What is the difference between school and life?
In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.
My day begins with the traffic jam brawl. There is the usual hustle, bustle in the streets. Vehicles keep honking; people are on the move, some screaming at the passers by and some spitting on the roads. Here and there, complaints are heard about the lack of good roads, good facilities and sound leadership.
I switch on the FM radio on my mobile and remain indifferent to my surroundings……
Today is different; I haven’t switched on the radio. I am deep in thought. I am thinking about “Light a Candle”.
No, I am not going to light any candles literally. Light a candle is an event; An event initiated in our office. It’s all about getting 50 odd kids from the government school to our office, giving them a feel of our work place, teach them about computers, have fun and in the meanwhile motivate them to study. Easier said than done. Isn’t it?
Let me elaborate.
Event name: Light a Candle.
Intent: To motivate the kids from the government school to study. These kids are from a background that does not facilitate education. For some it’s a financial burden, for some the lack of awareness. A few kids who want to continue studying don’t know the available courses after the high school. All in all it’s an effort to increase the awareness and stimulate them to pursue their education.
The day’s events begin with an introductory talk. The kids are shown the lead India video (watch the video here) to emphasize that even a small kid can take the initiative and make a difference. What follows is a kind of career counseling where a glimpse of the various options available after high school is provided. A pep talk trying to motivate them to study is also rendered.
The Introductory talk is followed by the grouping of kids into pairs and a friend is assigned to each pair. The “friend” is supposed to interact with the kids for some time, make an effort to get to know their background and clarify any doubts the kids have. Then the Friend and the kids do a painting together expressing what they learnt from the session. This form of interaction is the highlight of the day. I am sure most of the volunteers will agree when I say that the two-three hours of time that is spent here will actually form a bonding between the friends and the kids. All of them cherish this time. Some of them even share their phone numbers to keep in touch with eachother. It’s a unique experience and a relationship that is formed is unheard off.
What follows the painting session is a speak-up session wherein some of the kids explain what they have drawn and why. Then all of us have lunch together, watching videos, sing and dance.
Next comes the Internet and the touring session. Half of the group is sent to the training rooms where the kids are taught the basic of computers like googling, emails, Microsoft word etc. In the meanwhile the other half is taken for a tour where our cubicles. The conference rooms, fire exit and the pantry is shown. This is the most fascinating part of the day. It is greatly amusing to see that the kids are excited by nearly everything they see. They really enjoy the pantry and watch in wonder at how the coffee comes out of the coffee machine. We are careful just to show them how to prepare coffee and not let them taste it, lest they loose the enthusiasm.
This is followed by the trip to the gymnasium. The kids are so fascinated by the equipment that we have to pull them out of the gym in less than 5 minutes fearing damage.
Imprint session is the most imperative session for us. The kids leave their mark with us, accentuating the fact that they were there with us and spent the whole day. There is the Hand painting session in which the kids dip their hand in water paints of various colour and leave their finger prints on a banner cloth. The cloth is in the shape of a candle. We also have a huge 3D candle made of thermocol. The kids write their names on small diamond shaped papers which are stuck on the surface of the colourful candle. Later both the banner cloth and the 3D candle are displayed at the reception with the message “We have touched so many hands; we need to touch many more”.
After the imprint session all of us together play some games and we see them off with gifts and drop them back to their school.
Yes, it was good to see them, interact with them. They left some fond memories with us and so did they leave a lot of unanswered questions
• My parents want to get me married after my High school, they won’t listen to me, what do I do?
• My dad is a drunkard, my mom runs the family, and I need to support her. Can I do that and study at the same time…
• My parents are very supportive, but we need financial aid, can I get it?
• My brother is an auto driver, I will become one too after High school, my parents won’t listen…..
• I am physically handicapped and my parents think sending me to school is a waste of money.
• My parents have passed away; my brother is supporting me...
In this era of democracy where politicians are openly trading votes, where inflation is raising what is it that can be done to support these underprivileged?
I remember the hundreds of times that I have argued with my friends over the lack of infrastructure and sound leaders. I remember all the times when the arguments have been so futile that now I sit with my ears closed listening to the radio….
We all seem to think that somebody should build the infrastructure for us, somebody should lead our country, somebody should solve all the social, economical and the political problems that our country is currently facing, somebody should solve all our problems, while we are busy chasing our dreams. But none of us seem to realize that the responsibility of solving these problems lies with us as much as it does with anybody else.
In the beginning a beautiful quote said that the life gives us the test first and then teaches the lesson. Perfectly true! But it remains to be seen how long it will take for us to learn the lessons.
Until then the radio ploughs on………………….
5 comments:
Hi Shwe, A very good read. True... all of us are so busy following our dreams that we forget that education is the only thing thats going to make India a better country. it is the one solution to many of our problems. It is a nice concept of bringing government students to ur office to motivate them. But my question is..Is it enough? I greatly doubt it. It should be more that well educated people like us should go over to the schools every weekend or so (say adopt one for a few years) and rig up computers which are going to be discarded from our offices and bring technology to them. Also, make up for their lack of good tutors. I hope many of us will be able to spread the power of education which is our bread-winner to others, in our lifetime.
Hi,
What you are saying is true..we do have some follow-up plans and it includes some of the items that you have suggested.
Thank you for your suggestions and yes it would be very nice for all of us to join hands to spread the awareness about education.
Mindblowing!! Good to knw IT companies have taken a good initiative.. Infact i remember one of my colleague who had a similar thought to get the govt school children and slum childrem to teach them the basics of computers.What he had done is he formally arranged a weekly meeting with these children taught them basics of computers,health,fitness,cleanliness in environemnt and importance of education. He got some sponsors to support this project of his. people volunteered to educate or rather take a weekly one hour classes for these children.
May be the focus could be on getting in touch with these kids on a weekly basis and educate them.
I really appreciate your stand in this program!keep going Shwe..
-PL
Your right. Its time to stop whining and do something, in our own little way.
Corporates are entering into the business of social responsibility and commercialising social work. But what the heck - as long as its benefitting the society - its still good.
What do you think of the Teach India Campaign by TOI ?
Nice thing u & ur company has
done...hope single steps like this will take us long way...
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