Give Children Wings to their Dreams

We have some fantastic news to start the New Year!!

In November last year, “The Re-image Learning Challenge” was floated by The LEGO Foundation and Ashoka with the aim of transforming the way the world learns. Innovators, educators, academics, and many others from 63 countries submitted more than 630 of the most innovative, impactful and sustainable learning projects to “The Re-imagine Learning Challenge". We are proud to announce that out of all of them, Dream a Dream was chosen as 1 of 10 champions with the most innovative, impactful and sustainable projects aimed at transforming the way the world learns. 

Upon receiving the award, at the LEGO Idea Conference in Billund, Co-Founder & CEO Vishal Talreja said, “Dream a Dream is deeply honoured by the LEGO Foundation and Ashoka’s recognition. The award stands as a testimony to the work we believe in—infusing play into learning experiences for young people and teachers, and thereby developing critical life skills to help young people navigate life’s many challenges.”

Lego Foundation recently made two videos around the championship and you can view them on the links below.

For us the award is a validation of the many stories, like Keerthi's, who overcome the challenges that life throws at them and reach for the stars. 

Keerthi is 18 years old. He has two sisters. His father works as a security guard and mother works in a garment factory. Inspite of coming from a vulnerable background, Keerthi felt that he had the potential to reach greater heights.  He was a bundle of talent, albeit without a platform to express it.  This is when he got introduced to our Career Connect Program.   After the program, he could see a measureable change in his life.

“Previously, I used to have a carefree attitude to life. I lacked commitment, focus and a sense of responsibility towards my own future. I always believed that I am intelligent, talented and good at studies, but I did not realize the importance of hard work, commitment or discipline in life that one ought to have to become successful.  I also learnt that it is important to take initiatives and come out of one’s comfort zone in order to realize one’s potential,” reminisces Keerthi.

Life skills sessions at Career Connect played a pivotal role in his transformation. With a beaming smile, he says, “Life skills sessions were an eye opener to me. The facilitators are caring and compassionate. Through these sessions, they help us to reflect on ourselves and this combined with peer learning also provided me the ideal atmosphere to introspect and accelerate my personal growth.”

Keerthi was able to take up a job as a trainee with distinguished retail outlets like KFC, Café Coffee Day and Westside with the placement support provided by Career Connect program. This was a paradigm shift in his career. He explains, “Before I joined Career Connect, I used to work part time as a construction worker. It was an extremely laborious job. After I joined Career Connect, I was able to use my social skills to interact with customers at KFC, CCD, and Westside which boosted my morale and increased my self-esteem.”

Keerthi, today, displays immense confidence, and recently hosted the international “Change The Script” conference held by Dream A Dream. He was hugely appreciated for his communication skills. Now, through Dream A Dream, he is short-listed for a one year exchange program sponsored by the US Consulate. His story has inspired all of us.

 There are many young people like Keerthi, who are dreaming big and are waiting for opportunities to turn their dreams into reality. It is Dream A Dream’s prerogative and a pledge to support them to the fullest. However, we cannot do it without your support. Any contribution, whether it’s USD 5, USD 250 or USD 2500 will go directly to support these bright and talented young people. By making a small contribution, you can make a big difference in their lives.

Links:

• Video about Dream A Dream made by LEGO Foundation and Ashoka
• 10 Champions in the world Re-Imagining Learning through Play

Dear Donors,

Wishing you an Inspiring 2015! With troubling events dominating the news and the national conversation, it's easy to feel powerless and cynical these days. However, there are 30,000 reasons to also feel optimistic. One of them being Padma.

Padma was introduced to Dream A Dream through a computer skills programme we were conducting in the Round Table School. She was in the 8^th grade and came across as a very quiet girl, with little confidence and unable to interact with others. She was part of various Dream A Dream programmes through the schooling years, struggling through her low self-esteem, but always been a diligent participant. At Dream A Dream, we believe, when a young person turns up week-on-week for a programme, they are showcasing their commitment and we value, validate and celebrate that.

Padma pursued her Pre-University education after completing her schooling and became a participant at the Dream Connect Center run by Dream A Dream close to her home. She dropped out of education after her 1^st year of Pre-university education. Academics did not interest her and she was struggling to cope with the stress. Her family pressurized her to continue education and admitted her to a government run Industrial Training Institute (ITI) for vocational training. She dropped out of it in 2 months.

Padma’s interest was fuelled again when we introduced an opportunity to pursue a year-long dance scholarship programme with Lourd Vijay Dance School (LVDS). Being a passionate dancer, she decided to apply. She didn’t believe that she would get through it, she kept saying, “I’m bad at it, and I think I’ll just try. I think there are so many people who dance better than me; I think they’ll get it, not really me.”

Padma was elated with happiness when she was selected for the programme. This was the breakthrough in life she was looking for and she had got it. She said, “After dropping out of ITI, I was back to square one – sitting at home, doing household work and nothing else. I am sick of sitting at home. I felt hopeless but right now, I feel like I’m in a new world.” 

The next challenge to Padma was to convince her mother to let her be on the program. It’s a good thing that young people make their choice, but if their parents’ support is not there, it’s difficult to proceed.

Padma’s mother was disappointed that Padma didn’t continue her education and ITI.  Her dropping out caused a lot of financial loss to her family because they paid a huge amount for the course fees. Padma’s mother blamed her daughter for their woes but ultimately said, “At the end of the day, it’s her choice. It’s awesome that she has you; she has Dream Connect and other people to support, which she is not utilizing. I don’t think anyone would get this opportunity.”

Padma’s eyes opened widely and she dropped her jaw in excitement and happiness upon hearing her mother saying it’s her choice. I think that’s something that surprised her. She says, “I didn’t realize all this while that my mother was letting me make my own choice.”

Padma transformed when she found her dream for life. She would eagerly share about her experiences at LVDS, share stories from her days with excitement and confidence and express her joy abundantly.   She would confidently interact with other young people from diverse backgrounds and had found her self-esteem.

Recently she was invited to be a guest speaker at an Alumni Meet at Dream A Dream. Padma stood in front of 60 young adults, volunteers and guests and shared her story with confidence inspiring other young people to pursue their dreams. She had truly become a changemaker.

‘I have learnt so many things from Dream a Dream.  I have got an opportunity in LVDS. This is the wonderful opportunity in my life. This is the most useful platform. It allows me to show my capacity or my talents with others and I am enjoying the classes. I want to become a professional dancer in future. I am really putting my full of full efforts into the dance and great opportunity in my life. Thanks a lot to Dream A Dream and L. V. D. S. Thank you so much for giving the opportunity to me.’

Today, Padma has successfully completed her course and was immediately hired by LVDS as a dance teacher in one of their school-based programmes. She is teaching dance and life skills for children from difficult backgrounds. She is confident, proud and living her dream.

In the ups and downs of young people, supportive adults standing rock solid with empathy and trust that young people have the abilities and capabilities to make their own life choices and have the grit to deal with the implications of those choices, is critical. Celebrating the fact that young people are turning up, not giving up, giving them the space to come into their own, trusting their choices have been key to Dream A Dream’s approach to transforming lives.

Young people like Padma are Changing the Script of their lives and will shape our world with empathy, resilience and a love for life. They are our hope. In their stories, Dream A Dream has found the strength to dream of a different future.  Dream A Dream is proud to invest in thousands of Padma’s and walk the journey of transformation with them. But our ability to do so, year after year, also depends on you, our community of friends and partners. 

Let’s celebrate young people who will give us a better, more hopeful future. Please consider continuing to support us so we give wings to their dreams. Any contribution, whether it's USD 5, USD 250 or USD 2500 will go directly to support these amazing young people. Together, we can build a brighter future. 

Thank you and visit us at www.dreamadream.org

Links:

• International Conference on Life Skills