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The Newsletter |April 2015
RITINJALI NEWSLETTER
April 2015
The Newsletter |April 2015
Learning Centre at Pioneer ParkThe children attended their classes regularly and with great enthusiasm. The attendance thismonth was a 100%. Lessons in English, Math, and Hindi were conducted for children at eachlearning level: A, B, and C. In Math, the teachers guided children through numerous conceptssuch as biggest and smallest numbers, ascending and descending orders, tables (2-12), shapes,and line segment. Hindi lessons saw children learning Swar and Vyanjan, Matra, picturedescription, pronunciation, and gender. In English, the children learnt sight and action words,animal names, fruit names, and picture identification.
Various group activities enlivened learning in the classrooms as well as outside it. Childrenparticipated in the Blind Trust game where they queued up and were blindfolded. The laststudent in the line was the only one who could see and led the team ahead by way of messages.Students also made greeting cards and gifted them to their friends.
The Newsletter |April 2015
An activity was also conducted to introduce different sense organs: Taste, Touch, Smell, Sight,and Sound. The materials used ranged from condiments such as salt and sugar to vegetables,chili etc. To test smells, teachers used flowers, perfumes and some foods too. For hearing aids, awhistle, clap and a bell were used. All students were blindfolded and the sense organ activitywas undertaken where teachers explained how the messages are sent from different organs tothe brain.
Shapes and colour activity: Students drew discernible sketches using only shapes such assquare, circle, rectangle etc. Primary colours were used and children were instructed on how touse which colour.
Besides the activities, Ms Anupama visited the centre four times this month and narrated storiesto children. She also inquired about their studies and how they handle homework. Students alsoliked the activities conducted by Ms Sumati.
Learning Centre at Dalil EktaApproximately 45 students attended classes regularly at the centre. Students learnt how to writethe name of their centre. They also learnt how to make a model from paper and cardboard andthen decorate it. Several models were made by students.
Colours unit: Students learnt the different colours and how to spell the same. They enjoyeddrawing and colouring different fruits/vegetables.
Shapes: Students learnt different shapes and how to draw using shapes such as square, triangle,rectangle, circle and cone.
Students were exposed to new stories and poems were recited to them. The story ‘PanchParmeshwer’ was narrated to students and the moral of the story was explained.
Apoorva from the Ritinjali team dropped by and taught students English throughout the month.He taught alphabets, simple words and shapes. Twice a week, students went to Vasant ValleySchool to learn computers and play games.
Learning Centre at Kusumpur PahariThe month of April saw a lot of repair and maintenance work at the centre. The roof wasrepaired and a toilet is also being made next to the centre. The repair work is over and now thecentre is fully operational. Ongoing admissions continued this month where 13 new students
The Newsletter |April 2015
joined in level 1 and 6 students inlevel 2.
April 11 saw an ImmunizationDrive held at the centre wheredoctors from the Max Hospitaladministered vaccines to students.Ritinjali staff and volunteers fromKPMG were around to help out byrecording heights and weights ofthe children, keeping children calmand relaxed, and ensuring thateach child was vaccinated. Thedrive saw a good turnout andapproximately 110 children werevaccinated.
Our volunteer, Patrick is regular with his visits to the centre and the students enjoy art classeswith him. He also helps out with English and Mathematics.
Learning Centre at Nathupur PahariClasses were conducted regularly at the Nathupur Pahari centre this month. Students atdifferent levels were taught various concepts in Hindi, English, and Math. In Hindi, they learntnew words with the use of pictures and recited poetry. The children learnt how to identifywords written on the blackboard and practiced writing them in their notebooks or slates.English classes saw children learning names of days, reciting poetry, and tracing/writing lettersof the alphabet. In Math, the students learnt counting, number recognition, and read numbersaloud.
Students used colours and learnt how to draw, identify, and colour shapes. They enjoyedplaying indoor games such as pass pass and clap clap. Stories based on animal characters, moralsand friendship were read to the children. They also practiced yoga and music regularly withKim and Lun, teachers from Pallavan.
The Newsletter |April 2015
Children in the middle of warm up during dance class at Nathupur Pahari
Second Chance SchoolThe Learning Programme for the boys at the Second Chance School (SCS) is entering its nextphase where the group is being exposed to simulated life and work environment. Focus onpractical aspects of most learning areas was key to this month’s lesson plan and classroomlearning. This worked very well with the students as most of them are more comfortable with aKinesthetic learning style. Some of the major sessions organised this month were:
- Life Lessons with Ms. Avanti (owner, Sweet Nothings Bakery)
- Invite-based external audiences to display/practice spoken English Skills
- Practical session on Ironing Skills
- Practical session on Dining etiquettes
This month we welcomed two new students Ikhlaq and Nizam to the programme. To help themsettle in, the older students naturally assumed the role of mentors. They shared their experiences
The Newsletter |April 2015
about the programme, hostel life, future aspirations and learnings so far. The group relayed theirpersonal journey on how in the beginning, they were equally worried and nervous and howthey have gained comfort and confidence over the months. Help and support from the faculty,their seniors, other students and their peers have worked to change their perspective and helpedthem prepare to face the future confidently.
We have also begun the process of getting students ready for their internship placements andexplored various options available for their training through our corporate network. The intentis to expose the students to as many options available that will help create various career optionsfor them and provide clarity about the future.
With the objective of working towards this direction, we invited Ms. Avanti who is the owner ofSweet Nothings bakery to give insights about her work in the bakery line to the boys. They had
a very positive interaction with her. It wasa great session where she shared withthem her journey of experiences: how shestarted, her struggles, and how self-determination and motivation helped herreach the milestone where she is now.This turned out to be a very motivatingsession which made the boys introspectand make realistic plans for the future.
All students were informed about thissession in advance and were asked toprepare questions/raise doubts with herdirectly during the session. The studentexcitement was very clear. They were
ready with a list of relevant questions and also with the study they had done on the subjectmatter. Feedback from the boys on their takeaways from the session is listed below:
“Do things that you are interested in, that give you happiness. Follow your heart and keep learning.”
“Be honest, work with a positive attitude and work hard.”
“I learnt quite a lot from her, no work is big or small and we have to keep learning.”
The Newsletter |April 2015
A day out in Delhi for the boys at SCS, along with our volunteer Patrick
Vocational CentresKusumpur Pahari Centre – Cutting and Tailoring
There are 8 students who take the cutting and tailoring course in the centre. Some studentsnamely Sonia, Kiran and Manisha have started work at home. They earn Rs.5000 to 6000 permonth. Whitewash has been completed at the centre and the construction of a toilet is underway.The teacher interacts with the community weekly and mobilises families to send their childrento the centre.
Mahipalpur Centre – Computers
There are 14 students in total at the computer centre. 8 new systems have been installed whichwill provide current students greater incentive to learn and help bring new students.
The Newsletter |April 2015
Mahipalpur Centre – Cutting and Tailoring
Students at our Cutting and Tailoring centre in Mahipalpur prepared for their NIOS vocationalexaminations for the May-June session. Both teachers and students are excited about theinstallation of 4 new Fashion Maker machines at the centre. They are all set to tinker with thenew machines and create new products! The centre also welcomed 3 students to the newcourse.
Rehabilitation for the Earthquake victims inNepal
On 25 April 2015, a massive earthquake of 7.9-magnitude struck Nepal and forever changed thelives of about 8 million people, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. Relief agencies havebeen extremely prompt to provide tents and tarpaulin shelters as an interim measure to thepeople.
However, such makeshift tents and plastic covers are an emergency reaction but are not reliableor practical as a short-term or medium-term solution. There is a grave need for semi-permanentsafe shelters for the survivors till the country is ready to re-build again. By June, the monsoonswill begin, followed by the bitter winters of the Himalayas. Hence, it is critical thatsuitable transitional housing be developed immediately to protect people.
The Newsletter |April 2015
In the wake of this terrible tragedy, Ritinjali has joined hands with multiple organisationstowards relief and rehabilitation through the Save My Nepal campaign. Our attempts are toraise enough funds to be able to step in once key disaster relief is done and it is time forRehabilitation and Reconstruction.
A home away from home
While the campaign’s medium to long-term vision is to build Model Villages, this will however,take at least a year to get off the ground Hence, the Save My Nepal Campaign focuses onproviding a shelter which uses sustainable materials to offer excellent safety from all theelements of nature. The Portal Shelter is the ideal solution for transitional housing and is bestsuited for protection against rains, winds, winter, and other elements in the given circumstances.Such shelters will serve as an interim solution most effectively, have been tested to be extremelyeffective in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and can be deployed in Nepal within days.
Advantages of a Portal Shelter over regular tents:
Very low cost at Rs. 7500 per home
Uses locally sourced materials. It is affordable
Quick to construct (4 people can build one a day)
Installation is simple. The people will be trained to build the shelters themselves
Shelters will function as homes, temporary schools, medical centres, community kitchens
and sanitation facilities.
Entire structure can be disassembled. The same materials can be re-used when
constructing permanent homes at a later stage.
The Newsletter |April 2015
At Ritinjali we are doing our best, but we can do better with your help. Ritinjali is alwayslooking for helping hands to create a world where everybody gets equal opportunities. If youwould like to pay us a visit or volunteer with us, please contact:
Arun Kapur: [email protected] Khanna: [email protected]
Dilreen Kaur: [email protected]: [email protected]
Esha Singh: [email protected] Sangma: [email protected]
Kavita Trehan: [email protected] Siddiqui: [email protected]
Ritinjali welcomes contributions and volunteers for its cause. All donations will be exempt fromIncome tax u/s 80G.
