Sharing - Shared Reading

When Shared Reading started at Umang in VIDYA, we just did not know what to expect. It looks fun, vibrant, and such energy, but we didn’t know if we can have uninhibited participation from all our children. But a few sessions old today, I can share that Shared Reading is an gem of an addition to our Program.

Shared Reading is done with Big Books, which are blown up representation of small story books with big drawings and more colour! Big Books are created so that the stories can be read out to a group of children together. Drama, sound and action reinforce meanings and language usage is followed by session on creative art expression, or writing and closing the session the children are encouraged to look through numerous story books.

The animated voices from the story, little elements of drama and freestyle body movements bring out the children in all of us alike and such joy with the kids! The children are asked to act out words, lines and stories and sometimes just be themselves. When one of first sessions ended a little chick made an appearance from one of the volunteers pouches and asked what the kids will do next? They all shouted, “Study” and “me too” said the chick. The chick is a regular at the sessions nowadays.

I reckon, somethings are just instant hit!

Power of Pen, Ambition and Dreams

On Children’s Day in VIDYA’s Gautam Nagar program, we had a special session with the kids. The session was called “I have a Dream!” The kids had to draw on paper what they want to be in lives. Before we started with the drawing, we thought it to be a fun ice-breaker to just ask our kids what they wanted to be in life when they grow up. When we started asking we thought it was getting repetitive with engineers, pilots and doctors. So we just eased up a bit asked, “How many of you want to be a doctor? Raise your hand!” and so forth for a Pilot, Police Officer, Teacher, Engineer. A shy boy sitting right in front of me was just sitting and I noticed how he hasn’t answered. So I asked him, “आपने हाथ नही उठाया? आपको कुछ नही बनना? ” He stood up, and said in a loud voice, “मैं कवि बनना चाहता हूँ ”.

Meet Vikas.