By Tali Datskovsky | Project Leader
Note from Director - Shubham Garg
I hope this report fiinds you well and a very happy new year. 2019 is off to a strong start at Gramin Shiksha Kendra. It is thanks to your support that we are officially a GlobalGiving partner and working hard to provide the 400-plus students at GSK Uday Community Schools with an engaging, quality education. We'd like to share with you a few updates and photos from the last couple of months so you can see the impact your donation has made. Read on to learn about teacher workshops, sports competitions, after-school cooking clubs, and more.
We're grateful to have you as part of our community and we hope to see you on campus soon!
Warm regards,
Shubham Garg
Teacher Workshops
While our students were on winter vacation, the GSK teachers were engaged in workshops. At GSK, we believe that learning is continuous and that everyone--children and adults--learn best through activity. This approach is reflected in our teacher workshops which included book review sessions, discussions on learning active approaches, and a fantastic science exhibit on the topic "light" built by science teachers. We wrapped up the 14 days of workshops with an exposure visit to the NGO Barefoot College at Tiloniya where the entire GSK faculty and staff learned about and discussed local culture, solar electrification, carpentry, and puppetry and even made an appearance Barefoot College's local radio programme.
News from the (Sports) Field -- Laali from Grade 8 Plays in Nationals
In January, Laali, a Grade 8 student from Uday Community School - Jaganpura competed as a member of the Rajasthan state team for national levels in Handball. GSK staff member, Ekta Dhankher writes:
"Laali, studying in Uday Samudayik Paathshala, cannot imagine a day in her life when the ball in her hand don’t burst out as goals. Her magnetic smile, powerful voice and the way she presents herself will recreate your day.
Since many months, hopping from inter-school level to state level and now at Nationals in Handball, she mesmerised everyone with her performance. In a recent game, with the state, Jammu and Kashmir, Laali did 3 goals in a row. Like our other ardent players going forward, Laali started the affirmation of keeping the game strong."
Makar Sakranti - The Harvest Festival and a Time for Kites
In honour of Makar Sakranti, the harvest festival marking the arrival of spring, the children of Uday schools created their own kites and flew them. It is customary to fly kites during Makar Sakranti and this was an opportunity for children to celebrate their environment and culture, filling up the sky with kites, while also learning why and how kites fly.
A Cooking Club with a Big Impact
At Uday Community School - Fariya science teacher Tarun Sharma decided to address the challenge of children's addiction to tobacco and betel nut with the innovative idea of a cooking club. Together, the students and teachers learn the art and science of cooking and food preparation. So far the children have made Khaman, Bhel Puri, and Kheech. The children have become interested in healthy food practices and have started saving the money they usually spend on tobacco and betel nut to use instead for cooking club. 70% of the club members are boys--challenging gender expectations in the kitchen. Hats off to the children and teachers of Uday Community School - Fariya.
Learning from Experiences
At Uday Community School - Girirajpura , teacher Sapna Rajawat took the school children for a visit to the mustard fields, a newly formed pond, and a bus stop. The children explored the area and discussed what they were able to touch, smell and feel. Learning is a life-long experience, one that doesn't just happen in the classroom but in our natural environments, as well. Trips like these encourage children's natural curiousity and ensure that education is fun.
The New Academic Session is Fast Approaching - Please Support Us for the Next Year
It seems like the 2018-2019 academic session just started yesterday--but we are now almost two-thirds of the way through the school year and already preparing for our next academic session. Please consider making a donation to support us and ensure the continued education of Gramin Shiksha Kendra students.
Just $30 a month educates a child.
Thank you as always for your support and encouragement. We feel very lucky to have you as part of our community.
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