JOY FEST

Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachhan, Shriya, Surya and Narayana Murthy. What do you think all these people have in common? Yes you got it right… they are all associated with the nationwide initiative Joy of Giving Week and Sachin Tendulkar is its ambassador.

NIRMAAN Organization in association with the Students Union of BITS-Pilani is organizing JOY FEST from 26th of September to 3rd of October at Pilani campus. This fest is part of the nation wide initiative Joy of Giving Week. I hope, every one is very much familiar with the buzz these days, especially JOY OF GIVING WEEK and are equally eager to know what is going to happen at our very own campus. Well, this blog will clarify every question that has been nagging you. Joy of Giving week is an initiative by Give India wherein all socially active people come together to celebrate the joy of giving resources, money or time to people and experience double the happiness.

The events that we plan to take up during this week are as follows:

Dinner of JOY: Every day we see our mess workers serving us and helping us with a smile. Don’t you think they deserve to have it back? Yes they do, and that is why we have come up with an initiative called “Dinner of JOY”. It is a grub for mess workers, chowkis, sweepers and security staff of BITS-Pilani. This is going to be held on 30th of September in VKB mess.

Vastra Samman: It is a nationwide initiative by GOONJ for collection of Old/New clothes, footwear, school material, toys and any monetary contributions. We have collaborated with Goonj in this initiative by accumulating used articles.

Wonders of Your 1 rupee: NIRMAAN is greatly indebted to you for your wonderful contribution to the Save One Rupee a Day scheme. We have witnessed its impact and the smiles it is creating in our respective projects. This week we would like to provide a platform for everyone to visit our projects and witness the joy of our beneficiaries.
BACHAO: It is an aggressive paper campaign for motivating people to prevent wastage of food water and electricity. The main motto is to bring awareness among the masses and accordingly, the notices will be put up near water coolers, messes, switch boards and in bogs. We won’t be wasting paper because we will be using papers that have been used only on one side that are generally wasted by shop owners.

Newspaper Collection: For raising funds this week, the Students Union has given us permissions to collect and sell old newspapers from the students and professors of BITS-Pilani.

A team from NIRMAAN and Students Union has been given the responsibility of coordinating the fest. We are all eagerly awaiting your involvement in these events in order to make them a grand success. How can you get involved????

• Contribute newspapers to our volunteers.
• Become a part of Vastra Samman by contributing any used or unused articles that can be of some use to others. The articles can be used/unused clothes, utensils, footwear books, school material, spectacles; one side used A4 sheets and any monetary contributions.
• You can actively participate in Wonders of 1 Rupee Program and witness the joy that the kids of our projects or women of the Self Help Groups are experiencing. Contact: M. Venkat (9785033345)
• Volunteer for serving at the grub on 30th of this month and witness the joy in people’s faces. U can also sign up for the grub. Signings are for the mess workers not for US!!

“Sharing is caring”. This is what our parents taught us when we were kids. We were taught to share our lunch and stationery at school with friends, toys with friends in the colony and our belongings with siblings at home. This basic etiquette was inculcated in us by our elders because they realized the importance of giving in life. As we grew up this feeling got buried with loads and loads of work. We failed to realize the importance of this gesture in life and in turn forgot to smile. It’s never too late. Just wake up and make the best use of this week to show how much u care for others. The greater the response, bigger will be the event. Do not let off this opportunity.

SHOW THAT U CARE AND SHARE!!!!!!!!!!

Republic Day Celebrations, 2010

As the 60 years of a sound constitution neared completion, the volunteers of Nirmaan had a great day planned for their respective projects. After all, what’s a Republic Day with not all the citizens of the nation getting to know a bit more about it, the children not realizing its importance and not all getting to appreciate the Constitution’s role. Here is a look into a day well spent in various projects.

Gyan Bodh:

The self-prepared skits presented by the students of GB proved to by quite innovative. The volunteers organized a GK based quiz for the students from class 6 onwards which received a good response from the students who seemed totally engrossed into it. A spelling bee competition was also held for the 4 and 5 standard students. The enthusiastic participation by the students themselves made the evening a success.

Self Help Group – Harinagar:

The event commenced with a short speech on Republic Day. This was followed by emphasis on women empowerment through some short videos. This was followed by awarding certificates to 8 members who got trained and profit distribution to 4 women for the oasis bags order. Musical chairs, Mehandi competitions and dances adorned the day as all present had a joyous time.

Self Help Group – Khedla:

The profit earned from the Kurtas made by the women last semester was distributed amongst them. Flash presentaions on women empowerment were shown to them. This was later followed by fun session including musical chairs, tug of war etc.

School Adoption Program

A function for the distribution of sweaters to the students of Primary Government School, Bhaas was held. Shri Jagdish Sharma, a well-known industrialist from Pilani was the chief guest for the occasion. The Guests of Honour were Dr. R. P. Pareek, the chief doctor in Medical Centre of BITS-Pilani, Mrs. Kamla Devi, the village sarpanch and Mr. Hanuman Singh, a member of the Student Development Committee. Mr. N. V. Muralidhara Rao, the Dean, SWD, BITS-Pilani, paid a short visit to appreciate Nirmaan’s work for the noble cause.
The event started with flag hoisting ceremony and singing of the national anthem. Then, the chief guest and the guests of honour distributed the sweaters among the children. This was followed by a few words of appreciation from Mrs. Saroj Parikh, the school principal. Before leaving, the Chief Guest, Shri Jagdish Sharma, graciously presented Nirmaan with an amount of Rs. 2000, sponsoring some of the sweaters distributed. The sweets distributed among all the students ensured happy faces all around.

Operation SAHAAYA

To extend a helping hand to the flood affected people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Nirmaan Organization is planning to launch “OPERATION SAHAAYA” an initiative to setup "Relief and Rehabilitation" centers for villages of Kurnool district by personally being there and also by partnering with local NGOs. The plan includes the setting up of a 15 days camp at Singavaram and Nidjuru villages of Kurnool district and helping the flood victims through various activities like:

· Providing sustainable help in livelihoods for 100 Below-Poverty-Line households. Ex: If the families are surviving on cattle, we plan to provide cattle

· Providing books & stationery to government school children

· Organizing a health camp

· Any other request by villagers.

Apart from this, a number of Nirmaan volunteers have also confirmed to stay in the village for ½ a weeks to organize this camp. Till date 18 Nirmaan members have pledged to adopt one flood affected family each i.e. to raise Rs.8000 each and 40 Nirmaan Student Members have pledged to adopt two kids i.e.to raise Rs.1000 each. Nirmaan’s aim is to raise Rs.10,00,000 to help 100 families and 400 children. Nirmaan appeals to all of you to be a part of this operation by donating for the national cause and join hands with us in this Operation Sahaaya so that our brothers and sisters in those deluged areas can recover from this natural calamity. Remember, for bringing them back on the track of normal daily living, the contribution of each one of us counts. Let us for once be together and contribute to save the victims from this  extreme trauma.

To know in detail about Operation SAHAAYA, please visit: http://www.nirmaan.org/os/floodrelief.html

The Astro Session at GB

The annual astro-session for the children studying in Gyan Bodh was held on the 6^th of October in collaboration with the Astro-Club. A total of 65 students assembled at Gyan Vihar from where they were escorted to the FD-3 terrace by the GB volunteers where they gathered along with the children from NSS who were equally excited about the whole session. The members of the Astro-Club briefed them about the different heavenly bodies after which they were divided into groups of two for the sky-watching session through the two telescopes available with the club. The Earth’s moon, which was visible in such a magnificent detail through the telescope, astounded them all. The view of Jupiter along with its four moons left many in utter amazement as they witnessed what they had never even thought of. The session concluded with the volunteers escorting the children back to their respective homes while giving them some more facts about the night sky on the way. The loud chattering by the kids all the way back and the wide smiles on their faces clearly depicted the fun they had experienced.

Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at GB

The crimson sky turning a plane shade of yellow and magenta promised a cool evening, as we waded our way through the sea of sand in this desert island towards the towering Shiv murthi. Files of children waited for us. Clamorously reciting the old and well roted prarthna of GB filling the air with the secular recitation of "tu hi Raam hai tu Rahim hai tu Karim Krishna Khuda hua." As the dust settled and we finished the customary national anthem we announced to the great joy of the kids that on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, there would be no studies today.

Here were assembled children from all walks of society. From the poorest of families to the well provided English-medium kids. GB promises free and equal value based education to all of them. The little angels divided themselves into groups according to their ages. The major attraction of all events being a simple candy. The little brats of 1 to 5 were awarded to Sheetal, Sahil, Abhishek and me, Saurabh. Sheetal was surrounded by the buzzing bees and was going in circles trying to huddle up her flock. The rest of us were at wits end to do what, as our groups of children gladly merged at first and then dispersed only to be brought back by tired third yearites to their positions. As Abhishek unfruitfuly coaxed everyone of them to sing, I felt sorry for him. Then we managed a few performances after showing them the candies which they would get upon winning. A small kid who was no taller than my knees said 2 poems in greed of the candy. Aditya intervened leaving his apparently perennial and vexing job of being the audio visual quiz master for the umpteenth time for the elder children, and asked us to divide into groups and pitch our kids against each other.

As my nature is to do different things, I asked the children to enact a Hansel and Gretel drama, but to no surprise I had to be with every kid to say the next dialogue. The poor kids in my group who didn’t want to participate in anything were made to enact trees. Sahil had made leeway in finally teaching his allotted kids some poems and Aditya was finally ready to drop dead as so appeared from his expression. After the audio visual round, the competition started with a rather unsupportive audience and more enthusiastic volunteer group leaders. Abhishek and Sahil’s group recited a song with full hand actions and the age old way of reciting nursery rhymes. I thought that it was all a cliché and mine was definitely better. But to my great dismay the ‘witch’ of my play did not perform her part as she was shy and refused to eat Hansel and Gratel . So alas I had to force her to do so. With crestfallen head I passed the chance to Sheetal’s group. I guess she had got the clue as her group sang and sang as if in an opera… They could well have been a choir. They were the winners, hands down, but Sahil and Abhi were so enthusiastic that they asked their allotted children to sing again fearing the trophy of pride might be snatched away from them. All in all, everyone liked 1^st and 3^rd group. I wondered whether they forgot that 2^nd had also performed . Anyways, Abhishek got his reward from the congratulations that followed from the fellow volunteers. And my group was a grieved lot. So I promised chocolates to all of them.

Then we trudged our way back to BITS on the well beaten path. Cycle riders took off and rest of us walked slowly and staggeringly back to our yellow hostels still thinking about the evening class. Hence concluded the Gandhi Jayanti At GB.

To Give Is To Enjoy

“The Joy Of Giving Week”

(27 September 2009-3 October 2009)

www.joyofgivingweek.org

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy,

I awoke and saw that life was service,

I acted and behold, SERVICE WAS JOY”

-Rabindranath Tagore

We, a group of students of BITS Pilani and members of a registered NPO NIRMAAN, are trying to make an effort to give back to the society, to do something constructive for the society which we are a part of. And to achieve that, we are celebrating this entire week as ‘The Joy Of Giving Week’, an initiative by Give India. Herein, we are listing our few initiatives and we wish everyone to be a part of them:

1. 7 Days, 7 Gifts: Each one of us takes care of oneself all round the year, but hardly do we get the time to think of others. Let us keep this week apart just for others. Just give a small gift, each day of this week, to anyone. It maybe a mess worker, chowki, sweeper, redi wala, simply a friend or a Prof and look at the smile that this action of yours would bring to their faces. Believe us, that smile would be worth a million dollars!
2. Wonders Of Your Saved Rupee: The generosity shown by you people for the initiative of ‘Save One Rupee A Day’ taken up by NIRMAAN to raise funds for its undergoing projects, has actually done great wonders. We invite all of you to come to our projects and realize the change brought by your one rupee savings. You can willingly visit any of our schools to meet the children there or any of our stitching centers to meet the women learning and working there. To do so, you can contact:N. Trishool (trishool34143@gmail.com)
   (9983371239)
3. Saving is Giving: To save is to give. By god’s grace, we are getting everything in ample amount. But, there are millions of those who hardly manage a basic meal a day, who hardly get clean water, who have never experienced the benefits brought about by electricity. By saving, we are actually contributing to those in need. The three things you can save:
   
   • Save Food: Don’t waste the food in mess or anywhere. Take only that amount that you require.
   • Save Water: Turn off the taps when not in use. Don’t waste water while brushing/shaving.
   • Save Electricity: Switch off lights, fans, computer whenever you leave your room. Even if it’s being wasted at a place other than your room, try your best to prevent it.

The joy of giving is unmatchable. Experience this joy. This Joy Of Giving Week, be a part of it.

9983371239

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Sports Festival

The initiative to conduct a sports festival by the Nirmaan ICS team with the main motive of bridging the gap between the various schools and inculcating a competitive spirit amongst them proved be a success. The two day event commenced on the 20th of September with the inauguration ceremony which included lighting of the lamp by the sports incharges of the participating schools.

Saboo, Goenka, Mandelia, Bal Niketan, Khedla Government Middle School and Bhaas Government Primary School were the participating schools with a total of 257 participants, their gaze set on the trophies and a spirit of competitiveness ebbing from their hearts. The students from classes 1st to 12th were organized into four groups and the teams for different games were finalized. The participation of the two government schools from Bhaas and Khedla was a highlight of the event as it promised a proper channel of access for them to the resources and facilities of the private schools.

The two day festival, that filled the air with a sense of healthy competitiveness, came to an end on the 21st of September. The selflessness and sincerity of the ICS team was reflected in the fact that neither the burning sun nor the BOSM matches could hinder their efforts in making the event a huge success. The main objective of the event, which was to inculcate qualities such as teamwork and sportsmanship amongst the participants, seemed to be well fulfilled from a healthy involvement and remarkable performances by almost all participants.

A Preamble To Nirmaan

There is a lot more to service than what meets the eye. What act can be greater than the act of serving mankind? Krishna, even after being a prince, used to play flute for mute beings like animals. Prophet Muhammad said that feeding the poor and charity is one of the quintessential duties. Jesus Christ was known to cure ailing people and helping out the poor. Guru Gobind Singh had incorporated a way through which everyone was fed. Shri Ram ate all the cherries sabri gave him even when she was an untouchable. Florence Nightingale and Mother Teresa who were simple mortal human beings chose the same path of social service and upon this the whole of their lives were set. When Gods and great people have showed us the path then why do we shy from doing there bidding? Even though we may not realize it, but we are fulfilling a greater purpose in this world. It is said that if man wants he can move the mountains, emancipation of poverty then cannot be such an uphill task. It is also said that if man wanted he could change the world enlightening the impoverished, hence this is not as much a  counter current swim. The sense of satisfaction and happiness brought about by helping others is unmatchable. Yes we are the ones who have realized this and are striving towards a knowledge driven, economically empowered and a self independent society and we pride ourselves as Nirmaan – the creator of the nation we dream of.

We believe that it’s the fundamental right of every child to get educated and it is education alone that can bring about a social change. Apart from education, a person also needs a livelihood so that he can meet at least his basic needs. So, creation of livelihood opportunities for deserved and motivated but underprivileged unemployed is also a must so as to push the growth engine of the economy. Hence, we believe that education and livelihood opportunities are the basic necessities that any citizen must get fulfilled so that poverty which is a recurring problem doesn’t harass the society anymore. We work to provide such basic necessities to the society.

And now, we present to you Nirmaan and its various round-the-year activities in an interactive format. We are creating this blog www.nirmaanindia.wordpress.com so that there is a cohesive, comprehensible and conclusive knowledge amongst those interested on the whereabouts of our projects and a fun way to get updated with the latest news and the buzz in and around Nirmaan. It will be a dynamic blog. So you are heartily welcomed to comment on the updates, blogs or even the pictures. Any ideas, suggestion about posts or work related things can either be given through comments or if that’s too hectic, you can just mail it to nirmaanpilani@googlegroups.com .