RAMAPURAM GOVERNMENT SCHOOL- CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
Venue: Ramapuram Govt. School
Date: 23-Nov-2013
Dear Friends,
When I first
came to visit this school with the help of Joseph Sir [Alapakkam School Head
Master Sir] for inviting this school for Sports day function, Kanchana Madam, Ramapuram School HM was so jovial with me and offered me
coffee as well. The moment Madam told me about many kids who have only broken
families such as single parent and they struggle to make their living, the
coffee refused to go down my throat. Tears came rolling out of my eyes when I
was thinking deeply about the plight of the students studying in this school. I
then approached Nata and shared this news. He, without any second thought asked
me to arrange a meeting with Kanchana Madam and that’s how Dream India started
it’s another chapter in Chennai.
At 9.00 AM, I met volunteers Satish
& Vel in the school premises and exchanged greetings with them. Soon
they went together to Satish’s house nearby for carrying the DI banners and I
moved to meet and greet Ramapuram School HM, Kanchana Madam. Seconds
later Murugasen Uncle, Nata & Arun arrived and met HM Madam and conveyed
the DI’s Best wishes for the school.I then introduced myself to the school
staffs and started assisting them in making the kids of around 330 odd. nos. to
settle down under the ceremonial tent shelter-Shamiana.
Nata and HM madam had quick
discussions on alternate suggestions to the arrangement of Shamiana, which was
planned to implement in the next few hours. Kanchana Madam welcomed us all
officially once again over the mike by giving brief introductions about the
Dream India Organization and its activities and itinerary for the day.Lot
of smiles all around and I fought for the best angles to capture them through
my camera for some time in the morning before handing over the job of taking
snapshots to Vel.
Children’s day events at Ramapuram
Government School started with the Tamil Thai Vazhthu song.Then Mike went to the able hands of Nata who made
the announcement on the commencement of event Drawing Competition. We volunteers were instructed and assigned
random classrooms to monitor the making of arts for the next 30-minutes. Topics
ranged from Pongal festival to Natural Scenaries toFlowers to Dream India 2020,
etc., I spotted most of the art works in the classroom I was monitoring had
only boiling over of milk and rice in the holy pot with lines accompanying "Thai Pirandhal Vazhi
Pirakkum", “Pongalo Pongal”. I then
went around each and every classroom to click pictures of the drawing students
and no wonder that I happen to witness the same effervescence of Pongal.
Post-Pongal Competition, we broke ourselves
for tea and biscuits. It is during this interval, a student cheerfully came
forward to volunteer along with us to server tea and biscuits to all the
students. We felt really happy for him. Students were then reorganized
under the tent for the next event that needs a skill of clear and expressive speech, Elocution Competition.Students faced a
panel of three peoplewhich includes,a
staff of the school, Kabalishwaran-
an alumni and the best outgoing student & memeasuring every kid on the 3
C’s- Confidence [Pechu Thariyam], Clarity [Pechu Thelivu] and Content [Pechu Karuthu] on a scale of
10 each. An Aggregate from all of us would determine the first three winning
places. Few kids exhibited flawless articulation which made all of us to
unanimously award full 30 marks. It was heartwarming to see one student who
delivered his speech completely in English from Good Morning Friends to
Thank you All. Volunteer Satish read
out the participant’s names one after the other and kids ran to stage to
exhibit their talents. Vel made sure every participant’s picture is clicked
while they speak out.
Poetry Competition was
the event that next followed. However, this was not an actual competition that
includes judging & awarding marks. School has a rule of starting the day
with an inspiring kavithai every morning. Kanchana Mam initiated this and we
all got drenched in the poetic lines rendered by students.
A break was announced to allow
everyone to have a Meal that is not
regularly served during the school working days.Vel went around and captured a few random pictures of kids tasting
the wonderful menu comprising of various variety rice(s) before he sat for
lunch along with our volunteers. I personally went up to the caterer uncle and
conveyed my sincere thanks for offering such an appetizing food to all. I bet
there is no better feeling in the world than being appreciated for the real
hard work. I also regretted that I had only one stomach with food tasting like
this good in front of me.It was for the first time that the Ramapuram
School kids are participating in the DI
Quiz Competition. Students were divided into 10 groups of 5 each for Round
#1 & Round #2. At the end of Round #2, elimination resulted in reduction of
competing groups. It gave us all a sense of perspective on how competitive they
are and the students kept us on our toes with their enthusiastic participation.It
was volunteer Satish and Vel who
made all the teams as comfortable as they could through their best efforts
despite sprouting sweats in their forehead. A few questions were fired at the
audience and they were so prompt with their responses. Murugasen Uncle
& I made final judgments on the drawing competition entries. There was one
drawing which portrayed a human heart inside which India map was drawn. A
message said, “Nam Desathai Namadhu Idhaya Thudippai Ninaikka Vendum”. Uncle
and I in no time declared this must be the First winning entry and yes it is.Nata then
declared the results of all the competitions being held for the day. Kanchana
Madam and few other staff members thanked Dream India team for this memorable
function and I in turn gave a small speech from DI describing the way how DI
came to know about this School & thanked ALL.
Winners
received the prizes, cups, certificates with joy filling their face and heart.
The boy who volunteered along with us was during the tea interval was specially
recognized by Nata. The function ended by singing National Anthem with our
heads held high.
The Man behind
the DI’s launch of an educational kit distribution comprising of a notebook,
scale, pencil, an eraser & a sharpener, Mr.Arun received heartfelt thanks from every kid. I don’t know if
Arun or Vel remembers this special praise from a girl who said ‘Neenga 100 Varusham Nalla Irukkanum Sir’.
We all earned affectionate glances from all the individuals there.
Please check the below picasa web album link to view the photos taken during the function:
Nata wore a most cheerful Dream India t-Shirt that lifted all our spirits!!
- aravindh
