By Anubha Sharma | Founder
Dear donor,
While you were whole-heartedly supporting our cause in September, our children were finding their own ways to give back to society as part of the week-long “Daan Utsav” or “The Joy of Giving” celebrations that take place across India each year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.We have been participating in DaanUtsav for many years now, and while our children do a lot of work around their homes, we use this opportunity to make them commit to community-focused acts of giving. We find generosity comes naturally to children, and acts of giving go a long way in building their self esteem, teaching respect, and gratitude. It also takes away the need to snatch and grab – some of the habits they pick up from their surroundings.
This year DaanUtsav was more special for us because it was a pre-cursor to the launch of the “SEL” program through which we now formally integrate value & life skills education into our curriculum. It formalizes what has been the AXF philosophy since inception – education goes deeper than just numeracy or literacy skills, to the core of a child’s development and that the AXF intervention should create responsible, sensitive citizens. It is so important to cultivate an ‘attitude of gratitude’ right at the outset so that children grow up to be grateful adults. Moreover, it is important to give back in whatever way we can, for, it is in giving that we receive!
So, enjoy a few heartwarming stories of giving from this year’s DaanUtsav at AXF!
AXF Versova kicked off the celebrations by hanging bird feeders from tress in the park where classes are conducted. After all, birds and animals deserve compassion too! Next, they planted saplings of fruit trees such as Mango, and Papaya in the park. We hope that these plants will grow along with the center and provide us with a beautiful green cover. Environment sensitization came next, with the children collecting plastic from their neighborhood to hand over to the municipal authorities for recycling. Day 4 was the turn for some of the garden staff to receive love. The watchman of the park that houses this learning center has generously lent us space in his tiny cabin to store our books and chalkboards. Over the last year, we have taken up more than half the cabin space. As a gesture of gratitude, the kids beautified his cottage, painting a mural on the walls.
The week long celebrations culminated with AXF Versova joining hands with Afroz Shah, the 2016 “Champion of the Earth” winner, and 1,500 other volunteers to help clean Versova beach. Most of the children at this centre are part of the fishing community and living in villages at Versova and Madh, and are the first to be affected by polluted beaches and the sea. This was a brillant opportunity to sensitize them to the impact of coastal pollution and what part they can play in stopping it. And the rewards were gratifying as turtles returned to lay eggs on this beach after decades!! Despite the filth and sweltering heat, it was heartwarming to see the eagerness and enthusiasm of the kids and volunteers alike. They embodied the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
At AXF Goregaon, children made eye-catching cards expressing their deepest gratitude to their parents, teachers, garden staff, and every single person involved with AXF. They also made jam sandwiches to distribute to the garden staff. The joy of giving and receiving was palpable!
Children from our Santacruz centre went to the SEC school catering to students with disabilities & handicaps. The interaction included singing & dancing, and craft activities, with each AXF student mentoring a student from SEC to make some very creative newspaper crafts. The day ended with an exchange of gifts and some yummy snacks. The kids learned a very valuable lesson – it is not how much we give, but how much love we’re putting into giving that counts. Children also thanked traffic policemen for their hard work and contribution towards a better & safer society by making them cards and serving them snacks. AXF Juhu took 8 kids to the NGO “Acess Life” where our children spent an afternoon with children undergoing treatment for cancer. They entertained the children as well as their parents, taught them origami, and made sandwiches for them too! The interaction left such a lasting impression that this centre has decided to make these visits a monthly tradition!
AXF Andheri celebrated the Joy of Giving by inviting senior citizens to enjoy a fun-filled morning with them at the park. The kids organized a little event and some snacks and the interactions between the two were heartwarming.
We hope that these seemingly ordinary acts of compassion will become a way of life for our children who will experience the extraordinary power and joy of giving.
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