Vikramshila Education Resource Society
- Making quality education a reality for all children
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Newsletter Issue 21
February 2007
From the Editor’s Desk :
Hello Readers !
Warm New Year Greetings from all of us at Vikramshila.
This issue brings with it interesting news about Nabadisha, the
inception of the Mobile Books Library at
Bigha, in Burdhamaan, the innovative training workshop and many more
interesting news. So read on and enjoy…
Please do not forget to forward your feedback. Send a copy to
your friend, to strengthen our drive towards “Quality Education for all”.
Jayshree
(Editor)
Launch of a
The Mobile Children Book Library winded its way through
the paddy fields and lush green grass, jingling its tiny bells to invite
children and their families to enjoy reading colorful attractive children’s
books, at their doorsteps.
Vikramshila launched
the children mobile book library in August last year. This effort of
Vikramshila was to enhance the skills of life and livelihood, and ensured
access to the wide world of knowledge and fun. Since its inception, the mobile
library traveled undauntedly to 52 Villages in 4 Gram Panchayats in a sphere of
10 Kilometers promoting the joy of reading to a population of 2 lakhs .
The librarian is also the mobile van driver and
takes care of the children’s needs of reading books, which are at times fantasy
books, short stories, science fiction or comics, whereas the parents would like
books on eco-agriculture, health, savings, ayurveda or books on festivals. As
the mobile library jingles its way through the villages, it drops books for
readers, and collect them on its return journey.
To further sustain the library and enhance the
number of books, the Saathi Group go the villagers, and visit houses to know
their interest for reading and collect the spare old books from them too.
The
e-news would be incomplete if I do not mention the devotion of Ms. Margaret
Waterworth, whose kind support, love for children, and the ardent determination
to spread literacy in the remote villages of Bengal, was the primary initiator
to this concept and launch of the Mobile Children Books Library in Bigha, in
the district of Burdhamaan,
A workshop with a Difference :
The Pravah Workshop on “Education for Life skills”
Vikramnshila,
organised a 5-day workshop on “Education for Life skills” from 26 –30th
December 2006, which was conducted by Pravah, a
An important part of the workshop
was developing self-awareness and strong insight through the discussions on
“Talking about Yourself”.
The 5 elements were: a) Define Yourself, b) Know Yourself, c) Make Contacts, d) Assert yourself and e) Listen to others. This session touch a chord deep within each of the participants, and created an atmosphere which allowed a mutual exchange of views, opinions and experiences.
On
the last day, during the workshop, all participants participated in a street
play, at
A day full of fun and games for Nabadisha : 7th
Annual Sports
The Body Guard Lines
of the Kolkata Police was buzzing with joy and excitement of 1300 children of
Nabadisha, on 13th January 2007. The 7th Annual Sports of
Nabadisha was organized to share the joy and fun of 14 Centres, spread next to
the Police Stations in almost every corner of Kolkata. The children were
delighted to have Saurav Ganguly, the cricket champion of the Indian Cricket,
as their Chief Guest. The children had a wonderful time playing cricket with
their Hero Saurav and receiving his autograph on the cricket bat. They too
presented bat-full of good wishes to their Hero. Mr. Arun Lal, a former cricketer also added
the galore of joy in the sports. Dignitaries included Commissioner of Police,
Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP), Joint Commissioner of Police and the
senior officers of Kolkata Police.
The
Annual Sports began with a colorful March past of bright and happy children.
The active involvement of the Police force, assisting the children in the race,
being their judges and also distributing prizes, truly brought additional
vigour in the children. Games like
Balloon Hockey, Ambulance race, Duck Walk was held for all the age groups. The
children cheer joyfully whilst receiving Certificates and prizes.
Vikramshila
Diary :
§
A workshop on Multigrade and Multilevel Teaching
Methodology, was conducted in a charismatic rural environment at
§ The Learning Centre had a wonderful picnic for their Special needs children at a resort near Joka. The children enjoyed the games and the long drive, which was far from the city.
§ Nearly 18 Vikramshila staff members along with Reach India Sub-grantee partners, attended the Technology Foundation Training Program organized by the IETS.
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Vikramshila
Education Resource Society
77 Maharaja Tagore
Road, Dhakuria,
Phone: 91-33-2429
9489, 91-33-2429 4759