Trichy and it got bigger with 20+ homes, 800+ kids and 200+ volunteers. But this is my first nakshatra, the main thing that inspired me of all the great things here were that of the judges were students from one of the best colleges around. Breaking the convention of very high profile judges who usually show-off and most of them normally don’t talk

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Winners of Nakshatra 2014 Chennai- Sevalaya Team Receiving the Trophy From Ayyanar. Dr.Prahalathan, Vaishnavi, and Ganapathy are also seen

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Cracking the show open – Sivakasi

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              The session started a little late at around 10:15 since students from nearby towns, villages had to come all the way by bus (fare provided by udhavum ullangal). Initially there was a prayer song after which there was short discussion on importance of studies and mentoring from the perspective of udhavum ullangal which was academic centric and they brought out previous student experiences where students have scored high marks with their help. Then it was Bhumi’s turn to work on some activities to play with the children and have some learning part along with fun.
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Benchmarks for 2014-15

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With a belief that bench-marks are not created rather extended; we have been re-defining the way we work by setting up benchmarks for us by analysing various other sets of instances that are possibly existing around us. Similarly small yet efficient layers of study which focuses on external organisations that are working on similar terms and internally analysing other bhumi projects. An additional trial out in this year, would be an extension for the internet generation which takes the the advantage of facilities like video-calling environments to conduct a session facilitated across tough geographical terrains under “E-Lakshya” program which is under process and it can be an worthwhile expectation for all of us.

Herunmayee from Chennai Lakshaya Team Says,” In the past we had been methodically trying out a lot of things to cover the planned modules in sessions. Yet at a particular point when we stop by to analyse or try to understand what we have done; we don’t have a proper mechanism for that. When even new volunteers ask us about the procedures which we have done earlier through the session we don’t have something to show them. More important than that we don’t get to look back what have we done to the kids; this is very important because only this indicator helps us to refine our methodologies. On a personal note we would also clearly demarcate an objective for the project.Which i feel has not been so clearly put till date;as in the conflicts with the necessity and parts of mentoring that are handled by volunteers which would help prioritized efforts. So working on assessments this time by studying instances and organisations shall help us. As with my personal expectations we might expect a result oriented approach from the present teams and their plans and progress in 2014-15. “

Plans spanning 2014-15

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Just as history reminds you; the buzzword in Lakshya is always strategic planning; the word out in town is about “the style of pedagogy”, which is to design a learning classroom environment; apart from that various additions and procedures are to be tested this year. On board this year; ripples gets in to you a few perceptions from the brains behind on all possible charted plans for this academic year.

Srinivasan from Trichy Lakshya team says,” The aim this year is to benefit more children by extending the project in more centres this year. We are also about to start a workshop module in Deeksha home for the first time in Trichy. The mentoring will be started soon with the help of trained mentors; unlike last year. To improve internal volunteers’ coordination many activities are to be planned. Lakshya Inductions won’t go like seminar classes any more; instead it shall be more of a discussion session with interesting activities. As usual, Lakshyans are always ready to prepare the kids to appear in global competitions like DFC etc… Moreover the syllabus prescribed by the syllabus development team shall be followed. “

Mathpal from Chennai Lakshya Team says,” Unlike in the past; where we used to work on modules on just on a random run, now clear demarcations of modules and sub-module categorization by the syllabus development team will help us better the work in the forthcoming academic year. Since the categorization also has also incorporated the logical flow implicitly; I think this year shall be more efficient.”

Ground rules for 2014-15

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Ground Rules for Students

  • Be Punctual. All kids should be present by 10 A.M. {Might vary with centres}
  • Avoid Usage of foul language.
  • Avoid doing homework or studying during sessions.
  • Avoid shouting and creating chaos.
  • No kids should be physically harmed by other fellow kids
  • Inform the volunteers in case of your absence.
  • Avoid bringing unnecessary things to session unless informed by the volunteers

Ground Rules For Volunteers

During Sessions:

  • All respective volunteers should be at the centre by 9.30 AM {Might vary with centre}
  • Avoid usage of foul languages in sessions
  • Avoid using mobiles during sessions (In case of emergency use outside session area)
  • Avoid giving mobiles to kids
  • Dress appropriately for sessions (Avoid shorts and tracks)
  • Donot physically assault or touch which makes the kid uncomfortable.
  • The kids should always be in session area; in vicinity of all volunteers and kids.
  • Never shout or scold the kids; treat all kids equally.
  • Never share everything about oneself to kids {Maintain boundaries; especially personal problems and stuff}
  • Dont make promises that one cannot keep
  • must actively participate in activities to motivate kids to come forward.
    General Rules:
  • Prepare for every session and well in advance.
  • Inform the centre coordinator in case of absence
  • Never tag a kid
  •  Safety of kids is your prime importance.
  • do not entertain giving gifts or money to kids.{all gifts should be through centre coordinator.}
  • Do not visit centre apart from session timings. {If so, Inform the centre coordinators}
  • Do not bring persons not associated with bhumi to sessions
  • No activity (communication, jokes etc…) should be sexual in nature.
  • In case of any help or to make clarifications, centre coordinator is your point of contact.

Notable request for volunteers: Make sure the kids SMILE whenever they see you 😀

Missing Lakshya

Missing Lakshya

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Vijayalakshmi:
Trichy is where my hearty is; its with the Lakshya kids. The children from MI (Mannavar Illam) always call me as “Akka”; a single word that can easily melt my heart and make me feel heavenly. The Bhumi volunteers , were not just my friends they were like family. Every time I travelled 30 kms to the city on Sundays, to meet the kids for sessions. I’ve never cared about the long travel or the time consumed, because the care and love from the children and my dear Bhumians were always on me. Time moved on smoothly; then came the day with a critical situation which being my job offer in Chennai. Even after,   missing all of them,  I just Hope for being reunited with my family soon.

Kavitha:
There was a magic that is taking a small break now, a time wherein everyweek had a sunday; planning for which, was the task for, rest of the week. It starts with calls to decide who is gonna do the GA this week; then a series of calls and msgs and what not… Then after a set of the initial iterated moves;  the sunday morning arrives with a long list of confirmations ; reschedules; changes; absentees; surprise visitors… all put in the session starts and sways like a spell. After that evening post meet galatta; then getting back home and having a confidante heavy feedback on what worked that week and what failed… All this is melted down by the summer.  And not to miss the beautiful messes we used to create in the package named meet… All this and most important the love of the volunteers who just stay put to lift my senses when im down… And the-not-so-important 45 Min calls.. I’m missing all of them because these days there are just topics to cover around 4-5 min … Waiting to get back in swing…