LOVE ALL SERVE ALLFEBRUARY 2020 - Sevalaya

 
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LOVE ALL SERVE ALLFEBRUARY 2020 - Sevalaya
LOVE ALL SERVE ALL                                                                    FEBRUARY 2020

 Sevalaya helps FSS build rural toilets
                                                                                        Sevalaya, as a part of the rehabilitation
                                                                                        works took upthe construction of a new
                                                                                        toilet block at the school. The project
                                                                                        at a cost of ` 10 lacs was sponsored by
                                                                                        Financial Software and Systems (FSS)
                                                                                        Private Limited.
                                                                                        500+ girls of the school will be benefitted
                                                                                        by the initiative.
                                                                                        K Chandra, Headmistress, teachers of
                                                                                        the school and members of the Parent
                                                                                        Teachers Association participated in the
                                                                                        function.
                                                                                         The new facility will be very helpful for
                                                                                         the girls studying in the school.
 K Natarajan, President, Parent Teachers Association, Kariyapattinam Govt. HSS           I thank FSS and Sevalaya for this
 inaugurating the new toilet block                                                       initiative. We will take all steps to
 A new toilet block at Govt. Higher         The toilet block was inaugurated by K        maintain it clean.
 Secondary School at Kariyapattinam         Natarajan, President, Parents Teachers
                                                                                         K Chandra, Headmistress,
 Village in Vedaranyam Block                Association of the school. The old toilet
                                                                                         Kariyapattinam Govt. Higher
 in Nagapattinam District was               block in the school was completely
                                                                                         Secondary School
 inaugurated on 6th January 2020.           destroyed by Gaja cyclone.

 Free breakfast programme for 1000+ students inaugurated
                                                                                        "Breakfast is the most important meal
                                                                                        of the day. If a student skips breakfast,
                                                                                        it will definitely affect his concentration
                                                                                        and studies. Sevalaya has addressed this
                                                                                        issue by providing sumptuous breakfast
                                                                                        to the students who have to reach school
                                                                                        by 7 am for special classes for the Board
                                                                                        exams." observed the Chief Guest.
                                                                                        K Rajeswari advised the students to eat
                                                                                        healthy food, study well and make best
                                                                                        use of the opportunities to succeed in
                                                                                        life.
                                                                                        This is the 6th year, Sevalaya has initiated
                                                                                        this project of providing free breakfast for
                                                                                        a period of three months, i.e Jan to Mar
 M Ramakrishnan, CEO, Thanjavur and K Rajeswari, DSWO, Thanjavur serving                to 750 students of Stds X, XI and XII who
 breakfast to students of Govt Girls HSS, Thanjavur.                                    appear for Board exams.
 The free breakfast programme for 750         Thanjavur. K Rajeswari, District Social   Sevalaya has been providing free
 students of Stds X, XI and XII of Govt.      Welfare Officer and Soma Arumugam,        breakfast to around 100 children of
 Girls Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur Secretary, Thanjai Periya kovil vaara         Panchayat Union Schools in Thanjavur, all
 was inaugurated on 6th January 2020.         vazhipaattu manram (Thanjavur Big         thorugh the academic year.
                                              Temple weekly prayer committee)
 The programme was inaugurated by M                                                     This year, these projects are sponsored by
                                              participated in the function.
 Ramakrishnan, Chief Educational Officer,                                               Petrofac and many individual donors.

LOVE ALL SERVE ALL                                                                                                   FEBRUARY 2020
LOVE ALL SERVE ALLFEBRUARY 2020 - Sevalaya
Joy of giving: the way of life
 Dear Friends,                                on spiritual and cultural topics, short       Thiruvallur and prizes will be distributed
                                              stories and pictorial stories for children.   to the winners in a grand function on
 Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam, a Tamil
                                              It has special features like Youth Power,     2nd February 2020. Swami
 spiritual monthly magazine published
                                              Teachers’ World, Students’ World,             Vimurthanandaji Maharaj, Manager of Sri
 by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, is
                                              Sanatana Dharma, and our ancient              Ramakrishna Math, Chennai and Maalan,
 celebrating centenary this year. It is one
                                              scriptures among others.                      Senior journalist will be participating
 of the 5 magazines in India to celebrate
                                                                                            in the function. Nearly 1000 students
 the centenary year. An interesting           The magazine has a circulation of
                                                                                            with their parents and villagers will be
 fact is that all the 5 magazines are         1,60,000 copies and nearly 1,00,000
                                                                                            participating in the function.
 publications of Sri Ramakrishna Math.        readers are youngsters. This gives hope.
 Sri Ramakrishna Math was founded by          The people are ready to know about our        Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Mahakavi
 Swami Vivekananda in 1897 with the           great culture and human values and good       Bharathiyar and Swami Vivekananda,
 two-fold purpose of spreading the            quality magazines do get great support.       Sevalaya has been engaged in spreading
 teachings of Vedanta as embodied in the                                                    the ideals of the three great leaders
                                              The centenary celebrations of Sri
 life of the Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa                                                    among the youth, since its inception.
                                              Ramakrishna Vijayam commenced in
 and to improve the social conditions of
                                              Chennai on 12th January 2020, which           We are happy to take an active part in the
 the Indians.
                                              is the birth anniversary of Swami             centenary celebration of Sri Ramakrishna
 Whenever questions are raised regarding      Vivekananda celebrated as National            Vijayam, engaged in the process of
 the quality of the content in present-day    Youth Day. Hon’ble Vice President of India    imparting man-making education as
 magazines, most of which is cinema or        M Venkaiah Naidu participated in the          envisioned by Swami Vivekananda.
 politics, crime stories, etc, the standard   celebrations.
                                                                                            We invite you all to take part in the
 refrain of the publishers is that they
                                              Year-long celebrations are planned            celebrations.
 give only what the reader wants and the
                                              all over Tamilnadu. Sevalaya will be
 present generation prefers only such                                                       Thanks and Regards
                                              organising the celebrations in Thiruvallur
 contents. This notion has been totally
                                              District. Oratorical, Essay writing and       Sevalaya Murali
 disproved.
                                              skit competitions are conducted for
 Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam contains articles    students of all schools and colleges in

 Seva shop at Kasuva campus

                                                                                            S Manohar inaugurated the Seva shop
                                                                                            S Manohar, Former Head- Manufacturing,
                                                                                            L&T Group inaugurated the shop on
                                                                                            10th January 2020 by becoming its first
                                                                                            customer for a clutch of items! He
                                                                                            expressed appreciation for the education
                                                                                            system and laboratory of Sevalaya. He
                                                                                            shared his hope that Sevalaya produces
 Inside view of the Seva shop                                                               Scientist, Professors and Engineers.
 Greeting and bidding farewell to visitors    fresh vegetables organically grown at the     Earlier, Sevalaya’s elders and students
 to Sevalaya’s Kasuva campus is a well-       campus.                                       offered a warm welcome to the guest and
 stocked Seva Craft shop that has come                                                      entertained the audience with songs and
                                              The ready-to-eat food section features
 up near the gate. It has a wide variety                                                    dances.
                                              bakery items made by the bakery
 to pick as a souvenir to remember
                                              students of the Community College.
 the visit, at the same time supporting
                                              Those who love their home gardens can
 village artisans and the education of
                                              pack naturally manufactured fertilizers.
 rural children. Waiting on the shelves
 are hand-made craft items, fancy hand        Visitors will be pleasantly surprised by
 bags and eco-friendly carry bags as also     the price – 50% less than market rates, in
 agarbathies and candles. Also on sale are    some cases.

LOVE ALL SERVE ALL                                                 2                                                   FEBRUARY 2020
LOVE ALL SERVE ALLFEBRUARY 2020 - Sevalaya
Pongal, the harvest festival celebrated Smokeless Bhogi
                                                Sevalaya conducted Rangoli Competition
                                                in and around Kasuva village in which
                                                40 villages participated. The beautiful
                                                rangolis captured well the joy of Pongal
                                                celebrations. 3 winners were selected
                                                from each village and there were 120
                                                prize winners.
                                                S Madhan Kumar and B Dayalan of NRS
                                                Enterprises sponsored the prizes for the
                                                rangoli competition.
 Pongal festival marks the end of the                                                        Traditionally during Bhogi, the first day of
 northeast monsoon and the harvest              Sangeetha Raju, Union councillor,            the Pongal festival, houses are cleaned
 season in South India. The rituals of this     Thiruvallur, E Bakthavachalu, President,     up and all unwanted things accumulated
 festival include the worship of Sun God,       Puliyur Panchayat, some ward members         over the year are burnt. Broken Plastics,
 mother earth and the cattle for bearing a      of the neighbouring villages and Sue         old rubber tyres are also burnt and the
 good harvest, which is considered quite        Humphreys, a volunteer from the              fumes pollute the air causing a serious
 sacred.                                        United Kingdom, participated in the          health hazard. For the past 15 years,
                                                Pongal celebrations at Kasuva centre, on     every year Sevalaya carries out a rally, to
 As a prelude to the Pongal celebrations,       15th January 2020.                           create an a awareness about the health
 Volleyball tournaments, basketball
                                                                                             hazards of this practice.
 tournaments in the under-14 category,
 and rangoli competitions were conducted                                                     This year 1000 students participated in
 by Sevalaya, in the first and second weeks                                                  the rally which was held on 10th January
 of January 2020.                                                                            2020, Chief Guest M Venkatesan, Asst.
                                                                                             Commissioner of Police Pattabiram
 Sevalaya initiated Village Volley Ball
                                                                                             range flagged off the rally along with
 Tournament 15 years ago, as a safe
                                                                                             S Jeru Jones Priyadarshinin, President
 alternative to Jallikattu for village youth.
                                                                                             Nathamedu Panchayat. The rally which
 The Volleyball Tournament which was
                                                                                             started from Dr V P Ramakrishna Kalyana
 held on 5th and 11th January 2020,
                                                                                             Mandapam in Thiruninravur went
 attracted 59 Teams and 700 participants.
                                                                                             through the thickly populated streets
                                                Pongal, a sweet delicacy made out of
 The match was highly competitive. The                                                       of Thiruninravur and culminated at
                                                rice, milk, and jaggery was prepared
 top 4 teams that won the match were                                                         Shanmuga hall near Lakshmi theatre
                                                traditionally in the open space on a mud
 the Sugunambal Volleyball Club, Vengal,                                                     Thiruninravur.
                                                stove in new earthen pots and offered to
 Thiruvallur Volleyball Club, Thiruvallur,
                                                Sun God. The students of the school and      Students from Sevalaya’s Mahakavi
 Amudha Volleyball Club, Thiruninravur,
                                                community college presented a cultural       Bharathiyar School, Dasar High
 and Thiruvallur Friends Volleyball club,
                                                programme.                                   School, Amudha Matriculation school,
 Thiruvallur.
                                                                                             Government High School, Pakkam and
                                                Prizes were distributed to the winners
                                                                                             Government Hr Secondary School,
                                                of the volleyball tournament, basketball
                                                                                             Thiruninravur, participated in the rally.
                                                tournament, and rangoli competitions.
                                                                                             Students marched through the streets
                                                The second day of the celebration, known carrying placards containing slogans
                                                as Mattu Pongal, is dedicated to worship on the dangers of burning plastics and
                                                the cows, the friends of the farmers.        rubber and the urgent need to protect
                                                On 16th January 2020, the 70 cows at         the environment, raising slogans to
                                                Sevalaya's Vinobha gaushala were bathed safeguard the environment and beating
                                                and decorated with garlands. Special         drums to catch the attention of the
                                                prayers were conducted and Pongal            public. Handbills carrying this message
 110 children from 5 schools of Tiruvallur      was cooked and offered to the cows.          were handed to the public by the
 District participated in the district-level    Sevalaya's advisor Amarchand Jain and        students.
 Basketball Tournament held for the             his family participated in the celebrations.
 school children on 11th January 2020.                                                       Speaking to the students at the meeting
                                                                                             after the rally, Arulraj, Superintendent
 Both the boys' team and the girls' team
                                                                                             of Police, Avadi and S Jeru Jones
 of Sethu Bhaskara Matriculation School,
                                                                                             Priyadharshini, President, Nathamedu
 Ambattur walked away with the first
                                                                                             Panchaya said that awareness on
 prize. The Sevalaya school team were
                                                                                             environmental issues is effective when
 the runners up in the boys' category and
                                                                                             students are involved.
 the girls' team from La Chatelaine Junior
 College, Virugambakkam, bagged the
 second prize.

LOVE ALL SERVE ALL                                                  3                                                    FEBRUARY 2020
LOVE ALL SERVE ALLFEBRUARY 2020 - Sevalaya
Pongal in Ernst and Young (EY)                                                           Inter homes competitions

                                                                                          Students of Sevalaya's homes won prizes
                                                                                          at the inter homes cultural and sports
                                                                                          competition conducted by Department of
                                                                                          Social Defense at Don Bosco Beatitudes
                                                                                          Social Welfare Centre in Vyasarpadi on 4th
                                                                                          and 5th January 2020. Students from 30
 Ernst and Young (EY), is a multinational       300 EY employees enjoyed the children's   Homes participated in this event.
 professional services firm active in over      performance and cheered them. A           Chennai District Collector R
 150 countries. The leadership team from        mehendi stall set up by the students      Seethalakshmi, IAS, Chennai District
 EY, Chennai visited our Kasuva campus          of the beautician trade at Sevalaya's     Child Protection Officer Suriyakala and
 and were impressed by the discipline           Community College at the venue            members of the Chennai Child Welfare
 of the students. They assured that             attracted many visitors.                  Committee participated in the event.
 they would support Sevalaya in all its
                                                                                          S Saradha from Std X got second prize in
 initiatives.
                                                                                          singing competition. R Dinesh, Std XII std
 EY invited the school children to                                                        got first prize in high jump. P Lakshmi of
 participate and present a cultural                                                       Std IX, G Ammu of Std X, Akshaya of Std
 programme at the Pongal celebrations at                                                  VII, Rithika of Std IX and Rupa of Std VIII
 their office in DLF, Porur, Chennai.                                                     won the 1st prize in Ball Badminton.
 20 children participated in the event.                                                   The winners will participate in the
 They performed traditional dances like                                                   state level competition which will be
 Karagattam and Kolattam, and sang                                                        held at the end of month in Jawaharlal
 Bharathiyar songs.                                                                       Nehru stadium, Chennai.

 Vodafone fulfills childrens' wishes                                                      Lesson on inclusiveness

                                                                                          Prof Ramesh Gopalaswami addressing
                                                                                          the villagers
                                                                                          Prof. Ramesh Gopalaswami, an
                                                                                          independent consultant, eminent author,
                                                                                          visiting / adjunct professor in several
 Sriram, GM, Customer Care, Vaishali Bhansali, GM, Admin and Mary Jeraldine               reputed universities conducted a session
 Kavitha, GM, Capability and Talent, Vodafone Idea presenting gifts to children           for parents on 16th December 2019
                                                                                          to educate them about the needs of
 Vodafone Idea, telecommunication               They also enjoyed spending time with      children with learning disabilities.
 major, filled smiles in the faces of 100+      elders.
 children by fulfilling their fervent wishes.                                             Nearly 45 parents of students from LKG
 Vodafone Idea Chennai team gathered                                                      to VI standard attended the session. He
 the wishes of more than 100 primary                                                      advised the parents not to force their
 school children. On 8th January 2020,                                                    expectations on the children but to
 nearly 10 persons from leadership                                                        motivate and encourage them to develop
 team travelled to the school with gifts                                                  their skills.
 for the children and spent half a day                                                    He stressed on the importance of working
 in distributing and chatting with them                                                   with the school to bring out the best in
 happily.                                                                                 the children.
LOVE ALL SERVE ALL                                                4                                                   FEBRUARY 2020
LOVE ALL SERVE ALLFEBRUARY 2020 - Sevalaya
Ramanujan Day celebrated
 Every year Sevalaya celebrates
 Ramanujan day to honour the legendary
 mathematician, by organising a maths
 talent test for students in Chennai and
 Thiruvallur Districts.
 Amirtham Surya, Senior Sub Editor, Kalki
 Magazine, who has authored valuable
 books on diverse topics, was the Chief
 Guest at the function held this year on
 25th December 2019.
 26 schools participated in this
 years' competitions and 22 winners
 received their prizes from the Chief
 Guest. Sevalaya students presented a
 cultural programme which included
 a dance of shapes, a skit highlighting
 the mathematical wisdom of our
 fore-fathers and a talk on Ramanujan' s     Amirtham Surya, Senior Sub Editor, Kalki and Sevalaya Murali with the toppers of the
 life and works                              Maths Talent Exam

 Bharathiyar Day at Thanjavur                                                              Fire safety training

                                                                                           Fire safety drill at Kasuva centre
                                                                                           A National level Fire and Evacuation drill
                                                                                           was conducted at Sevalaya's Mahakavi
                                                                                           Bharathiyar HSS on 21st January 2020.
                                                                                           The exercises were conducted by
                                                                                           N Bhaskaran, District Fire Officer
 P Rajarajan, Executive Trustee, Bharathi Iyakkam handing over certificate to a visually   Thiruvallur and P Bhaskaran, Additional
 challenged student Also in the picture: Sevalaya Murali and K Muthuramakrishnan,          District Fire Officer Thiruvallur. This
 Advisor                                                                                   exercise is conducted every year on
 Sevalaya celebrated Mahakavi                impaired students also participated and       21st January 2020 at a national level in
 Bharathiyar Day at Government Girls'        the winners received their prizes at the      selected schools.
 Higher Secondary school, Thanjavur on       function.                                     Students were divided into 10 groups and
 6th January 2020                                                                          given training on how to put off the fire
 The Chief Guests, Dr Rasu, professor,                                                     and evacuate all to safety. A mock fire
 Kundavai Nachiyar Women's College,                                                        was then created in the computer lab and
 Thanjavur and P Rajarajan, Executive                                                      the teams worked efficiently and did the
 Trustee, Bharathi Iyakkam spoke about                                                     needful to put off the fire and evacuate
 the powerful verses of Bharathiyar.                                                       all students.
 Sevalaya had organized singing, drawing                                                   1004 students and 20 teachers
 and painting, competitions for the school                                                 participated in the drill. 2 fire fighting
 students 123 students from 16 schools                                                     vehicles and 10 fire fighting commandos
 participated in these competitions.                                                       participated in the drill. It was a useful
 Government Higher Secondary school for                                                    session for the staff and students.
 the visually-impaired and the hearing-
LOVE ALL SERVE ALL                                                5                                                    FEBRUARY 2020
LOVE ALL SERVE ALLFEBRUARY 2020 - Sevalaya
number of services provided here and

  From                                                                                     all his expectations were exceeded. He
                                                                                           said, “Sevalaya is covering almost every
                                                                                           important area in which an NGO can

  Germany
                                                                                           operate. it’s just stunning.!”
                                                                                           Phil plays the major role in teaching
                                                                                           primary, Montessori, and English tuition
                                                                                           at boy’s home. He is even coaching boys

  to Sevalaya                                                                              to play football and he is training then
                                                                                           on social media. This makes him happy,
                                                                                           as he can work across different faculties,
                                                                                           making his experience more interesting
                                                                                           and enjoyable. ”Compared to my fellow
 “To be honest, I never expected anything
                                                                                           volunteers, I have obtained the best
 like this, it’s amazing that one NGO
                                                                                           project” he says.
 can provide such a well-structured
 environment for so many people, from                                                      Phil loves talking and spending time with
 young children to old people. Also, the                                                   the children, though he has the language
 fact that it generates jobs for those in the                                              barrier. He feels fulfilled through his
 surrounding rural society.”                                                               service. Children’s smile and happiness fill
                                                                                           him with joy. He loves the way Sevalaya
 That is Phil Leuci, an 18-year-old German
                                                                                           is caring for these children, giving
 youth, living at the Kasuva campus and
                                                                                           them the opportunity to develop their
 volunteering at Sevalaya for the last
                                                                                           personality. He is confident that this year
 11 months. He wanted to use his time
                                                                                           of learning and experience with Sevalaya
 before college to discover more about
                                                                                           will broaden his horizons and teach him
 the world, and explore a new culture,
                                                                                           many things that will help him to succeed
 while also helping the underprivileged.
                                                                                           in life.
 His family originated from Puducherry,         He had little information about Sevalaya
 so he wanted to find out more about his        before he reached Kasuva campus,           "My hearty wishes for Sevalaya to realise
 heritage. His original project was with        He anticipated landing in some small       the dream of a free university, and
 a different NGO which only offered him         organization, confined to classroom,       another campus like Kasuva to extend the
 work in a boy’s orphanage, but at the last     teaching in a disorganised school. On      helping hand to the poor and needy. "
 moment he was switched to Sevalaya.            arrival, he was wonderstruck at the        says Phil with his trademark smile

  Blessed to
  have studied
  in Sevalaya
 Lakshmi, an alumna of Sevalaya joined
 Sevalaya school in Std IX. Her father,
 V Marimuthu, is a tailor and mother, M
 Amudha, a home maker. She has three
 brothers. Her father found it difficult to
 educate all the four children. " We were
                                                the weekend training programme - BNY       and Lakshmi was one among them. She
 fortunate to get admission in Sevalaya
                                                Steps, conducted by volunteers from        was successful and is now an employee
 which provided free education and all
                                                BNY Mellon, for the alumni of Sevalaya,    of BNY Mellon. Now her life has become
 of us got an opportunity to study." says
                                                whose higher education the company         easier. "We as a family will always be
 Lakshmi.
                                                was supporting.                            grateful to Sevalaya for bringing about
 All four of them got educated in Sevalaya.                                                this great positive change in our life" says
                                                The students were trained in
 She passed her Std XII in 2016 with                                                       Lakshmi.
                                                communication skills, spoken English,
 good marks. She joined B.Sc Maths in
                                                basic computer applications, group         "We get wonderful opportunities here
 Hindu College, Pattabiram. Her college
                                                discussions, and interview etiquette.      at Sevalaya. It is upto us to make good
 education was supported by Sevalaya by
                                                                                           use of them and come up in life." is her
 getting her financial aid from BNY Mellon.     Out of the 10 alumni who attended the
                                                                                           message for the students of Sevalaya.
 During her college days, she attended          programme, 3 were called for interview,

LOVE ALL SERVE ALL                                                 6                                                   FEBRUARY 2020
LOVE ALL SERVE ALLFEBRUARY 2020 - Sevalaya
Montessori: holistic, joyful learning
                                                                                              Children are given activities that stimulate
                                                                                              their brain. Activity Based Learning is a
                                                                                              method based on cards and milestone
                                                                                              development of each child. The items
                                                                                              found on the shelves in the classroom
                                                                                              are “materials” rather than “toys.” The
                                                                                              children “work with the materials” rather
                                                                                              than “play with the toys.” This allows the
                                                                                              children to gain the most benefit from
                                                                                              the environment by giving them a sense
                                                                                              of worth – the same sense of worth
                                                                                              adults experience as they go to their jobs
                                                                                              and do their “work.”
                                                                                                In the Montessori system there is an
                                                                                                emphasis on concrete learning rather
                                                                                                than on abstract learning here. Children
                                                                                                need to experience concepts in concrete
                                                                                                “hands-on” ways. It is a child-centered
                                                                                                environment – All the materials are easily
                                                                                                within the child’s reach and placed on
 The Montessori method of education             Research has shown that poor maternal
                                                                                                shelves at their levels. The tables and
 at Sevalaya, Initiated in 2009, has been       nutrition, unhygienic practices and
                                                                                                chairs are small enough for the children
 offering holistic education to over 300        inadequate supplementary nutrition in
                                                                                                to sit comfortably while pictures and
 rural children.                                the younger ages leave a negative impact
                                                                                                decorations are placed at the children’s
                                                on the growth, mental development and
 The motivation for introduction of                                                             eye level.
                                                performance of children. So many of the
 Montessori teaching came from its
                                                rural children start their lives with this      Today Sevalaya’s Montessori classrooms
 greater impact on developing motor
                                                handicap and are unable to catch up with are well structured. The infrastructure
 coordination skills, deeper understanding
                                                their city counterparts. So they need           with a huge room of about 4500 sq ft was
 of concepts in maths and language and in
                                                special help to get good education and          sponsored by Page Pierre Foundation of
 motivating students towards self learning.
                                                come up in life.                                Switzerland - a long standing donor, who
 Yet, there were doubts expressed that
                                                                                                has funded the construction of hostel,
 it may not be suitable for Tamil medium
 rural children as the method needed
                                               Own choices                                      dining hall, among other things. This large
                                                The structured Montessori classroom             room can accommodate more than two
 well trained teachers and costly kits. But
 Sri Ramacharan trust stepped in to help        gives children a great deal of flexibility to classes at a time.
 by giving basic training to 5 teachers         make their own choices about the kind
                                                of work to engage and gives children             C Girija, Montessori teacher echoes
 of primary school. Many well wishers                                                            the feelings of Montessori teachers
 generously donated kits.                       encouragement to think independently
                                                and act as a member of a social group.           when she exclaims how proud she feels
 The first batch of students, now in            The "whole child" approach helps each            working in a different environment
 Std IV “display a greater level of             child reach full potential in all areas of       wherein importance is given to the
 confidence andhave good linguistic and         life. Activities promote the development         motor development of the children.
 numerical skills, dispelling the myth          of social skills, emotional growth, and
 that this method is not suitable for a         physical co-ordination. The holistic             The proof of the pudding is in the
 rural set up”, comments K Revathy,             curriculum allows the child to experience        eating, right? Then listen to what M
 Assistant Headmistress. In Montessori          the joy of learning, and provides the            Chandrakala, mother of M Abhinash, a
 environment there are four parts which         experiences from which children create           student of lower grade in Montessori
 include Exercise of practical life, sensorial, their knowledge.
                                                                                                 class, has to say: Abhinash has learnt to
 language and math. EPL has a set of
                                                The   Montessori     child is encouraged   to    eat neatly without dropping his food.
 activities which teaches the children
                                                follow   what   interests  him   the most.  The  Every day, he is brimming with reports
 the basic domestic activities such as
                                                child  is free to  work  and   learn in the      of what he did in class. Obviously, he is
 preparing dough with wheat flour and
                                                classroom    at  his own   pace   and at their   enjoying it”.
 making chapathis. This helps in the fine
 motor development of their fingers.            own   level  of  understanding     without  any
 Sensorial activities help stimulate our five interruption. There is no pressure nor
                                                stress or time limits to adhere to. Each         For D Dakshan, Abhinash’s class mate,
 senses.
                                                child is guided through their own natural        doing colour tablets is the greatest joy.
 India lives in its villages and the dream of pathway of development individually.               I enjoy Mystery bag activity, when with
 a developed India can be realized only         Research studies show that Montessori            my eyes closed, I touch and recognize
 when that social slice is empowered            children are well prepared for later life        the shapes”, he says.
 to meet the challenges of this century.        academically, socially, and emotionally.

LOVE ALL SERVE ALL                                                  7                                                      FEBRUARY 2020
LOVE ALL SERVE ALLFEBRUARY 2020 - Sevalaya
Gandhi arrives on the scene
 Gandhi arrived at South Africa in May               might bear all hardships and fulfill the   their legal work to him. Gandhi enrolled
 1893. He had no idea of the previous                engagement. He came to the conclusion      himself in the Supreme Court despite
 history of Immigrant Indians. He went               that running back would be cowardly,       objections from Natal Law Society which
 there purely on a professional visit. An            and decided to accomplish what he had      was over ruled by the Court.
 important law-suit was pending between              undertaken.
                                                                                                The organization was named Natal Indian
 two rival firms, Dada Abdulla and Taib
                                             Having completed his assignment in 1894,           congress. The organization worked
 Haji Khan Mammed.
                                             he prepared to return to India. In the             throughout the year with full vigour.
 Gandhi observed on the very first day       farewell function, he came across a copy           Side by side with external agitation, the
 that the Europeans meted out most           of Natal Mercury which contained a piece           question of internal improvement was
 insulting treatment to Indians. He had      of information about the Government’s              also taken up.
 bitter experiences in the courts within a   intention to bring a legislation to
                                                                                                The Europeans throughout South Africa
 fortnight of his arrival; he encountered    disenfranchise Indians. He suggested to
                                                                                                had been agitating against Indians on
 hardships in the railway stations; received the assembly that Indians should strongly
                                                                                                the ground of their ways of life. They
 thrashing on the way. It was practically    resist the attack on their rights. The
                                                                                                contended that Indians were always
 impossible to secure accommodation          leadership of the struggle naturally fell
                                                                                                dirty and close fisted. At Congress,
 in hotels. He had gone there only for       on the shoulders of Gandhi. The traders
                                                                                                lectures were delivered, debates held
 a single case prompted by self interest     extended their cooperation and insisted
                                                                                                and suggestions made at meetings
 and curiosity. He saw that South Africa     that Gandhi should stay on and guide the
                                                                                                on subjects like domestic sanitation,
 was not good for him. He had a positive     movement. Gandhi felt that there should
                                                                                                personal hygiene and the necessity of
 aversion for earning in a country where     be a permanent organization to take
                                                                                                separate buildings for homes and shops,
 he was insulted. Two courses were open      care of the interests of Indians. Gandhi
                                                                                                for well to do traders on living in a style
 to him. He might either free himself from declined the offer of a permanent salary.
                                                                                                befitting their position.
 the contract and run back to India, or he   It was agreed that the traders would give

  32nd Annual Report Communication Sponsorship
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