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 The Joy Of Giving Week - 27th - 3rd Oct '09
The Joy of Giving Week is nearing its culmination, with school students winding up their documentation on how they – SAW – FELT – PLANNED – DID and will now SHARE their journey of the JOY of Giving Week – in making a difference in the lives of those who need compassion, help, items, time, etc.
At St Kabir School Vadodara, the JGW week commenced on 24th with students brainstorming on what it was that was bothering them in what they saw around them life – they sought to touch upon that one or those two / three things that made them actually wince, when they thought about it and till date had felt helpless to do anything about it.
They SAW the condition of the street dwellers and the inadequacy of the residents of the Shram Mandir and Mother Teresa’s home. They FELT that with concentrated efforts, they can do something to touch these lives in a special way. The team chose a slogan for their efforts – Reaching the Unreachable. The timing was perfect for them as they connected it even further to say – “We will Reach the Unreachable and give them a memorable Diwali!”
The core team then PLANNED on how they would muster up the resources required to make this change. They approached another team of students who helped organize activities that would not just blatantly and outright ask for donations – rather, they wanted to give something of their time, talent and creativity to earn the money that they would then use for their noble cause.
The various groups then DID the planning – they performed nukkad nataks in various street corners, public gardens over 26th & 27th September. Through this and their communication with the citizens, they managed to inspire people to be a part of their movement and teh contribution in cash and kind was commendable. They collected close to Rs. 15,000/- through their nukkad natak performances and roughly 10 -15 cartons of clothes, books and toys, basic supplies, which the citizens then dropped off at the school premises. Over 28th & 29th October, the students then sorted all of these into age & purpose-appropriate boxes for distribution.
They went to the Mother Teresa's home on 30th October, where they have provided supplies of Dettol, ceiling fans, clothes, meal servings, etc. The children spent nearly 6 hrs in this home with the Nuns and children - they were brought to tears to see a 2 day old baby abandoned in the crib outside the home. The reality of actually seeing a child being abandoned by its parents was very overwhelming for them. The answers to “What will happen to it now?” was an eye opener for them – as they reflected on the secure, cushy lives they led in their own homes.
Thereafter, on 1st October, they went to the street and hutment dwellers of the Akota area and behind Nisarg Apts near Diwalipura. Here they were able to distribute many more clothes and toys and understand what else the people needed. The future requirement for the Nisarg homes is a water tank and that of the Akota people is Help with procuring Ration Cards for their monthly basic supplies (which will be taken up from term 2, as the children wish to continue the joy of giving movement as a continuing Community Outreach Programme with many more students).
They have also approached the Shram Mandir (the home for the Leprosy affected people), where they thought they could provide a sewing machine for the healed patients to be economically productive to the home. However, on deeper discussion with the person in charge of the place, they realised that the Shram Mandir badly needs a Cow! To cater to the daily milk requirements of the children and the aged. That completely shocked them out of their minds - they had never thought people could have such needs!!! The reaction on their faces was hilarious! So,.....as part of the culmination of the DO part of this joy of giving week, they will be doing a 'Gow Daan' for the Shram Mandir children.
The kids are in the process of compiling the final documentation of this amazing week, for the Design for Giving Contest - which they will now SHARE with the rest of the world, by the 12th of October. As mentors and observers, the teachers can see a perceptible change in the outlook of these select children. Given the fire in them to continue with this activity as a regular outreach programme, we can see a refreshing change in Kabirites who will truly be whole, sensitized, concerned and active participants in the community they live in.
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