'Holistic Development'for 300 Poor Kids in India

Dear Donors and supporters,

Greetings from IDEA !

We are thankful for your donation and support for our project . Your sponsored  children are enjoying  their long summer holidays . Some of them have gone to their native village to spend time with their relatives . But there are many children who are not lucky enough to go out of Pune  as their parents can’t afford or their presence is  required in Pune to assist their parents in their work during holidays. Still there are some children who undertake some part time job during summer vacation to meet part of their educational expenses during  the next academic year.

We, at IDEA organise many summer time activities for children- creative workshops, art & craft workshop, exposure visits etc to create opportunities for such children while we are also busy with the preparations for  aid distribution for the next academic year for the children.

Here is a brief report on the summer time activities for the children.

Three day workshop for children in the age group 14 years and above.

• Career Guidance  sessions  through poster display.  The sessions started with a SWOT (Strength, weaknesses, opportunities and Threats) analysis and focused on goal setting. Information of different streams and vocational courses was explained.
• Preventive counseling on Addiction

An informative & interactive session on the harmful effects of addiction was conducted for the adolescents by an expert from a well known de-addiction center. The session included a slides show on the hazards of Addiction; the ill effects on physical and psychological health and one’s family were discussed.  He explained how to help the addicted person to wean him away from the vices. Students got an opportunity to clear their doubts on many related aspects.

• Paper Quelling Activity

The art of Paper quelling was taught to the children. It gave children an opportunity to engage in creativity. The Art needs a lot of concentration and patience. Children learned to make greeting cards with intricate designs of this art.

Activities for children in the age group 10  to 14 years  

• Story reading and listening

World Book day was celebrated on 5^th March 2012 in study centres .The teachers gave information on  the different types of books like-children’s story books, novels, Informative books, text books, historical, mythological, detective books etc. What aspects the students should see before reading books was explained to them like the title of the book, author, edition, price, publication, contents, preface, cover  and back page, other books of same author or publication etc. Children read the books and wrote “Autobiography of a Book” with full of imagination. Library and book reading in groups are activities held on regular basis during holidays. The teacher reads different moral stories to them.

• Skit making and presentation

As a part of the Employee engagement program of  Tetra Pak an one day fun filled and informative session on  skit making & presentation was held for the children in the age group 10 to 14 years.

 33 selected children from  four  study centers got an opportunity to interact and  learn from  talented employees from Tetra Pak. They  guided the children in planning , preparing and presenting skits  on important  issues like healthy living , dental awareness, de-addiction and environmental protection etc.  The employees complemented the children for their talents and creativeness  & encouraged them to be responsible citizens .All the participants received gifts and snacks packets too from Tetra Pak. 

 This program was organised with the help of  iVolunteer –one of our supporting partner NGO.   

 Summer camp for the tiny tots in the age group 6 to 10 years  

• Art and craft activity

Different things like craving soap blocks in beautiful designs, paper house, drawing, puppets, masks etc are  some of the activities included in the workshop. Children are enjoying the activity.

• Playing Educational games

Children are also getting opportunity to attend the center on a regular basis to play different educational games like puzzles, chess, spell well, number games etc.   

Dear donors, this update is incomplete without expressing our sincere thanks to you for supporting this project. On 13^th June , Global Giving has planned for a ‘ Bonus Day’ . We request you to make a small donation on 13^th June; your donations made of this day will help us to get a matching grant from Global Giving !!!  

Dear Donors & supporters ,

Greetings from IDEA !

We are happy to present a report from the field to update you on the progress of our project. IDEA recently celebrated its 10^th Foundation Day. We organized many programs for the children , parents and teachers during the months of January and February 2012. A brief description of some of the  programs is  given below :

‘  Joy of learning Science’ 

 This year we have selected ‘  Joy of learning Science’  as the theme of our Foundation day celebration.   The objective was  to popularize Science education and  to create awareness & generate interest amongst the school going underprivileged children in science and the role science plays in our everyday life.

1. Science workshop

  Around 40 beneficiary children got a chance to attend a Science workshop. These children have come up with many interesting science projects for display. Two interns – Aakash & Suchitra from a famous Business school in Mumbai guided the children in making and presenting the projects they have made. Many volunteers were also actively involved in helping the children in the Science projects.

 Children got an opportunity to display the project they have made and explain it to people during our foundation day event. This gave wider exposure to these marginalized children.

2. Multi –media presentation & talk on Science.

We organized interactive sessions for children with three eminent scientists -  Dr. Prakash Tupe , Dr. A.A. Natu ( IISER,Pune) & Dr. Mukund Deshpande ( NCL, Pune)  on 5^th Feb 2012.

Around 70  beneficiary  children attended the program . Dr. A.A. Natu  spoke to children on the influence of nature on discoveries and inventions. Dr. Mukund Deshpande gave a very informative session on ‘Microorganisms-Friends & Foes’. Dr. Prakash Tupe- another well known Scientist held a session on astronomy-‘ A Trip to the universe’ .

 These sessions were supported by Powerpoint presentation & video clips and were very interesting . It  was a first time experience for  the  underprivileged  children to learn from such experts and to interact with them .

An interactive session for parents & teachers.

 As part of our education program for the parents as well as teachers, we have organized a talk from Dr. H. V. Sardesai a well known medical practitioner and orator on their role in the overall development of the child on 11^th Feb. 2012. He said all children are capable of attaining highest position in life as they have the potential .  But parents & teachers have to play a important role in exposing the hidden talents in children. The child should feel interested & happy to do things. For this a good physical & mental  health is  important. He gave excellent tips to the parents and teachers on how to engage a child to be interested in creative work and utilize his / her full potential.

The curiosity & confidence of the child should be developed by answering the child’s queries. The emotional development and its management should be done skillfully to make the child a good balanced person in today’s world.

The talk was followed by a question and answer session . The main focus was how to use science and technology for the positive development of children.   

 Celebration  time for young mothers !

We organize programs and activities for parents, especially young mothers to get them involved in the developmental programs we organize for children.

Recently , we have organized a fun filled day for young mothers to celebrate a  traditional custom – “Haldi Kumkum”   on   the occasion of  Makar Sankranti festival.  Haldi Kumkum ceremony  serves as  a platform for  women to meet  and  wish each other for a blissful married life by applying Haldi ( turmeric) &  Kumkum ( a red  coloured powder))  on each other’s forehead.

We used this platform to give an opportunity for the poor mothers who are working as maid servants, rag pickers & casual laborers  to participate in some fun games. Around 45 ladies came together &  spent a few hours of relaxation. They got opportunity to play different games. They enjoyed & had spirit to win. The winners were given prizes.

Once again we wish to convey our sincere thanks to you all for your generous donation to this project. We request for your continued support .