Mail from Giri Kolanupaka: All,
Here are the meeting minutes of the discussion we had today (31 Jan 2010) at Kiran Anumalasetty's house (thanks for the nice hospitality!): Attendees: Sri Hari (AID India), Srinivas (Amma), Umashankar (Amma), Giri (Asha), Mr. and Mrs. Kiran (Asha, School on Wheels), VMRG Suresh Date and Time: 4PM, 31 Jan 2010 Giri explained that what is the group's (interested people/volunteers) expectation in making a learning or activity based center. For this, he proposed an already existing school (Divine School), where ARROW group (Mr. Manikant and co volunteers) help and volunteer. But this school is helping in teaching just as a formal school for pre primary and primary (upto 3rd Std). Can we convert this school to activity based learning center. We can also realize the short comings like not having a play ground, which is most important in such learning center. But we can always look for a near by empty plot or some open space and use it (probably on a rent basis) as the play ground. We also need to make the school administration satisfy with our intention, which also seems to be a difficult task. Giri has already informed Mr. Manikant to take the school administration's opinion on this kind of conversion and we will probably get the feedback soon. We can possibly hire a teacher (or couple of them) who can be trained in Waldorf education system or trained by CFL or Learning Net or any such organizations, who are specialized in such alternative education system. But this still needs almost 100% monitoring efforts from one of us, which may be difficult. We will also need professional who is already in similar field to help us in starting such center. There was one question raised that whether we should think of doing this as a full time activity center for children, just as a regular school or should it be in addition to the children who are already going to regular school? There were two kinds of opinion on this. The disadvantage of doing this in supplementary to the existing school going children, we will steal most of the day time from the children as they would already be going to regular school and we take additional 3 to 4 hours a day, which is not preferred. But the advantage of going for this type is that we can start slowly and then slowly convert the existing completely an activity based learning center eventually after we slowly learn and improve on it. Srinivas and Umashankar talked about the support they give to children in Karmiknagar slum area. Most of them already go to nearby govt school and few to anganwadi. But Amma volunteers take and collect few children to nearby community hall and teach few children there on Saturdays. Most of the children families (60%) are full residents there and rest are migrant labors. We can think of starting a learning center there since it will give some interest to the children and they will definitely be attracted to come such centers as it will be fun activities. Kiran also talked about the school on wheels (mobile school), in which there are two full time teachers, who visit to two slums, one in KPHB, close to JNTU 2nd gate and the other in Yellammabunda (otherside of KPHB). This is actually done by an organization called Creative Learning At Pavement (CLAP). The teachers are normal teachers and use basic material for teaching basic mathematics, languages and rhymes. The volunteers spend some time with appointed teachers and understand the progress during Saturdays. We can probably train these teachers in alternative education methodologies and probably start a learning center in one of these slums. This will be an ideal place for us to think since these children will any way not go to any school if nothing is there. The only issue here is identifying a place to start a learning center here. Srihari suggested we can even consider MVF bridge school run by Ms. Shanta Sinha and they are open for such ideas there. Since it is a bridge school already, such idea may workout better here. This is in Nagole. Srinivas also suggested SIRIA foundation, which is an orphanage located in Vanasthali puram. This is also a residential school where teachers come there and teach. They also have enough playing area and nice trees with open space. But the distance from the city is a concern. There is also another govt school in Yousufguda where a few volunteers already teach there using computers. They are anyway looking for volunteers there to help them. Since the primary school there runs from 8AM to 12PM, we can think of activity center there after lunch there. We could also learn from other alternate teaching methodologies from Butterfly fields (we can get their contact from Dr. Giri or PCR of Asha), Ananda Bharathi (Tarnaka), CFL etc and then try to get as much good things from them as possible. Conclusion: * Start with a part time activity based learning center and eventually move to a full time learning center. * We can start visiting each of these suggestions above and then decide which one will best suit for making such learning center. * We can make a checklist on +ves and -ves in each place and then make the final decision. * Visit School on wheels on Saturday, 6th Feb 2010 2 PM to 4PM at Yellammabunda. Even though Mr. and Mrs. Kiran cannot make it to this, since they already know about this, we can see how good this will be for our purpose. Giri On Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 12:30 PM, sree vas <[email protected]>wrote: > > > Greeting to all, > > Really great and good Idea to provide education in any manner, that to it > is happend in our own management/directions really the satisfaction level is > that we can't explain in words. > > Here srinivas sarvaraju noted some valueble points (I think he has > suggested from his own experience) and/But they are common and which need to > face every where and every time and every stage in life not only regarding > to our activities in any other activities too. > > I didn't read each and every disscussion regarding this. > > In my view the success/failure depend on the level of our wish or > objective. and it might be delayed, due to lack of exposure/some hurdles > like srinivas prasad explained, but not denied. > > So based on on our objective and suggestionsof supporting groups (mostly > similar as the activity is regarding school/education) of varous groups > involving in this we can frame certain policies/plans/activities to be done > through. > > really I am happy that we are going to start a school to provide education > base for needy. > > I may go beyond your requirement as i didn't read everything regarding > this. > > I wish success to all of us to make this noble activity to materialise. > > Thanks, > Srinivas Rao.Kilaru > 9966278111 > 9291516211 > > > > > > > > > On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 1:42 PM, Sreenivasa Prasad Rao (AMMA) Sarvaraju < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Dear Prashanthi, >> >> It is also my dream project to start such a School & home which gives >> education with Values & life skills. It should be like *Anadha Vidyardhi >> Griha* (Saroor Nagar, Kothapet), which inspired me a lot. Even though it >> is only a home for Orphan Students above 10th Class, the way they >> designed their 24 hours is excellent and I definitely say that they will >> learn everything to lead a meaning life. >> >> But when comes to starting & Managing a school by BOSF may be a difficult >> task (not in -ve sense), because every Group has their own set of ideas and >> ways to implement that idea. So if you start a school by all groups then >> everyone wants to implement their own ideas and strategies, if not “ego” may >> hurt. So it will become laboratory/research center. >> >> >> So management may get confused with all these. To manage & co-ordinate >> different mind sets are the one of the hardest job to do… When you want a >> success you need one leader and many followers rather than many leaders and >> few followers. So it is better to start this kind of school by >> one/couple of Groups and other BOSF groups to extend their support for this. >> >> And it is better to start an Activity/Learning Center which will train >> Interested BOSF volunteers regularly and help them to start a centre in the >> needy places like Slums. So we can train more Volunteers in the area of >> serving and teaching/transforming others (and ourselves too). >> >> These are only my thoughts when comes to implementation of your idea, >> which may be wrong in others point of view. So always feel free to revert >> and correct me J >> >> >> >> Love all- Serve all >> >> S.Sreenivasa Prasad Rao >> >> AMMA Social Welfare Association >> >> On Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 11:17 PM, Prasanthi Uppalapati < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Thanks for sharing the article, RK garu. This is really good. Whichever >>> touches the heart is a good work in my opinion. This outburst has that >>> honesty in every word. Specially I liked the slang too. Slang is like music >>> to ears provided it is spoken by people whose expressions are natural. >>> >>> I specially like my Nellore slang when I hear Sri Tikkavarapu Sukumar >>> Reddy. He is also a member of Telugu Bhashodyama Samithi and so he does not >>> use English words at all. He is a man of principles, a very interesting >>> personality. >>> >>> I do not know about children. I too didn't read and may be we can >>> consider contributing these books in the schools where we visit. >>> >>> One thing is very true. A good story haunts you forever. Literature >>> exposes us to different worlds and shows it from particular angle the writer >>> selects. One will become sensitive towards the problems and perhaps that is >>> the reason the writer mentioned that politicians and bureaucrats dare not >>> to drive away the needy or plan to do any harm. >>> >>> I do not get time rather spare time to read books (though I love to) but >>> I do try to read the stories in Sunday specials. Long back there was a story >>> on Bonsai trees in Eenadu Sunday magazine, the protagonist linked Bonsai to >>> the condition of women in our society. I forgot the writer's name but later >>> Perugu Ramakrishna garu told me that it would be Volga only. Similarly a >>> very hilarious story on Olympics and the kind of games that should be >>> introduced so that no one can beat us Indians :) There are around 10 to 15 >>> stories that I remember very well. >>> >>> Even the movies too. There are some movies that make me cry. It is not >>> out of grief or hurt or whatever but it is for touching the heart. Some >>> movies assure us that we are humans and not machines. >>> >>> I would like to quote these lines that I wrote long back: >>> >>> People say there is water in stones >>> I found it true >>> when my eyes shed tears >>> Though the reason that I wrote these lines is different, it applies for >>> my explanation here. We are used to being mechanical (at least I feel so >>> about me) that days just flew. But when I read inspiring or moving stories >>> or a different cinema, I shed tears. The feeling can never be explained but >>> only experienced. I specially like Fiza, Kabul Express, Black and White, >>> Dasvidaniya and Dor. I recommend everyone to watch these movies. They are >>> different and if we can perceive there is a lot that we can learn. >>> >>> I know that I drifted away from the topic but very much moved by the >>> article. >>> >>> -- >>> Thank you. >>> >>> with regards, >>> PRASANTHI. >>> http://groups.google.com/group/birdsofsamefeathers >>> ---- >>> When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to >>> achieve it. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "birdsofsamefeathers" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<birdsofsamefeathers%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/birdsofsamefeathers?hl=en. >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Love all - Serve all >> >> S.Sreenivasa Prasad Rao >> Amma Social Welfare Association >> 9177999263/9000199263 >> >> http://ammasocialwelfareassociation.blogspot.com/ >> http://ammasrinivas4u.blogspot.com/ >> http://groups.google.co.in/group/amma-social-welfare-association >> >> సృష్టిలో తియ్యనైన పదం "అమ్మ" >> నిశ్వార్ధమైన ప్రేమకు రూపం "అమ్మ" >> భావిభారత పౌరులను తీర్చిదిద్దే గురువు "అమ్మ" >> >> The only service to be done for our lower classes is to give them >> education, to develop their lost individuality… They are to be given ideas; >> their eyes are to be opened to what is going on in the world around them.. >> and….they will do the rest - Vivekananda >> > > > > -- > > > Thanks, > > K S R > 9966278111 > P Please Avoid usage of plastic covers, save environment > > > > > -- > > > Thanks, > > K S R > 9966278111 > P Please Avoid usage of plastic covers, save environment > > -- Thank you. with regards, PRASANTHI. http://groups.google.com/group/birdsofsamefeathers ---- When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
