Teachers' Page
This page is created to provide a platform for the publications, research papers etc. published by the teachers of Ahlcon International School in their concern subject field.
SUSTAINABILITY:
A LIFESTYLE
THEME: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Mahatma Gandhi said, “There is enough for everybody’s need but not everybody’s greed.”. Now this increasing greed has become one of the reasons of the rapid declining of earth’s resources. We share this planet with millions of other species but treat this planet as our own property. Saving this planet for other species and especially for our future generation is very important. Sustainable development means using the resources of earth but also saving them for future generations. In today’s world the consumption theses resources are so high that I don’t think that anything will be left for the coming generations. We should put our thinking pens together and do something about this careless usage of natural resources.
But where, how and most important why should we think about sustainable development?
The world is moving towards
development and this development cannot be done by harming environment. the longer we continue to pursue unsustainable development, the more
severe will the consequences be. One of the most common is climate change which
is being debated widely worldwide. In
order to undo the mess created by us, we must follow sustainable development.
This will help us promote a more social, environmental and economical thinking.
Most importantly, it is not that difficult to attain this. We as students can
help in achieving sustainable development.
It helps us to sincerely use our resources which are exhaustible and very
necessary. It will check the
overexploitation and wastage of natural resources. It will help in finding
alternative sources to regenerate renewable energy resources. It ensures a
safer human life and a safer future for the next generation. We
can achieve this sustainable development by easy measures. We can adopt a sustainable living by taking
care of a few things such as switching off the lights when not in use; thus, they
save electricity. We must use public transport as it will reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and air pollution. We should save water and do not waste food and
build a habit of using eco-friendly products. Go for the 5Rs (Reuse, Refuse, Recycle, Repurpose and
Reduce) approach, educate our friends and family about sustainable development,
as awareness about thing can do wonders. By practicing afforestation and
motivating others to do the same. As students, the youth of our world we should establish a sustainable lifestyle. The
awareness of our present decides the future of our generations. Now where ?
well its simple as we say that charity begins at home so start with your house,
neighbourhood and encourage others to do the same. Moreover, the Government of India has taken a
number of initiatives on both mitigation and adaptation strategies with an
emphasis on clean and efficient energy systems; resilient urban infrastructure;
water conservation & preservation; safe, smart & sustainable green
transportation network; planned afforestation etc. The Government has also
supported various sectors such as agriculture, forestry, coastal and low-lying
systems and disaster management. By applying these practices in our daily life, we can surely
be able to achieve sustainable development.
To conclude, I
want to say that we are just tenants on this earth and the earth let us live
rent free. It does not charge us for water, air, soil and many other things.
Moreover we share this earth with other animals. They also have right to live.
But our constant exploitaton of resources are damaging them. We should live in
harmony with others(animals and resources). We should not take our mother earth
for granted. Balnace is essential between development and environment and sustainable
development help us achieve that balance. As it is said “The greatest threat to
our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” We got do it on our
own.
BY VRINDA GUPTA
(10 D)
Reference:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10991719
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/sustainable-development
NANOBIOFERTILIZERS: A
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO AGRICULTURE
THEME: OUR ENVIRONMENT
BY:
ABHINAV DATTA
Increase in world population in the
past decade increased the crop productivity to satisfy the needs of people in
different countries. Fertilizers have been used for the past many years in
agriculture for the benefit of farmers. Fertilizers are
chemical substances/nutrients combined together, used primarily as a plant
nutrient content for ensuring higher crop yield and productivity. These are
composed of a wide range of natural and fabricated materials and are available
in liquid, solid as well as gaseous forms. Fertilizers maximize crop yield and
increase plant production. The fertilizers contain the essential nutrients
required by the plants, including nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous.
In
conventional agriculture, chemical fertilizer is applied directly into the soil
or sprayed on the leaves, which surpass the nutritional need of the plant. This
is because a very low percentage of fertilizer reaches its target site, due to
leaching of chemicals, evaporation, drift, hydrolysis, run-off, and photolytic
or microbial degradation. This excess of chemical fertilizer negatively
affects the nutrient equilibrium of the soil, and causes contamination of local
water supplies, due to the leaching of toxic materials into water bodies. Chemical fertilizers are expensive
and harmful to human beings and to environment. Therefore, there is a need for
developing environment-friendly fertilizers having high nutrient value and
compatibility with soil and environment.
Modern
agriculture demands
minimal use of agrochemicals and promoting sustainable agricultural methods. In contrast to the inorganic fertilizers with high prices and
environmental issues, organic fertilizers come cheap and are eco-friendly.
These fertilizers aid in improving physical, chemical and biological components
of soil. They promote better root growth in plant for enhanced
nutrient/fertilizer uptake efficiency.
One of the ways by which the problem of chemical fertilizers can
be resolved is the use of nanotechnology in agriculture. Nanotechnology can be used to overcome an agricultural
crisis by developing an improved crop production system that assures
sustainability. Nano fertilizers are synthesized or
modified form of traditional fertilizers, bulk materials for fertilizers, or
extracted from different plant or plant parts by encapsulating/coating them
with nanomaterials for controlled and slow release of nutrients for the
development of soil fertility, productivity, and quality of agricultural
products (Zulfiqar et al.,2019).
An
advanced alternative to achieve the desired goal to increase the agriculture
productivity without associated side problems is the use of Nano bio fertilizers.
Bio- and Nano fertilizers have been preferred over
chemical fertilizers to ensure biosafety of agriculture. Bio fertilizer was
mainly constituted of live formulations of beneficial microorganism such as
plant growth-promoting rhizo bacteria, i.e., Rhizobium, blue-green algae (BGA),
the fungal mycorrhizae, bacterium Azotobacter, Azospirillum, phosphate-
solubilizing bacteria like Pseudomonas sp. And Bacillus sp., which increase the
nutrient supply to crops by increasing biological nitrogen fixation and solubilisation
of insoluble complex organic matter to simpler form, to make them biologically
available to plants. In Nano-bio fertilizer formulation, bio fertilizer
(containing nutrients and plant growth promoter bacteria) is coated in
nanoscale polymers (Nano encapsulation) (Golbaschi et al.,2017).
REFERENCES
·
Zulfiqar
YP, Adhikari R, Casey P, Muster T, Gilla H, Adhikari B (2019) Enhanced
efficiency fertilisers: a review of formulation and nutrient release patterns.
J Sci Food Agric 95:1131–1142
· Golbashy M, Sabahi H, Allahdadi I, Nazokdast H, Hossein M (2017) Synthesis of highly intercalated urea-clay nanocomposite via domestic montmorillonite as eco-friendly slow-release fertilizer. Arch Agron Soil Sci 63:1
It is pitch dark outside
But there is always a glimmer of light
Thousands and lakhs of obstacles on the way
But you must fight
There is silver lining in the cloud
A very sharp and piercings all around
Your hard work will never go unheard
Persistently you must make yourself proud
Have faith in God and work hard
Come what may never lower your guard
Move ahead whatever is the situation
Your eyes should be on your destination
Accept flow of life with a positive note
Do not be in a dilemma
Face every situation with a lasting hope
Failure is not the end of sight
Success is not the end of life
If winter comes, spring is not far behind
Do not lose your heart
God is very kind
Life is gold hold it as a pawn
You will see the light of dawn
You will see the light of dawn
By
Shyama Sharma Nag
-सुनीता राजीव
हिंदी भारत के माथे की
सौभाग्य सजी सी बिंदी है,
जो कभी गंगा सरीखी थी
आज हुई कालिंदी है।
भारतेंदु जी ने चेता था,
निज भाषा की कीमत जानो
उन्नति के पथ पर बढ़ना है
तो महत्व हिंदी का जानो।
है विश्व हमारा कुटुम्ब मगर
हर जन ये कभी भी भूले ना,
ले चले साथ चाहे अंग्रेज़ी ,
पर अपनी बोली भूले ना ।
सम्मान हृदय में जब तक कि
अपनी भाषा का होगा ना,
तो स्थान विश्व में, कुछ भी करो,
निज देश का तब तक होगा ना।
चाहे चीन कहो जापान कहो
कहो बात फ्रांस या जर्मनी की
है सफल ये देश कि इन सब ने
जानी कीमत निज भाषा की।
कई वर्षों से आज़ाद हैं हम
पर हिंदी अब भी सकुचाती है,
अपनी ही भूमि में फिर क्यों
पनप नहीं वो पाती है?
कोई दोष है दृष्टिकोणों में
जो हीरा देख नहीं पाते,
जब विश्व हिंदी को सीख रहा
हम हिंदी नहीं सिखा पाते।
करो प्रेम सभी भाषाओं से
ये भाषाएं तो बहने हैं
हृदय से हिंदी को धारो
यही भाव हृदय के गहने हैं।
नहीं मिलती नौकरी हिंदी से
ऐसी तुला में मत तोलो,
हिंदी है हीन-ये सोच कभी
नन्हे बच्चों में मत घोलो।
गर्व उसी मस्तक को है
जो स्वाभिमान से जीता है,
हिंदी का प्रेमी विनम्र तो है ,
पर राज हृदय पर करता है।
चौदह सितंबर को हर वर्ष
यदि एक दिवस हम जागेंगे,
इस कालिंदी को गंगा सम
शिव जटा पे कैसे धारेंगे?
शिव जटा पे कैसे धारेंगे?
Music: Synergy with Energy
With music, we soar, relax, or unwind our energy. It is the power of magic that can refresh us, bring tranquility, joy, calm, and contentment to our mind and soul. Through music, we tend to dream without words and fly through time and space without moving. Music can bring a cosmic connection between the Almighty and ourselves. Music forms an integral part of our lives as is evident at four different prominent purposes: dance, rituals, entertainment personal, and communal, and above all universal solidarity.
Music invites us to join hands to celebrate life and that is why we look for opportunities for including music in all our ceremonies and recreation. It makes us laugh, sing, dance, cry or shout out in joy. I believe each one of us can remember some songs, those when we hear can trigger an emotional response. It might be a song that accompanied the first dance by the newlywed couple or any song that made you remember your loved ones or friends.
Music is an expression of the soul: it has an instinctive effect on the mind and body. It can evoke all sorts of emotions, from energy to melancholy, tenderness to graveness, patriotism to universal harmony. All of us have different tastes in music, but every one of us responds to it. Even infants and very small children respond to music with joy. Lullabies in the mother’s voice calm the baby to eat and sleep better they smile, become active, and respond faster.
Music is also the medicine of the soul. Medical experts all over the world are realizing that music can do us a world of good and heal us too. The research done proves that music has sounds, and the vibrations caused by its beats hold the power of healing the human mind and body. Other studies have shown that music can reduce the anxiety and stress caused by hospital settings and reduce physical pain among patients in emergency rooms. The researchers have also found that listening to and playing music increases the body's production of the antibody immunoglobulin A and natural killer cells — the cells that attack invading viruses and boost the immune system.
Like language, the roots of music are intrinsic features of our social brain, which allow us to communicate with others. The elements of music – rhythm, melody, and harmony echo in our functioning, performing, and state of being. It can lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and reduce levels of stress hormones. Music therapy can have positive effects on our senior citizens who feel like victims of loneliness. Music uplifts their moods, makes them dance, bond, and make new friends.
Music Therapy is a recognized health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address the physical and emotional needs of patients. Music therapy also provides possibilities for communication to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words freely. American musician Billy Joel once said. “It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It is something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we are from, everyone loves music.” Almost all of us agree with this statement, and it is this universal bond with music that has led researchers across the globe to investigate its therapeutic potential.
Thus, music has immense power to exhilarate our entire being. It can -
Ø Let our breathwork and muscle coordination remain fit.
Ø Sustain our breath. When we breathe more deeply while playing the instruments our lungs and respiratory system are strengthened.
Ø Stimulate our immune system’s response and fight viruses and other harmful radicals.
Ø Fine-tune our hearing capacities.
Ø Influence the abilities of the mind.
Ø Increase our coordination skills which lead to perfect performances.
Ø Help to learn the art of time management.
Ø Increase our ability to focus and concentrate.
Ø Provide opportunities for self-expression thereby enhancing self-esteem.
Ø Bring within us a sense of accomplishment.
Ø Help in bonding relationships.
Truly, music is to the soul what words are to the mind. By quoting the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow– “Music is the universal language of mankind,” it becomes very clear that music is the art of sustaining life. Learning an instrument and playing a piece well is an achievement and no matter what age one is, it can give immense satisfaction and a self-esteem boost—both of which can create positive momentum to reach other goals of life.
********************
The prominence of Vocational Education in 21st Century
By Manju Garg, Teacher, Ahlcon International School, New Delhi
It recommends introducing vocational education from Grade 6 onwards to provide access to high-quality vocational education, necessary to acquire skills for further education and training for clear and recognized pathways to employment in the future. It states that all students will participate in carpentry, electric work, metalwork, gardening, pottery making, where they can intern with local vocational experts to develop an understanding of the work environment and career options. Spanning across cultural events, reading activities, science lab experiments, creative arts, athletics and meditation, these activities are beneficial for students’ physical fitness and mental health.
Education is not a function of the mind alone. Each vocational opportunity opens doors for a skill, art, precision, aesthetic display, creativity, and learning rooted in local culture.
The introduction of vocational education in formal education finds its roots in co-curricular activities introduced in schools which provide exposure to students and equip them with skill development. Espousing these activities at the school level allows students to discover their interests and capabilities and lay the foundation to pursue their passion later in life. For, e.g., if a student who is good at playing ‘tabla’ or any other instrument will master the art once the right platform is found to further his /her talent and take it up as a career in the future.
Time spent on these activities also offers students an opportunity to communicate and help each other. It also allows teachers to get to know their students outside of the formal learning environment. Co-curricular activities also build the potential in every student in nurturing national integration, developing community life, and forming self-identity. They prepare the students in the ‘Art of Living and Working Together. These life skills help restore dignity and respect to all types of tasks, promoting self-reliance to meet one’s daily needs and those of one’s family and community. These tasks inculcate teamwork through collaboration and mindfulness through empathy – two primary needs of the world today. These skills learnt will reinforce the dignity of labour and lay due importance to various vocations involving Indian arts and artisanship.
Over the last five years, the dramatic changes in global economies have been in sync with changes in innovation and technology. They have had a significant impact on education, working environment, and lifestyles. To cope with the increasing pace and changes of present-day life, students will need to learn life skills and thus, it is essential to advance skill training among children from an early age to build self-esteem, confidence, and leadership skills. Students must be taught ‘how to think and not just what to think’ The more importance we give to skill development, the more talented youth will be.
To quote Mahatma Gandhi, “By education, I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in child and man – body, mind and spirit.” Schools must cater to a child’s mental, physical, social, spiritual, and vocational education. Therefore, vocational training courses will need to ensure that learners are receptive to the field chosen and understand its complexities carefully. The deeper the learners delve, the more they benefit and, in turn, benefit the world too. Cultural awareness and respect for diversity will enable creativity and imagination to flourish and build a better world.
A holistic and multidisciplinary education will develop well-rounded individuals that possess critical 21st-century skills in fields across the arts, humanities, languages, sciences, social sciences, and professional, technical, and vocational; an ethic of social engagement; soft skills, such as communication, discussion, and debate; and demanding specialization in a chosen field. Thus, the students will learn the following four Rs – Responsibility, Relevance, Reflection and Relationships to equip themselves for a better future.
Read to
Enrich Yourself
By
Ms Manju Garg, (Middle Section) Ahlcon International School
The habit of reading is one of the
best qualities that a person can possess. Books are known to be your best
friend because they rejuvenate, reward, and reform you. We must all read daily
for at least 30 minutes to enjoy the sweet fruits of reading. It is a great
pleasure to enjoy reading good books as they have a lasting impact on us.
Good books inform, enlighten, and lead us in
the right direction. There is no better companion than a good book. Reading is
important because one can experience a whole new world. Reading develops
language skills and vocabulary and helps us to relax and reduce stress. It is
important to read a good book at least for a few minutes each day to stretch
the brain muscles for healthy functioning. Reading helps to develop positive
thinking, keeps your mind active, and enhances your creative ability. Reading
develops your communication skills and makes you a better writer.
Books become our best
friends as they become our companions when we are bored or lonely. Good books
always guide us to follow the right path in life. Books provide a glimpse into
cultures, traditions, health, psychology, and other aspects of life. It has
positive effects on our mind, body, and soul. It stimulates your brain muscles
and keeps your brain healthy and strong.
A good book provides happiness and lessons to be learned. Active reading helps to explore several
aspects of life. It involves questioning what kind of stuff we are reading;
develop our thought process and influence our opinions.
World Book Day is also a
celebration to promote the enjoyment of reading books. Each year, on 23 April,
celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope of books - a
link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across
cultures. The famous saying “Pen is mightier than the sword” very truly proves
that writing is the most powerful way to accomplish our desires. It indicates
that the power of writing is eternal, as it has the power to mold public
opinion and raise awareness among the masses. It can revolutionize the whole
cosmos. It is the pen that brings to us the ideas, philosophy, and thoughts of
great thinkers all over the world. It has passed on the wisdom of poets and
philosophers of the past too. We have inherited the spiritual books the Gita,
the Bible, the Quran, the beautiful poetry by great poets like Wordsworth, T.S.
Eliot, Keats, and others, and the wisdom of Carlye, Marx, Kautilya, and
Chanakya because of a pen. Their writings have guided and brought solace to
people all over the world. Social harmony too can be established by using the
power of the pen. Books are sure to cure for all as they help engage all
communities of readers, individuals, and institutions. whether printed, share
them on social media, or publish on websites. The indisputable truth about
books is that the world would not be the same without books. For millions of
people worldwide, books have been a source of entertainment and comfort during
the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a time to celebrate the importance of reading,
foster children's growth as readers, and promote a lifelong love of literature
and integration into the world of work. Alan Bennett once said: “A book is a
device to ignite the imagination.”
Reading deepens and expands our sense of life.
They feed the soul, make us laugh, and learn to find solutions to problems and
solace in life. Books have the power to transport us to new worlds and
different times, but they can also take us back to the important moments in our
own lives. you can visit your local library and read books available there, or
if you can’t go to the libraries most books have their books available in PDF
or ePub format so you can read them on your e-reader, iPad, or your computer
screen. There are also many sources online where you can download free e-books,
so go hunting for something new to read be it classical literature, poetry,
fashion magazines, biographies, religious texts, storybooks, novels, self-help
guides, there is something out there to capture your curiosity and imagination. We need sometimes to step away from our
computer games and other online sites and crack open a book and replenish our
soul.
World Environment Day
Written By Manju Garg https://www.beliterat.com/2020/05/new-articles.html
‘Let us heal nature as nature heals us- open your spirits, keep it clean, serve it nutrition, make it beautiful, develop a relationship of love and care.’
What kind of planet do we humans wish to have? This is a question we need to answer ourselves. No one can teach us what we most need to know about nature and how to value it. We ourselves need to know how honest we need to be in our thoughts and actions.
Nature provides us all with so many wonderful and useful things from beautiful sights to food and shelter, and awareness to maintain and sustain life on this planet. Mother Nature works relentlessly to ensure that life exists with its variety in abundance. As a result, our behavior must support positive outcomes on nature for it to thrive and survive too. The plenty in nature is directly proportional to plenteous in our lives. However, unintentionally, we have made the most detrimental impact on the environment. Life is chemistry, and a chain of bio-chemical achievements are taking place to make life hassle-free. Continuous efforts are taking place all over the world to develop newer and cleaner energy sources to power our homes, run our cars, and light up the night. The combined efforts have been showing progress in many ways yet, the key point is the building of good chemistry between nature and us.
Care for the environment
The importance of caring for the environment is paramount for many reasons. In the first place, we need to make sure that we leave this place better for the next generations as it would not be reasonable to hand them something we have damaged. With that in mind, here are a few ways to follow to save our environment:
· Let us educate ourselves.
· Walk more, bike more and drive less.
- · Follow the three Rs of Restoration- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- · Avoid Single-Use Plastic items.
- · Shop wisely, stop accepting plastic/polythene bags, always carry your reusables shopping bags.
- · Repurposing things like plastic boxes, bottles, and bags, for storing grocery or used as small wastebaskets.
- · Don’t send chemicals into waterways. Choose nontoxic chemicals to clean your homes and offices.
- · Plant trees as many as possible, nurture them, and donate them as they are energy savers, suppliers of clean air, conserve water, and combat climate problems.
- · Have Bright Light Ideas- Use energy-efficient light bulbs to decorate the earth.
- · Volunteer for cleanups in the community too. Keep your earth as clean as your own home or office.
- · Reduce your desires of hoarding make donations liberally for earth’s cause.
Together we should work on the restoration of our environment for a better world. ‘World Environment Day is a reminder that we must take good care of our surroundings. Let us right away start our actions to make our planet a greener and healthier place for us to enjoy life.
Let we pledge to become more responsible, accountable, and answerable for our own actions. Happy World Environment Day!!!
********************
‘Let us heal nature as nature heals us- open your spirits, keep it clean, serve it nutrition, make it beautiful, develop a relationship of love and care.’
What kind of planet do we humans wish to have? This is a question we need to answer ourselves. No one can teach us what we most need to know about nature and how to value it. We ourselves need to know how honest we need to be in our thoughts and actions.
Nature provides us all with so many wonderful and useful things from beautiful sights to food and shelter, and awareness to maintain and sustain life on this planet. Mother Nature works relentlessly to ensure that life exists with its variety in abundance. As a result, our behavior must support positive outcomes on nature for it to thrive and survive too. The plenty in nature is directly proportional to plenteous in our lives. However, unintentionally, we have made the most detrimental impact on the environment. Life is chemistry, and a chain of bio-chemical achievements are taking place to make life hassle-free. Continuous efforts are taking place all over the world to develop newer and cleaner energy sources to power our homes, run our cars, and light up the night. The combined efforts have been showing progress in many ways yet, the key point is the building of good chemistry between nature and us.
Care for the environment
The importance of caring for the environment is paramount for many reasons. In the first place, we need to make sure that we leave this place better for the next generations as it would not be reasonable to hand them something we have damaged. With that in mind, here are a few ways to follow to save our environment:
· Let us educate ourselves.
· Walk more, bike more and drive less.
- · Follow the three Rs of Restoration- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- · Avoid Single-Use Plastic items.
- · Shop wisely, stop accepting plastic/polythene bags, always carry your reusables shopping bags.
- · Repurposing things like plastic boxes, bottles, and bags, for storing grocery or used as small wastebaskets.
- · Don’t send chemicals into waterways. Choose nontoxic chemicals to clean your homes and offices.
- · Plant trees as many as possible, nurture them, and donate them as they are energy savers, suppliers of clean air, conserve water, and combat climate problems.
- · Have Bright Light Ideas- Use energy-efficient light bulbs to decorate the earth.
- · Volunteer for cleanups in the community too. Keep your earth as clean as your own home or office.
- · Reduce your desires of hoarding make donations liberally for earth’s cause.
Together we should work on the restoration of our environment for a better world. ‘World Environment Day is a reminder that we must take good care of our surroundings. Let us right away start our actions to make our planet a greener and healthier place for us to enjoy life.
Let we pledge to become more responsible, accountable, and answerable for our own actions. Happy World Environment Day!!!
Unlock the Happiness Index!
The World Happiness Report 2021, issued by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, focusing on the effects of COVID-19 finds India ranked 139 out of 149 countries in the list and topped by Finland. This fact undoubtedly bothers us that why we are an unhappy lot. One point that comes to my mind is that perhaps majority of the times we are trying to please others than pleasing ourselves and are curious to know what is going around them than minding our own lives. Forgetting that this becomes the root cause of our unhappiness. We are all time comparing our lives with others be it friends, neighbours or even extended families. We shall be surely a happier lot l if we start focusing on our own lives than others, though totally agree that life is not a bed of roses.
Life is like a camera, we need to focus on what is important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives and move on. Also, we should not judge our lives by the harvest we reap but by the ways we nurture our harvest towards peace and contentment. We need to feel the joy in little things we do for ourselves and others, value family and friendship.
Thus, happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfilment. It is associated with experiencing more positive feelings and dealing with negative emotions. It is a journey of feelings that starts with our mind-set. In life surely burdens, failures, and insecurities drag us down. All these negativities keep us sinking further and we forget that we have a lot of good things to be thankful for in our lives. Once we shall start counting our blessings our mind will start smiling and instantly the body will be relieved and lighter. Therefore, we should take charge of our attitude and change our mind set. We should begin to be more accepting and appreciative of what we have been blessed with instead of burdening ourselves from unnecessary pressures. This will help in realizing that most things in life are good even if they are not perfect and are good enough to make us happier.
Life is all about our emotions and happiness is found when we master our own emotions. We need to control them from unnecessary public display if not required. As our happiness encompasses emotional happiness, physical happiness, social happiness, occupational happiness, intellectual happiness, environmental happiness and spiritual happiness we need to work on each quotient to be happier.
Happiness is thus, to laugh often and win the respect of people in our lives; the affection of our children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give the world a happier and better version of self; accept that we should be the masters of our lives. We can blow away our clouds of unhappiness when we start practicing the power of positivity. The power it is so strong that it can change our world and attitude towards life. Now, let us look at some of the ways that can be followed to cure ourselves from unhappiness:
• Let us pamper ourselves- fill our body, mind, and soul with all those positive things that make us happy.
• Focus on positivity and deal with the negativities. Try finding solutions instead of magnifying the problems.
• Follow the art of being grateful as it gives fortitude to solve our problems.
• Provide ourselves and others too with the ‘Psychological First Aid’ in form of emotional- mental support filled with positivity.
• Be our own guide and help those too who need us.
• Learn to manage our own thoughts, mentor our negative feelings, and behaviour patterns.
• Make a ‘Worry Jar’, note down our worries and put them in it to be dealt later when relaxed, as instant reactions to any of the problems can be harmful and may remain unresolved adding or multiplying our stress.
• Practice the art of noting down the blessings and having the ‘ME’ time when we can pray, meditate, and contemplate on our blessings.
• Enjoy doing the chores of our daily life. They prove to be strong stress busters.
• Follow some hobbies like singing, dancing, art, painting or exercising to derive delight and satisfaction.
• Reduce the screen time and spare time to connect physically with family, friends, and others whom you love.
• Stop for a while following those people and things that can rub of our happiness.
• Find ways to become a rainbow in others’ lives.
• Watch and recommend good inspirational movies to get inspired.
• Maintain a Journal of everyday moments to enrich our own life.
Therefore, it is time to recognize, reward, recreate, rejoice, and reform to understand the values of being happy ourselves, before spreading it to others.
“Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self-worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you cannot love and respect yourself – no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are – completely; the good and the bad – and make changes as YOU see fit – not because you think someone else wants you to be different.” Stacey Charter
The World Happiness Report 2021, issued by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, focusing on the effects of COVID-19 finds India ranked 139 out of 149 countries in the list and topped by Finland. This fact undoubtedly bothers us that why we are an unhappy lot. One point that comes to my mind is that perhaps majority of the times we are trying to please others than pleasing ourselves and are curious to know what is going around them than minding our own lives. Forgetting that this becomes the root cause of our unhappiness. We are all time comparing our lives with others be it friends, neighbours or even extended families. We shall be surely a happier lot l if we start focusing on our own lives than others, though totally agree that life is not a bed of roses.
Life is like a camera, we need to focus on what is important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives and move on. Also, we should not judge our lives by the harvest we reap but by the ways we nurture our harvest towards peace and contentment. We need to feel the joy in little things we do for ourselves and others, value family and friendship.
Thus, happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfilment. It is associated with experiencing more positive feelings and dealing with negative emotions. It is a journey of feelings that starts with our mind-set. In life surely burdens, failures, and insecurities drag us down. All these negativities keep us sinking further and we forget that we have a lot of good things to be thankful for in our lives. Once we shall start counting our blessings our mind will start smiling and instantly the body will be relieved and lighter. Therefore, we should take charge of our attitude and change our mind set. We should begin to be more accepting and appreciative of what we have been blessed with instead of burdening ourselves from unnecessary pressures. This will help in realizing that most things in life are good even if they are not perfect and are good enough to make us happier.
Life is all about our emotions and happiness is found when we master our own emotions. We need to control them from unnecessary public display if not required. As our happiness encompasses emotional happiness, physical happiness, social happiness, occupational happiness, intellectual happiness, environmental happiness and spiritual happiness we need to work on each quotient to be happier.
Happiness is thus, to laugh often and win the respect of people in our lives; the affection of our children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give the world a happier and better version of self; accept that we should be the masters of our lives. We can blow away our clouds of unhappiness when we start practicing the power of positivity. The power it is so strong that it can change our world and attitude towards life. Now, let us look at some of the ways that can be followed to cure ourselves from unhappiness:
• Let us pamper ourselves- fill our body, mind, and soul with all those positive things that make us happy.
• Focus on positivity and deal with the negativities. Try finding solutions instead of magnifying the problems.
• Follow the art of being grateful as it gives fortitude to solve our problems.
• Provide ourselves and others too with the ‘Psychological First Aid’ in form of emotional- mental support filled with positivity.
• Be our own guide and help those too who need us.
• Learn to manage our own thoughts, mentor our negative feelings, and behaviour patterns.
• Make a ‘Worry Jar’, note down our worries and put them in it to be dealt later when relaxed, as instant reactions to any of the problems can be harmful and may remain unresolved adding or multiplying our stress.
• Practice the art of noting down the blessings and having the ‘ME’ time when we can pray, meditate, and contemplate on our blessings.
• Enjoy doing the chores of our daily life. They prove to be strong stress busters.
• Follow some hobbies like singing, dancing, art, painting or exercising to derive delight and satisfaction.
• Reduce the screen time and spare time to connect physically with family, friends, and others whom you love.
• Stop for a while following those people and things that can rub of our happiness.
• Find ways to become a rainbow in others’ lives.
• Watch and recommend good inspirational movies to get inspired.
• Maintain a Journal of everyday moments to enrich our own life.
Therefore, it is time to recognize, reward, recreate, rejoice, and reform to understand the values of being happy ourselves, before spreading it to others.
“Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self-worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you cannot love and respect yourself – no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are – completely; the good and the bad – and make changes as YOU see fit – not because you think someone else wants you to be different.” Stacey Charter
We are Humans! 
(Preeti Chanana)
Pandemic Lessons 3 Steps-Change to Change the World By Monika Khanduja*
By Monika Khanduja, a young diabetes educator, Ahlcon International School, Delhi.
The world is changing fast. Technology, education, health, consumption – there is hardly anything in life that is not changing. Some changes we like, while others create fear and anxiety in us. While we cherish the former, we wish to avoid the latter. But can we do that by wishing alone? Most of us are not prepared to embrace the temporary uncomforting situations for a wave of long-lasting peace. Some of us get daunted by the thought that one has to possess the powers of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King or Saint Teresa to make a difference. The fact is, we all are born as humans for a purpose. We can, and we should contribute to making a difference in the world.Begin with the Self
Making a difference in the world begins with believing that you can do something that doesn’t just benefit yourself. When your only goal is to serve yourself, the meaning you get from that goal is limited. To fuel the actions, you need to impact others; you must expand your purpose. If we intend to help others, they are more likely to help us back. If we invest our time in the issues we care about; others will do likewise. It may not be measurable immediately how much the change we are affecting, but everything we do adds value to the recipient. Imagine how much this world will be better if each one of us commits to just one act of goodness a day?
An incremental approach to catalyzing change
I always admire changemakers willing and bold to stand up and make a difference in the world. I believe if no one ever tries to change things, things simply are never going to change. I co-organized a Ted-Circle conversation on the theme “The Power of Nature” last month. We were surprised to discover that most participants seek examples of good, change-making stories through the internet and social media. Personal conversations and small group discussions are missing. Renowned leadership coach John C Maxwell insists that the best place to initiate a change-making drive is a table conversation. My colleagues and I saw the influence a table discussion can have while attending a table facilitated by my mentor Dr Ashok Pandey, JMT coach and trainer.
Let’s break down the steps we need to follow to be a catalyst of change, beginning with imbibing a value system. The first is to value hope, connect a relationship with the future, and develop a curiosity about action and innovation.
Investing in people, valuing them, being non-judgemental about them, and seeing substantial potential images is key to creating a sustainable society. We often get stuck in finding fault, holding grudges and revengefulness. That leads to unforgiveness and burdening us with thoughts that hamper our actions. Listening to others, sometimes, listening to ourselves, indicate our respect and value for others. Being a changemaker is not easy. We have to be authentic about it. What we are outside must align with what we are inside. Our relentless pursuit for the cause does not wait for supervision and monitoring.
I work primarily with educators engaged in shaping personalities. There are some focus points that I have learned from my experience. Change making teachers have a clear pathway of action to work with the children. Undoubtedly, there will be times when things do not go as planned, and we fail. It is essential to accept and embrace failure as part of the journey. Without practising empathy, inclusion, love and compassion for all, we cannot think of a sustainable change. Inspiring teachers are rich in humility.
We are stronger together.
As part of an enthusiastic group of people with Type1 diabetes in Delhi, we are helping, educating youngsters to cope up with the disease. Alarming as it may be, estimates suggest that over 100 million Indians will suffer from diabetes by 2030. The good thing is that simple lifestyle changes can prevent diabetes. Our vision is to de-stigmatize and raise awareness about people with diabetes and enhance their quality of life. Through education, emotional support, collaboration, and advocacy, we can change thousands of lives. Our work with the youth and school children encourages them to focus on Goal 3- Good Health and Wellbeing and achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a set of Global Goals adopted by 193 countries. The passion, voices, and skills of youth are more critical than ever. There is no better time to unleash the power of youth!
We must invest in the youth- naturally inclined towards diversity, inclusion and justice. With network and partnership, the child forms a challenging community of changemakers. We see how empowering youth is helping some of the most pressing global issues and setting us on track to achieve the SDGs. Saint Teresa said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”.
Change is not an impulsive act. It can take years and a lifetime to make the world a better place. Every time we change one bit, with one person, we’re creating a ripple effect with the potential to improve lives for generations to come. The greatest thing that we can do to make a difference in the world is to be what we are. Learn about yourself, invest in yourself and experience all the joys and blessings of life. Share your love, ideas, friendship, values, skills and spread goodness.
********************
By Monika Khanduja, a young diabetes educator, Ahlcon International School, Delhi.
Begin with the Self
Making a difference in the world begins with believing that you can do something that doesn’t just benefit yourself. When your only goal is to serve yourself, the meaning you get from that goal is limited. To fuel the actions, you need to impact others; you must expand your purpose. If we intend to help others, they are more likely to help us back. If we invest our time in the issues we care about; others will do likewise. It may not be measurable immediately how much the change we are affecting, but everything we do adds value to the recipient. Imagine how much this world will be better if each one of us commits to just one act of goodness a day?
An incremental approach to catalyzing change
I always admire changemakers willing and bold to stand up and make a difference in the world. I believe if no one ever tries to change things, things simply are never going to change. I co-organized a Ted-Circle conversation on the theme “The Power of Nature” last month. We were surprised to discover that most participants seek examples of good, change-making stories through the internet and social media. Personal conversations and small group discussions are missing. Renowned leadership coach John C Maxwell insists that the best place to initiate a change-making drive is a table conversation. My colleagues and I saw the influence a table discussion can have while attending a table facilitated by my mentor Dr Ashok Pandey, JMT coach and trainer.
Let’s break down the steps we need to follow to be a catalyst of change, beginning with imbibing a value system. The first is to value hope, connect a relationship with the future, and develop a curiosity about action and innovation.
Investing in people, valuing them, being non-judgemental about them, and seeing substantial potential images is key to creating a sustainable society. We often get stuck in finding fault, holding grudges and revengefulness. That leads to unforgiveness and burdening us with thoughts that hamper our actions. Listening to others, sometimes, listening to ourselves, indicate our respect and value for others. Being a changemaker is not easy. We have to be authentic about it. What we are outside must align with what we are inside. Our relentless pursuit for the cause does not wait for supervision and monitoring.
I work primarily with educators engaged in shaping personalities. There are some focus points that I have learned from my experience. Change making teachers have a clear pathway of action to work with the children. Undoubtedly, there will be times when things do not go as planned, and we fail. It is essential to accept and embrace failure as part of the journey. Without practising empathy, inclusion, love and compassion for all, we cannot think of a sustainable change. Inspiring teachers are rich in humility.
We are stronger together.
As part of an enthusiastic group of people with Type1 diabetes in Delhi, we are helping, educating youngsters to cope up with the disease. Alarming as it may be, estimates suggest that over 100 million Indians will suffer from diabetes by 2030. The good thing is that simple lifestyle changes can prevent diabetes. Our vision is to de-stigmatize and raise awareness about people with diabetes and enhance their quality of life. Through education, emotional support, collaboration, and advocacy, we can change thousands of lives. Our work with the youth and school children encourages them to focus on Goal 3- Good Health and Wellbeing and achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a set of Global Goals adopted by 193 countries. The passion, voices, and skills of youth are more critical than ever. There is no better time to unleash the power of youth!
We must invest in the youth- naturally inclined towards diversity, inclusion and justice. With network and partnership, the child forms a challenging community of changemakers. We see how empowering youth is helping some of the most pressing global issues and setting us on track to achieve the SDGs. Saint Teresa said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”.
Change is not an impulsive act. It can take years and a lifetime to make the world a better place. Every time we change one bit, with one person, we’re creating a ripple effect with the potential to improve lives for generations to come. The greatest thing that we can do to make a difference in the world is to be what we are. Learn about yourself, invest in yourself and experience all the joys and blessings of life. Share your love, ideas, friendship, values, skills and spread goodness.
The Parent-teacher Partnership, a Key to Success
https://connectedtot.com/2021/05/23/parent-teacher-partnership/
The Parent-teacher Partnership
As an individual when you flip the pages of your life, it would surely reflect the sparkling glow of the caring and nurturing relationship between your parents and your teachers. No one can afford to deny that if this partnership is strong, it would work as the ideal support system to develop a child’s learning ability. Not only this, but it also strengthens the parents’ capacity to be engaged in their child’s school-life experiences in a more effective manner.
It has been observed and appreciated the time and again that ‘The Three C’ formula is the key to success for every child. The formula comprises of Communication, Consistency and Collaboration.
The 3 Cs Formula
Do you think it is possible for students to have a bright future without timely communication from both ends? No, it is practically impossible. Similarly, if there is a break inconsistent work from both sides, no one can achieve the desired result. Last but not the least, collaboration holds this delicate structure together. These are the three pillars that construct a successful parent-teacher partnership.
While learning during this pandemic has been difficult, there are some things we have been able to achieve together –
Written by Preeti Chanana
The Core of NEP2020 Rooted in Tagore’s Philosophy
Dr Karuna Gupta, Ahlcon International School, Delhi.
Covid 19, the pandemic has brought life to a screeching halt. The entire world is facing health, economic and educational challenges. Despite fears of reoccurrence, fragile health management and a struggling economic activity, people are resilient and trying to connect threads of life. But one thing at the top of the worry list- reconstructing education has no easy answers.
Education discontinuity, loss of education, year-long home sheltering, severe pressure on socio-emotional well-being add to the pandemic woos. Students who appear for the class 12 board examination are grappling with uncertainty, fear and prospects.
Amid this crisis came the announcement of the National Education Policy in July 2020. Though the policy was in the pipeline for a long time, its pronouncement during the pandemic positioned it as an instrument for reconstructing education, future-proofing institutions and an opportunity to correct the distortions accumulated over the years. The international obligation to provide quality education and lifelong learning to all and other sustainable goals, UN’s SDGs, were other imperatives to formulate a policy for the nation inhabiting 1.3 billion people. The vision of this policy is to create an eco-system that fosters excellence, a culture of innovation, and high-quality human capital.
The other highlights of the policy include higher-order cognitive capacities, foundational literacy and numeracy and digital capabilities. To instil among the learners a deep-rooted pride in being Indian, to develop knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions that support responsible commitment to human rights, sustainable development, and global citizen are the hallmarks of the policy. “Today, because of rapid economic and social change, schools have to prepare students for jobs that have not yet been created; technologies that have not yet been invented; and problems that we don’t yet know will arise,” asserts Andreas Schleicher, OECD Education Directorate. The NEP2020 also echoes this sentiment.
How do these policy highlights compare with the philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore? He once said, “Don’t limit a child to your own learning for he was born in another time.” According to him, “Education means enabling the mind to find out that ultimate truth which emancipates us from the bondage of dust and gives us wealth not of things but of inner light, not of power but of love. It is a process of enlightenment, divine wealth that helps in realization of truth”.
In Tagore’s scheme of things, emphasis is on nurturing the child in a natural environment and ensuring the education of the whole child. Encouraging students to ask questions, express themselves fearlessly, experiment and make mistakes, and recognizing their uniqueness is at the core of education. Thus, Tagore affirms that education should aim to acquire ideas through independent effort, curiosity, and alertness of mind. Education should develop thinking, imagination and creativity rather than mere memory or storage of scattered information obtained through the internet in seconds.
Reading through the pages of the policy document and the insight we receive from the writings and speeches of Rabindranath Tagore, it becomes apparent how much inspiration the policy derives from Tagore. The table below cites a summary of those inspirations.
| S.No | Rabindranath Tagore’s ideals | NEP2020 essence |
| 1 | Favour’s education in the natural environment where the child has complete freedom of expression | Holistic development of the child (It aims to move education towards real learning doing away from rote learning) |
| 2 | Believes in teaching while walking-excursion and activity method | Focuses on experiential learning and problem-solving approach |
| 3 | He emphasized on inclusion of art, music, painting, gardening in the curriculum. | Flexibility in subjects (Broader choice of subjects) |
|
4 | Tagore believed it was vital for people to begin learning their language. This way, they can take pride in their heritage. At the same time, he thought there was much to learn from other cultures. He encourages synthesis between the East and the West.
| No language barrier (Study in regional language till 5th class) |
| 5 | Tagore valued craft and art activities as these activities give economic independence and improve rural life. | Focus on skill-based education; schools should have a vocational subject. |
| 6 | Children should be acquainted with the ideals and values of national culture. | Promotion of Indian art and culture |
| 7 | The teacher should be an embodiment of moral, mental and spiritual values. He/she should remain a lifelong learner. | Particular emphasis on capacity building of educators. |
Tagore believed that education should prepare the individual for the service of humanity, human regeneration, cultural representation, harmony and intellectualism. Educational institutions should build on the power of thinking and imagination in an individual and help turn herself/himself into a self-sustained building block of human society and a creative canvas of the nation. As NEP 2020 nestles secured in Tagore’s vision in body, mind and soul, its implementation will determine our successes and failures.
Dr Karuna Gupta is a senior faculty member and HOD, Dept. of Chemistry in Ahlcon International School, Delhi.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Agenda 2030
By Manju Garg, Teacher, Ahlcon International School, New Delhi
The COVID-19 pandemic is however, disrupting the key goal “leave no one behind” by its constantly growing dangers through inequalities around income, wealth, access to quality education, water and sanitation, health and other social services. The global community finds itself in an unprecedented situation where parallel threats of health, economic and social crisis have left countries struggling to contain the epidemic and provide immediate medical and financial relief to the people affected by the macroeconomic downturns. Thus, the pandemic has threatened to reverse years of progress on the Sustainable Goals of poverty, good health and well-being and education the most.
COVID-19, with its triple hit to health, education and income has caused global per capita income to fall by 4-5% and has impacted the largest reversal in human development. Mobility and migration have been heavily affected through lockdown with significant human and economic costs. It has triggered an economic crisis in large proportion with augmented impact on human resource. The economic consequences are due to loss of human resource and its impact is significant and widespread, affecting all areas of the economy, including capital flows, business operations, employment, and jobs.
The loss of jobs has affected people significantly and they are under lot of mental and financial exhaustion. People are unable or afraid to go to health-care facilities to seek services such as checkups, vaccinations, and even urgent medical care due to diversion of essential health services towards covid health emergency and lifesaving interventions. Women and children are also enduring the impact of the crisis as many women are facing increased economic insecurity. Compulsive digitalization of education has impacted over 1.2 billion learners all over the world taking away their joys of learning and growing, considerably. Prolonged absence from school campus is resulting in lower attention-retention skills and worsening their learning outcomes. It is also creating an adverse effect on their social and behavioural development. In short, the crisis is having life-altering consequences on millions of children and youth worldwide.
While the crisis is threatening progress towards the SDGs, it is making their achievement even more urgent. To achieve the SDGs, it is imperative to be prepared to deal with any kind of crisis or other natural calamities in future. Timely collection and analysis of data and statistics related to health literacy and income are proving vital in understanding, managing, and altering the human, social and economic impacts of the outbreak. Financial and technical data and statistical systems are being used for designing the short-term plans and enhanced actions to put countries back on track to achieve the SDGs.
To accomplish the Sustainable Goals the world will require leadership, foresight, innovation, besides finance and collaboration among all governments and all stakeholders. They will lead to finding transformative pathways to build back better economies.
Not only has the unusual situation slowed down the process toward achieving the 17 SDGs and changing the trajectory of development, but it is also drawing our attention to new realities and ways of life which we had not imagined before and forcing us to rethink and reshape the future we want. The continued pursuit of the Sustainable Goals will require us to keep focus not only on growth but rebuild fairer model for the future, one that is more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world.
Socioemotional Support is Key to Mental Health
By Monika Khanduja, Ahlcon International School, New Delhi
CBSE has announced a Health and Wellness Series- live webinars to impart care, compassion and communication to destress the children. The series aims to equip the teachers and parents to handle anxieties and provide psychological support. The Delhi Council for Protection of Children and Rights (DCPCR) has initiated a drive to support children with parents hospitalised or need urgent help. Steps such as these are timely and indicative of how the pandemic affects the young kids and their mental health?
According to the WHO, “Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”. India gripped by the pandemic is in the midst of another problem- mental health crisis. Depression, anxiety, stress, fear of losing a dear one tells on our emotions and challenge coping mechanisms.
With 400 million school going students sheltered home in year-long isolation, we have a severe threat to their health and well- being. Covid-19 pandemic informs us that we must re-purpose education to prepare young students for a fast-changing world. We should be very watchful around the mental health challenges faced by students at this time. These young students are watching in silence the pain of their grandparents, parents, teachers and nearby ones, leaving them one by one. Such experiences leave deep scars of loss and helplessness. The missing syndrome, the feeling of being left out, inability to meet friends and share experiences have only compounded the problem further.
According to the World Health Organisation, about 7.5 per cent of Indians suffer from some mental disorder and predict that roughly 20 per cent of India will suffer from mental illnesses by the end of this year. According to the numbers, 56 million Indians suffer from depression, and 38 million Indians suffer from anxiety disorders. In India, the WHO also estimates that the economic loss due to mental health conditions between 2012-2030 is 1.03 trillion dollars. The data is scary and signals that urgent steps are required to arrest the problem before it goes unmanageable.
The responsibility of the teachers, counsellors and parents at this stage is to build resilience and inspire the young children. The nature of the crisis is that connectivity, compassion, communication, and building hope are the needs of the hour. I support educators in reaching out to the children, creating templates for engaging them, and forging bridges to connect and support. I offer some strategies to reach out to the children in these turbulent times.
Reach Out to help them Lead
Students are constantly fed negative news all the time. The stress of examination, admission in higher educational institutions, not meeting their friends and social distancing have shrunk options to share what bothers them the most. Under these circumstances, teachers must reach out to them, create a collective, support group and allow student leadership to emerge. Peer support catalysed by an elder works wonder. These forums will enable them to analyse their fears and anxieties and identify the roots of those fears. Make a mental checklist of the possible causes of why they are fearful and what they could do to reduce these fears? What am I doing to improve my Immunity? Am I listening to my Body? How am I responding to unacceptable happenings? These reflections are self-healing.
Inspire them to Aspire for Well Being
Stressful situations call for inspiration, trust-building and optimism. Since well-being is at the core, all discussions must begin with emotional awareness and management. Physical exercise, meditation, pursuing interests, community service, provide strength and diversion. We have seen young children developing apps to help COVID patients locate hospitals, oxygen facilities, and volunteering food distribution programmes.
Invite them to well-being sessions
Virtual platforms are working well to help people come together, sing, tell stories, read books and pray for their well- being. I know of a teacher who organises storytelling sessions by the children for the children. Children as young as 8yrs narrate stories and draw morals. The older children can get in circle time discussions on the topics of their interest, spreading conversations and finding solutions. Experts may be invited to support and add their experience.
Volunteer in supporting Families
Another helpful idea is to form smaller groups through WhatsApp, Facebook close groups, Twitter lists and share messages, valuable tips to the families. Verified information can save lives and timely assistance. Students may be encouraged to create artefacts through video, podcasts, music using their preferred applications to drive pet projects. Youth are better positioned to counter fake news and curate information to reach out to the community to build harmony and peace. They know the art of social media and can easily leverage the potential to their benefit.
NEP 2020 envisages that the nutrition and health (including mental health) of children will be addressed through healthy meals and the introduction of well-trained social workers, counsellors, and community involvement into the schooling system. We should give importance to enthusiastic young children’s physical fitness and well-being and strive to imbue in the students the significance of a healthy lifestyle, balanced physical and mental growth, and the imperative role of sports in achieving the same. This vision is prophetic, and there is no better time than today to implement it.
We realise too late the importance of nurturing mental health. By the time gloom casts its shadows, the stigma has already driven its wedge in deep. It’s essential to address it early, listen to our inner voice and share it with the trusted ones. Don’t try to suppress the pain, the hurt, the feelings and sufferings. With all the ills it has caused, the pandemic can be an excellent teacher to learn how to handle future catastrophes.
*Monika Khanduja, a young Diabetic Educator, Well-being Enthusiast and Change Maker, works for Ahlcon International School, Delhi.
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COVID‐19 and Children
By Ms. Manju Garg, Teacher, Ahlcon International School
Did you notice that the letter ‘C’ has shot to prominence and brought a sea of change in the lives of children through this Covid -19?
Millions of children have been adversely affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic. They have become vulnerable and sensitive to the changes around them which they had never seen or experienced. Words like corona virus, cases, confirmed, confinement, containment, curfew, chloroquine, cemetery, crematorium have suddenly been most heard and used changing their world completely. The closing down of schools have impacted them by confining them within the four walls of their houses and exposing them to the uncertainties, traumas of seeing the loved ones in the grip of the fatal disease and perhaps also losing at them at times. Fears, anxieties, and uncertainties have surrounded them, leaving them to learn some lessons which have been very heavy. The innocent souls who were opening their wings to take flight have been severed by this pandemic. Isolation, physical distance, and loneliness are challenging situations and children are missing interacting with their own peer group bringing several behavioural changes. They hopelessly see their parents and their family members struggling to meet the ends from providing medication to looking after their needs and providing support whether emotional or psychological.
Focusing on digital education, due to school closures, has inevitably widened the learning gap and children from low and high socioeconomic backgrounds are worst impacted. Anxiety about the future has risen as examinations have been postponed or cancelled because of the pandemic. These issues have added to their plight. Lack of competitive environment which schools provide for their overall growth has suddenly dropped marring the enthusiasm of children to excel, adapt to diverse environments and develop social connections thus, hampering their psychological and personal development.
One more major consequence of lockdowns and school closures is that some children are not able to engage in outdoor physical activities, especially if they do not have access to outside space, which add to their health problems like increase in weight and other disorders. It becomes very important for parents to monitor the behaviour patterns of their children that lead to inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle as maintaining regular physical activity at home is an important for healthy living during this COVID‐19 pandemic.
Students have also got addicted to social media and the Internet as they want to keep in touch with their peers, in turn getting distracted from doing their schoolwork and getting exposed to inappropriate content and cyberbullying. Social media exposes children to a greater risk of stress, anxiety, low self‐esteem and even suicide attempts.
Yet to deal with these difficult times, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and health specialists and educational institutions have advised parents to be caring, honest, reassuring them and explaining what practical measures they should take to keep themselves and others safe. Taking care of their nutrition has become imperative to children’s physical and mental development. This includes good balanced healthy diet laced with vitamins and proteins essential for growth as they have started facing issues like back pain, eye strain and disturbed sleep patterns.
Spending time with family is important to help them imbibe the qualities of empathy, humanity, and solidarity as they now need to learn the value of human life. It will also develop their self‐confidence build up greater awareness about unknown facts of health and hygiene, strengthening their inner self to face such challenges in future, building new horizons beyond home and school, learning to valuing and caring for nature, selfless devotion towards humankind.
In my opinion, the COVID‐19 pandemic has by now made a far‐reaching and long‐term impacts on children worldwide. Although some of these may be positive, the negative impacts are devastating and shall be affecting millions of children in some way or the other. Only continuous efforts and deliberations at the level of International healthcare organizations, children’s welfare organizations, governments, teachers and parents can minimize the impact the pandemic currently and, in the post, COVID‐19 era.
By Komal Chawla
A lot many lessons were learnt
last year, not only as an individual but also as a teacher. The poem is a
reflection of my thoughts as a teacher. I hope all those who read this will be
able to relate to it.
1. From Role-plays to Breakout Rooms
From Corridors to Waiting in the Lobby
From Let’s listen to each other to AM I AUDIBLE
From
compassionate hugs to content modules….
2. Things have changed like distant poles
We all tried to achieve our goals
But things are not that easy as they seem
Accommodating
learning styles and infinite patience is a dream.
3. Anxiety mental health loneliness has taken a
toll
No one really knows how to actually take
control
No same medicine can treat different ailments
Roads are
prohibited we’re stuck on the pavements
4.
The Titanic did sink with the heroic band
but we can’t let the ship sink
As we wait for the Incipience
burning like candles and spreading around Radiance
5.
Salutation to the unsung heroes
Salutation to the Not So frontline warriors
Salutation to the nation builders
Sailing
slowly but carefully in the storm laden waters
6.
Future is certainly uncertain though
Man proposes God disposes we all know
Don’t Sail away from the safe Harbour
Do catch the trade winds in your sail
7.
Mankind has survived through Turmoils
So yes we will Sail through
Sunshine will reckon clouds will clear
Explore Dream
Discover all the hues……
Explore Dream Discover all the hues…….
********************
Sustainable Development Goals 2030: Ushering the New Dawn
Ours can be the first generation to end poverty – and the last generation to address climate change before it is too late, though we have been ungrateful to our ancestors who handed us over the beautiful earth and are being blind to the fate of our future generations. The new generation is being brought to the world by us without realizing how they would survive and thrive in this mutilated world. Yet, as every cloud has a silver lining, among all the miscreants, there have been thinkers who dream of revolutionizing the world. Undoubtedly, they are the educationists and humanitarians who have thought deep over the global problems we face today. They advocate seeds of education be sown at the right place and right time. Schools and other voluntary organizations thus organically became the cradles of conscience and springboards of action. They are fostering youth agencies towards rightful actions.
With the help of these educationalists and philanthropists, UN identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2030 to combat the problems of poverty, gender inequality, hunger, and other issues. This 25th September will be a unique moment when the United Nations General Assembly with all 193 countries will celebrate , the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and fifth anniversary of the mega mission and universal plan of achieving sustaining development for all and creating a better world for all.
The 2020 Global Week to Act4SDGs, from September 18 to 26, will be a joint call to action for everyone– leaders, citizens, organizations, and institutions. 25 September will be a special day to mobilize people to take concrete actions, reaffirming the shared global commitment for the achievement of the SDGs. Each action will become a part of a global network of ideas and examples for others to follow. It will be renewing our commitment towards working dedicatedly and with determination for the three Ps -Progress of People and Planet by putting the Goals on priority and using the next ten years to deliver the highest and finest results.
Actions should generate actions continuously in a continuous chain as each link is important for attaining the SDGs. Hence the following parameters must be strictly adhered in loop as COVID-19 threatens to reverse the progress already achieved.
- Awareness: Increasing public awareness among citizens and all stakeholders, during public events or exhibitions, various online presentations at school level (presently), social media campaigns, community platforms.
- Accountability: Empowering aware citizens to help engage others and hold their groups accountable for working and announcing their achievement of targets through -Public declarations & presentations through media.
- Accreditation: Weaving individual actions with group work to represent the impactful change towards SDG achievements like-tree plantation, pollution control, working for climate reality programmes, to name a few.
The innumerous campaigns and projects that have been designed at multi levels to bring all citizens together to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals make schools the cradles of actions and have created and strengthened the student agencies who have promised to take the lead and fight these problems. The students are whole heartedly participating and coming up with innovative ideas and solutions. They have started realizing that the responsibility of development and sustainability should be shouldered by them and they should do everything possible to save the earth and make it a livable and lovable planet for future generations too.
Schools have also become the brand ambassadors of SDGs and are shouldering responsibilities to bring all together and accelerate progress towards the SDGs – also known as the Global Goals. They have made the students realize that the ongoing battle will be won only when they understand it is ‘for them and by them’ and that they need to fight for the world of their dreams.
SDG 2030 will for sure, present SDG 18 which will be an enriched capsule containing the amalgamation of the achievements of all the 17 Sustainable Development goals.
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