Volunesia Diaries – Value-Based Education Through Art, Fun And Frolic!
Nivethitha Kannan joined us at Volunesia, along with Ram, as part of Talent Quest of India. After their first experience at Volunesia, Ram and Nivethitha said they would help us get together a dedicated team of volunteers to mentor the kids every Saturday. We were very happy to hear that, but what we didn’t know was that they would put their promise into action within a week!
Last Saturday, there were carloads of volunteers present at Brindavan Tent School at 9 in the morning, all eager to start interacting with the kids. Team KYS was elated to see their eagerness and willingness to serve – even on a Saturday morning! The number of volunteers present ensured that we could assign two students to each volunteer for the day, which helped us connect and give individual attention to all our kids.
Nivethitha wrote about her experience at Volunesia and we are so happy to share it with you all. 🙂
Nivethitha Shares:
There is so much to talk about that day!
“What are you currently feeling?” asked Pranita, as we all sat in the Opening Circle, and that is how we kick-started a wonderful day with a lot of happiness. While many were excited, happy and anxious about the day, the number of volunteers that turned up for Volunesia that Saturday was a merry treat for all of us- including the kids!
The agenda for any Volunesia Saturday morning is very simple and straightforward:
- The Opening Circle- Where we get a chance to get to know each other, introduce ourselves, and connect with the team!
- The Popcorn Circle- Where the planned tasks for the day and their execution style is discussed in detail.
- The Closing Circle- Which acts as a stage to voice our feelings, thoughts and feedback at the end of the event.
Teaching Values Through Art
No matter how important the content is, it is always more important to deliver it in a way that it reaches out to the students. The theme for the day was ‘Classroom Practices And Values’, and our method of delivery was through art, which is always intriguing and fun for the kids.
While the elder ones in the batch sat with us to make posters and value boards, the younger bunch not only played Kabaddi but also brought many sheets of paper to life with their painting skills. The students playfully checked out others’ ideas and tried to incorporate them in their artwork as well, beautifully guided by the dedicated volunteers. Their energy levels knew no bounds and it kept increasing as time ticked by.
Knowledge Flowed From All Sides
I once read something, which goes like, “Medicine, law, business, engineering – these are noble pursuits and are necessary to sustain life. But love and kindness are what we live for!” I think all of us decided to feel alive that day than to just sustain, by spreading love and cheer!
These seemingly trivial actions opened up a new dimension and brought in immense peace. The knowledge flowed from all the sides. While the kids learned art, words and value-based ideas from us, they taught us creativity and innovation. The knowledge transfer along with the joy transfer was inevitable in a setup like that!
In between the chaos of the kids trying to find the right colours, sketch pens, paints, palettes, and scissors, I think it was clear to us that the kids were seizing the day and truly so!
Not Just Another Day
While I was helping Mahi and Ammu make the poster, a small drop of paint fell on my coat. Only after I reached home did I realize that they did not just leave a stain there, but a bigger and inerasable stain on my heart, making me feel more colourful than ever!
Filled with colours and joy, I found more reasons for me to thank the kids and Volunesia for this beautiful platform, rather than the other way around.
So, next time your friends ask you to hangout on a Saturday, you can say, “Sure, lets hang out at Volunesia! That place brings out so many colours in and around you.”.
Thank you so much, Nivethitha for putting pen to paper and sharing your experience so beautifully.
Link to album with more pictures!
You can sponsor one child from this school for a year for INR 1400, which includes the basic cost of stationery, books and other materials that will be used throughout the Mentor India course.
Liked reading this? Then you might also like to read Volunesia Diaries – Creating Beautiful Dustbins Out Of Waste Cartons
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