Republic Day Celebrations!!! :)

FREEDOM IN THE MIND,
FAITH IN THE WORDS,
PRIDE IN OUR HEARTS &
MEMORIES IN OUR SOULS...
LETS SALUTE,
THE NATION ON Republic Day!
VANDE MATARAM

The day started with a heavy fog and a chilly weather but the spirits were high for the Republic day celebration with our little friends at Open Skies and Jaagriti. As me and Anchit reached at the Open Skies, Manish and Sidhant were already there and were helping Master Ji and Chandan in settling the kids to start with celebrations.

We started with talking about the Republic day with kids. And then we started with a game where we blindfolded the participating kid and then kid trying to hit a hanged ball with stick or a bat in the provided three hitting chances. Kids seems very excited to participate in the game. Many children secured their prize in the game.

The second game was Hoopla, where children had to throw the ring on goodies like chips, cake, chocolate, biscuits, bathing soaps. This game provided a chance for lot of kids to participate and check on their throwing precision. Third game was fruit eating competition, where group of four kids participated in each round and winner were awarded with fruits, fruits for fruits :). At last we held prize distributions for the winner of the first game and fruit eating competition. Winners of the first game were awarded with coloring book and colors. Later Mr. Saharan and Dr. Goel, distributed Samosa and Ladoos to the children. And we ended the ceremony at Open Skies with Gayatri Mantra and National Anthem.

Our next destination was Jaagriti where we saw that children were eagerly waiting for us. At Jaagriti we were also joined by Kumkum. The celebration schedule was same for Jaagriti too. As we talked with kids about Republic day, then followed by same set games and activities for children at Jaagrirti. At Jaagriti, volunteers also tried hands on the Hoopla game but we realised the children are much better than us. :)

Everyone enjoyed to their fullest and celebrated the Republic Day with full enthusiasm.

Jai Hind :-)

More Pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/kantkishoresharma/RepublicDayCelebrationOpenSkiesAndJaagriti?locked=true&feat=email#

Thanks

Kant Sharma

New Year Celebrations

This New Year we wished to be actively involved in doing something for the underprivileged children and not just in giving a donation. One of our team members knew Jasraman so we contacted her to know more about what she's been working on. It is then that we realized that Jaagriti was doing exactly what we were looking for. Without wasting any further time we decided that we will visit the kids on 1st Jan 2010.

It was a chilly morning of 1st January 2010 and we were five friends united for a common cause, arranging material for the workshop we had planned at the project site.

As it was our first time experience with these kids we thought that we will teach them a vocational skill: how to make paper (newspaper) bags. While on our way to the project site we were wondering as to how these kids will respond to what we had planned to teach them and how much effort will they need to learn it? But when we reached the site and saw these young kids bubbling with energy, all our doubts evaporated.

The volunteers helped us seat the kids in 3 large circles and two of our friends lead the kids into learning how to make paper bags. Everybody got so much involved in the activity that time seemed to fly and suddenly "sheets of newspaper" were transformed into paper bags! Everybody had a smile on their face but with a marked difference...The kids had the "smile of achievement" and we, “smile of satisfaction".

Later, the story teller amongst us weaved a web of fascinating stories for the kids and I captured their smiles in my camera.

By the time the stories got over, the atmosphere was set for distributing the gifts and awards. The hard work and efforts of the kids had paid its dividend. The kids got goodies for their sincerity and diligence.

In the end, we were surprised by the keenness and grasping speed shown by the kids. Not only did they learn how to make paper bags but the neatness with which they made the paper bags was phenomenal. It was evident that they were a bunch of bright kids looking for the right opportunity to come out of their cocoon and transform into a butterfly.

We are impressed by the efforts of Jaagriti and congratulate you on your efforts. It is indeed a noble cause and we stand with you in the cause of making a meaningful difference.

We would like to thank Jasraman, Anchit and Ankit for all their efforts...

Overall, it was an enriching experience and a meaningful start to a New Year!

- Ravi