Teachers' Social Responsibility

Wow, a small computer looks like a toy. Does this toy functions like a bigger computer, asks 6 year old Jhanvi. I am very happy to see a laptop and the touch on keyboard is very smooth like butter, expresses Monika who along with 30 girls from Vimala Centre visited Podar International School campus located in Santacruz West, Mumbai.

Podar International School (IB) in collaboration with Indian Development Foundation organized a `Teach and Reach’ programme for the children of Vimala Dermatological Centre, a leprosy home in North Mumbai as part of Teachers’ Social Responsibility on 1st Sept. 2007.

`Teach and Reach’ programme was specially organized by the International Baccalaureate students from Podar International School to teach and reach-out children of Vimala Centre.

Starting with a multi-media presentation, the visiting children were given remote control and asked to answer general knowledge questions. Later every child was given exposure to laptop and its functions. The children were also taught how to type their names. “I felt very happy typing my name and my school’s name and then giving different colours to it”, said Vidya. Sujatha from Vimala Centre said “we are honoured by Podar School students and it is like getting a life time achievement award for us.”

The Director/Principal of Podar International School Dr. Vandana Lulla said it gives me immense pleasure to see that our students have played the role of teachers and taught the visiting children from Vimala Centre about computer and laptops. Every child of this modern world should be given an exposure to the technological updates. Vimala children are dear to me and I keep visiting the Centre and meet leprosy patients, Dr. Lulla said with a smile. The children still remember the song `Hum honge kaamyaab’ which I taught them during the New Year eve. When we talk about Corporate Social Responsibility, schools should think of `Teachers’ Social Responsibility’. Teachers Day gives us an opportunity to come forward and do something for the society.

The President of Indian Development Foundation Dr. A.R.K. Pillai said we have always been in the forefront in bridging the gap of haves and have-nots. IDF is a national NGO networking with several thousand schools in India and this gives us an opportunity to bring children from various centres availing technological and academic updates. It is the need of the hour that every teacher should come forward towards empowerment of the children. Teachers’ Social Responsibility and Students’ Social Responsibility are the special terms coined by IDF in order to have a greater social action programmes, asserted Dr. Pillai.

IBDP student Sehar welcomed the guests and spoke about Teach and Reach programme, and it was explained in Hindi by Hitesh and Navdeep for the benefit of the visiting students.

Dr. Narayan B. Iyer, National Co-ordinator and Dr. Sharad Nayampally, Social Ambassador from IDF led the Vimala children and expressed happiness on the children getting such an international exposure.

Dr. Rinku Jain, Dental Surgeon was a Special Invitee for the programme who spoke on the importance of smiling and oral health to the children.

Mr. K. X. George, Academic Co-ordinator, Mrs. Prema Mathew, IBDP Co-ordinator, Mrs. Shahina Momin, PYP Co-ordinator and Mrs. Sarala Gavane, CAS Co-ordinator in collaboration with the students and teachers organized the entire event in a masterly manner.

Rev. Sr. Mary from Vimala Centre thanked Dr. Vandana Lulla and the Podar International School team for giving an opening to her children to the world of Windows. It will really create an impact on our children towards their further development, said Sr. Mary.

The programme ended with a cultural event depicting various teacher-student relationship for a better society.



Mangalorean.com has also given a wide coverage of the event. For details klick the link.
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=52027