Seeds of Awareness Program

Date of Activity: 29th May, 2024
Date of Report: 31st May, 2024
Reported by: Tenzin Namdol, Intern

Specific Activity: Story telling of the Book “A Saree for Ammi”

Key Result Area/Strategic Objective: To raise awareness among students about the importance of imagination.

Venue & Location: Manjushri Educational Services, Dharamsala

Total Participants/Beneficiaries: 3 students

Resource Persons:

• Dolma Yangkyi, Senior Project Officer
• Tenzin Namdol, Intern

Program Update

1. Introduction to Seeds of Awareness Program

The Seeds of Awareness program is a collaboration between the Active Nonviolence Education Center and Manjushri Educational Services. Our goal is to spread awareness about active nonviolence and gender sensitization among Tibetan children. We aim to create memorable and enjoyable activities while ensuring our primary goal of fostering gender mainstreaming and conflict resolution through nonviolence and peaceful dialogue is achieved.

2. Methodology

Our approach centers on Constructivism and Interactive Learning. This methodology encourages students to take an active role in their learning, fostering responsibility, analytical thinking, and connections with prior knowledge. It also promotes discussion among peers.

Session Outline

• Introduction and Warm-Up:
• • Participants shared their experiences of the day and introduced themselves, establishing a welcoming atmosphere.
• Storytelling:

• • Introduced the book “A Saree for Ammi” by Mamta Nainy and illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat.
  • Provided a brief overview of the story, which follows two sisters as they buy a saree for their Ammi.
  • One student correctly guessed that the sisters belonged to a saree-making family by analyzing the front cover.
• Interactive Discussion:

• • Discussed the family’s relocation from Mysore to Kota for a better life. A student shared his family’s experience of moving from Tenzingang, a Tibetan Settlement in Arunachal Pradesh, India, to Dharamshala due to his father’s job. This allowed the students to connect personally with the story.
  • Students expressed a desire to visit South India, particularly Mysore, to see the Mysore Palace, zoo, and aquarium.
• Thematic Exploration:

1. • Asked students why they thought the author wrote this story. They responded that it was to show respect for our parents, recognize the love of our dear ones, and to respect others.
   • Concluded the session by comparing society to a saree. Just as a saree is made of various colored threads, our society is made of people from different backgrounds. We emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.

3. Lessons Learned and Challenges

• The session highlighted the diversity of our imagination and the importance of respecting others’ points of view.

4. Suggestions for Future Improvement

• When selecting books, ensure that students can connect with the story to enhance engagement and relatability.

5. Potential Success Story

• We successfully achieved our set objectives, fostering a deeper understanding of imagination and respect among the students.