Not all classrooms have four walls. Today, with practically limitless access to electronic devices and the Internet, it may seem that for students it is enough to open a website that contains information about anything and everything to be satisfied. However, exploring the world with the help of computers is not as effective as taking students out of the classroom and letting them see the real world with their own eyes. The biggest advantage of the outdoor education is that children start to enjoy the process of learning because they not only read about birds in their region, for instance, but can get experience by finding this bird in the forest recognizing its unique singing or discovering its usual location.
We believe that education is the most effective measure for a bigger change and would take us a step closer to achieving the society we aim of.
Beach vendors are having a tough time as their livelihood solely depends upon earnings from tourists. WE have supported some rations and also convinced them to take vaccination, to obey Covid guide line so that we can restart tourism soon.
The evening was filled with waves of fresh breeze tinted with the salty smell of the sea and the golden rays of the setting sun when we reached and gathered at the amphitheatre of Niladree beach to celebrate “Road Safety Month”. We were blessed to have an esteemed panel including Commissioner of Traffic Odisha: Shri Sanjeev Panda, Additional Superintendent of Police Puri, the RTO officer Puri and the head of the bus drivers association, to preside over the session. We had an enthusiastic audience from all sections of the society, including auto rickshaw drivers, ambulance drivers, photographers, and volunteers, to mention a few. The main objective of the session was to instill amongst all a sense of responsibility while being on the road and emphasize the importance of road safety.
The session started with welcome addresses from our panelists and organizers which were followed by an interactive quiz conducted by our young volunteers to add an element of fun learning.
After the quiz, the lead coordinator of youth for sustainability, Mr. Punyasloka Panda spoke to the gathering about sustainable transport and emphasized on the importance of individual effort to bring about a change.
Then Avi Mishra, crowned as “iron man” shared his experiences on road safety and the motivated the audience for a behavioral change which is a must for safe roads.
But that was not all; we then felicitated 50 real heroes-frontline ambulance drivers who risked their own lives admist this pandemic to ensure the safety of the patients.
Then there was a pledge ceremony to carry forward the learning of the session and act responsibly on the roads to ensure safety of one and all.
Our talented dancers and musicians amped up the ambience of the beautiful evening by the sea side. The session ended by a vote of thanks by the RTO.
Overall, the event was a huge success and we do think that our motive was fulfilled. We look forward to adding more droplets into this vast ocean.
Puri is the hometown of Lord Jagannath and the heart of rich cultural heritage of Odisha. Because of its glorious culture and spectacular beaches, Puri is a major tourist attraction.
We initiated a program called “Know Your City” in association with the Puri District Administration in order to educate the young minds of puri about the extensive natural and cultural treasures that their town holds, and motivate them to protect and preserve their natural and cultural heritage. We take a group of students on a half day cycling tour along the narrow lanes of Puri and educate them about the history and the significance of the places they visit. We aim to instill a feeling of love and pride amongst youth for their culture and heritage. We are proud that already 350 students of different age groups have been a part of this initiative, and we look forward for having more.
The tribal kids of desia used to face a lot of difficulty in coping up with their school curriculum due to lack of proper attention and guidance. We decided to lend them a helping hand and make learning a little easier for them. So, we hired a teacher who comes to Desia everyday and helps the local students with their studies. This provides the students extra knowledge and guidance beyond their schools.
We have always focused on the betterment of the local community by empowering them to be self dependent. We organized a three day workshop at desia, where an expert from Shantiniketan taught the tribal women of the nearby villages the art of making jewellery from natural materials which was locally available. This gave the tribal women an opportunity to learn a new skill which could help them get some revenue.
“Art is the language of the soul. Colours add value to life.”
We hosted a three day workshop at desia where we invited a passionate artist from shantiniketan to share a canvas with the local kids of the tribal villages. This workshop was a huge success, as many children participated and painted their hearts out , brushing their stories onto a sheet of blank paper, hence adding value to it.
Dhokra is an age old art of non–ferrous metal casting using the lost-wax casting technique. This sort of metal casting has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still used. This art is extensively used in odishan tribal villages where they use dhokra sculptures for their rituals.
At our camp Desia,meet Mr. Bhanu, Our master trainer from the tribal community. In a full day workshop, you learn the process of making dhokra sculptures from mould to casting.
