The utterfly Effect - The Akanksha Foundation

The utterfly Effect
The Service Learning Program Newsletter
What’s Butterfly Effect?
It is said that a single butterfly, by flapping its
wings, creates a ripple which has a long lasting
and widespread effect. The SLP students are
those butterflies who live the mission of
becoming empowered individuals, who are able
to identify and understand social issues, embrace
active citizenship, and are ‘happy’ doing it. And
while they are at it, some new stories are
written. This newsletter celebrates the journey of
these butterflies, and many more who will join in
the coming years.
Issue III - Jul, 2013
Niswarth 2013 @ Akanksha
Students from
Philips Academy,
Andover, USA
worked with SLP
students for a week
around “Community
and Education”. It
involved exploring each other’s lives, public schooling
in India and broader ideas around education and
equity for a better world.
The Story of Service Learning
2004
Extended to other
organizations, NGOs
and institutions
Social Leadership
Program started for the
Akanksha alumni with a
batch of 11 students
2008
SLP-Junior
After a year-long effort to understand how best
SLP can be brought into Akanksha schools, the
pilot project at Shindewadi Mumbai Public
School, Mumbai is scheduled for an August
launch. The first cohort of SLP-Junior will
comprise 7th and 8th grade students, not only
from Akanksha’s school but also Marathi and
Gujarati medium schools housed in the same
premises.
Apart from addressing the core student
outcomes aligned with CLASS framework, the
program in schools will also address:
1) Enhancing relationship with other medium
schools in the same premise
2) Better community engagement (through
community projects undertaken by the students)
2012
Panelists from various social and economic background
shared their experiences with education in Mumbai
Program
restructured and
renamed as Service
Learning Program
Today…
• 55% of SLP alumni, work in the development
sector in various capacities.
• there has been a 82% increase from last year in
the no. of applications received.
• SLP alumni were invited by Asia Society to
speak at a forum with eminent panelists such as
Rahul Bose and Nalini Malini.
• several workshops have been conducted for
teachers and staff for holistic service integration.
• the 9th batch for SLP started with 26 students.
Towards a culture of Service
SLP Alumni Network
Other Schools/ Colleges
Social Media groups to share job
opportunities updates from the
program, hold discussions
SLP Alumni Meet 2013
Parents as partners
Through the year, SLP team visited the students’
communities and ensured that parents remain
engaged with our work and were periodically
updated. A mid-year parents meeting was
organized to discuss the progress, concerns and
expectations of the parents. A three-way
conversation was facilitated between students,
parents and teachers.
Integrating
the idea of service and
an equitable society in
Akanksha’s philosophy of
education so that it becomes
a way of life for all
stakeholders at
Akanksha.
Teacher development and support
• “Life in the Pie: How Identity affects
classroom dynamics?”, a workshop, was
conducted at Ed Talks, the annual
education convention for
school
teachers.
• CLASS outcomes were discussed
through “Mirrors in the class” session
with Mumbai center teachers.
• Session on service integration was
facilitated for center teachers in Pune.
SLP team is assisting the teachers on
service ideas around the Curriculum on
Films and Human Rights this year.
• Lesson planning and curriculum
support continues for center teachers in
both cities.
• SLP was presented to students of Bombay
Scottish school, Mumbai.
• Partnered with Kranti, an NGO working with
children of sex workers, for several joint projects
• A workshop on “30 Days to social change” was
conducted for Wilson College students.
Other initiatives
• Open discussion forums around values and
service with Ms. Rajshree Doshi, School Coach.
• Sessions around Nai Talim, Gandhi’s approach
to education, with staff and center teachers to
discuss a new perspective on education.
• Identity workshop with all the Mentors for
better engagement with Akanksha students.
… in journey of service!
IMAGINE: Wonder, Reason and Research
DO: Summer Internships
As SLP-8 students finished year one, they spent time
researching upon issues they felt strongly about.
Through debates and conversations, they explored
their reasons to select one issue they would like to
work on. They further engaged in conducting surveys
and online research, and reading to enhance the
quality of their project.
This year, students focused on a diverse set of themes for their internship:
Public Concern for Governance Trust, Mumbai | Right to Information
Pratham Council for Vulnerable Children, Mumbai | Child Labour
The Akanksha Foundation, Mumbai | Education and Life
Pranali Patil and
Neha Sahani
SNEHA, Mumbai | Women Empowerment
Vinay researching his theme
The Mumbai Service JAM team helped conduct a twoday workshop aimed at orienting students on ‘design
thinking’. This year’s Global Service JAM’s theme
“Grow” was the core premise around which students
brainstormed on social ideas around it, conducted
user research, developed a solution prototype and
presented their ideas through role plays.
Discussing ideas around ‘Grow’
Rahul Goud
Awaaz-e-Niswan, Mumbra | Gender Discrimination
Seema Yadav and
Rutika Avanchite
Humsafar Trust, Mumbai | Sexuality-based discrimination
Nikita Panthayieal
Nikita T, Babloo P,
Pinky F and Shakti N
School Without Walls, Kudal | Nai Talim
LEARN: Service JAM 2013
Solution prototypes
Akash Ahire and
Rehimat Shaikh
Vijay Yadav
Banyan Roots, Udaipur | Community Development
Shanu during a Survey on RTI
Shanu Yadav
Pratham IGNOU Community College, Mumbai | Quality of Education
Akash Gaikwad
Aman Biradari, New Delhi | Education for Street Children
Kunal Jha and
Salman Sayyed
Satpuda Foundation, Amravati | Wildlife
Vinay Gautam
SHARE: In Journey Of Service 2.0
Post internship, students spent
several weeks preparing for
their presentations and shared
their work with an audience
comprising SLP-9 students, the
Akanksha staff, alumni, family
members and friends.
Vandana during her session on Service
SLP-8 students during Q & A round
Participated in Akanksha’s Sports Day and
played with members of Astha Pariwar…
Invited team Arpan…
…to understand Child Sexual Abuse
and how to create awareness around it.
Walked for equality…
…to understand the lives of sex workers
and the gender equation around sports.
Relished musical moments…
…at LBGT pride march
Danced for equality…
Participated in a discussion on Gender…
…at ASIA Society and met
Mr. Rahul Bose, who was one of the panelists.
Invited speakers for a debate…
Our City,
our class
Do we have to confine our learning
within four walls of a classroom? Or can
we use the landscape of the city where
life really ‘happens’?
…at Kabir festival.
Explored Sanjay Gandhi National Park…
…to understand the role this park
plays in the survival of this city.
…on Women’s Day.
Visited FORCE NGO
…to understand how
we manage our waste.
Visited homes..
…to learn urban
planning and lifestyle.
Studied for equality…
…how caste affects
our lives in Mumbai.
What works? Socialism or Capitalism?
Visited Prithvi theatre…
…and met the artists and the staff, before
watching the play, to understand the craft.
For more details/information/feedback, please write to [email protected] or [email protected].