IGIA Children's Day Celebration Video

On November 14th, me, Mathi, Sridhar, Shanmugam, Karthick and Gomathy started to IGIA after wasting a lot of time in transit. But we're surprised to see the children in the dining hall, rather than the classrooms. Yes, they celebrated children's day as well as their beloved Rajan mama's birthday. And by the time we went there, Anup was already there enjoying the kids performances. Here are some of the acts from the IGIA kids.

Click on the below Youtube link to enjoy the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdzyYg33Qyo

~Muthu Selvan.S

Weekend Activities: 22 Nov 2009

This was a special day for UWF as two new people were joining us for the noble cause. It was none other than Siva and Dinesh. Siva is from Arupukottai and we got to know from a UWF member Kishore. Dinesh, who lives near Chikka Ballapur, is a relative of our volunteer Sridhar and is from Cuddalore. Both were much interested to teach students. Siva had well prepared Physics for X standard as he was informed in advance. But we were yet to allocate subjects and classes for Dinesh.

The plan was decided the before night that Siva and I will come together in Siva’s two wheeler. Sridhar would meet us at IGIA around 10 am. And, Dinesh will come directly to IGIA. Sunday morning, Siva and I reached IGIA by 09:30 and Dinesh joined us by 10:00. We met Kokilavani and called in IX, X and XI students to their respective classes. But we were told that she will ask all the students to assemble after their breakfast. Finally all students came by 11:00 am. I introduced Siva to X students and Dinesh to IX students. I left to handle XI commerce girls.

Siva handled Physics while Dinesh Mathematics and Social Science. Siva covered Gravitation lesson fully and an introduction to Rockets and Artificial Intelligence. All the students were very attentive and very interested to study about physics. Kamal had come and handled Kannada for X standard.

I went to XI students only to see them very dull. Then I decided to take them to the computer lab after they assured me to write the test in the evening. In the computer lab, I opened up a spare CPU and was telling about the motherboard, processor, RAM, SMPS, HDD, CD ROM, FDD etc. They were very much interested to learn and many people jotted down what ever I told them. Their understanding was revealed in the test which they wrote in the evening.

Sooner, Sridhar joined me to help out the basics of computers. He posed a few questions to check their level of understanding. I found it to be too good, expect the same from him! Later I told them about keyboard, keys, mouse etc and asked them to work individually. After the classes were finished for X and IX students, Kamal, Sridhar, Siva and Dinesh joined me in the computer lab. We decided to teach each student individually on the MS Office package. We started the work with making them understand the folder structure, how to create a file, how to adjust the font size etc.

After this, we went for lunch . During post lunch, we had one hour of computer practice and again we went back to our class rooms. Siva was busy with physics, Dinesh with Social Science & Biology and I with Accounts test.

Around 5:30 pm, after the tea break, a few XI boys approached us that even they want to go to the computer lab and learn about computers!!! It was a shock for us. We can even state that its a success story for our association. Congrats people!!! Each one of you are part of this success! One of the Diploma students approached us to teach some physics experiment. He told that he sees us almost all the weekends and so he decided that we would help him out. Though we were not helpful, he was happy with us and our work. This is the second success story. When XI students were writing the test, Kokilavani had come inside. I was not in the class. And asked her if there were any problem as she was in the class. She told “neenga irukra varaikkum engalukku endha problemum illa, pasanga rumba nalla padikraanga”. This is the third one!!! XI student Sutharshana who was once saying that she is not interested to learn/study has started to say that she is afraid of the exams because she just started to learn things with interest. This is the fourth one!!! The fifth one, Warden accepting what ever we say. Its because of the trust!!! 5 success stories in about 4-5 months.

We were close to 07:00 pm and were about to end up the day’s tasks. As Sridhar was busy handling XI boys, I went for collecting feedback for Siva and Dinesh.
Please find the comments from the students:
X Students:
“Naan idhu varaikkum classa kavanichadhae illa… aana siva anna edutha classa rumba nalla kavanichaen… endha timela endha question kaetalum answer pannuvaen”
“Siva anna edutha concepts apadiyae en manasula nikkudhu. Epo venum naalum test vainga”
“Physicsku Siva annava thavirthu vera yarum venam”

IX Students:
“Biologyku Dinesh anna dhan venum, avaru illana Shanmuga anna… vera yarum venam!!!”
“Supera edutharu. Endha subjecta eduka sonnalum, azhaga enga ellarukkum purira madhiri edutharu”

After the feed back session, we started from IGIA.
Members, let us bring in many success stories in the future. It’s a happy information that almost everyone at IGIA has started to listen to us. They have started to show interest in studies. We can achieve more if the same pace is going on.

~Anup

Weekend Activities: 21 Nov 2009

I reached IGIA by 2:30 pm and was asked to handle IX Standard. I just advised them on to use dictionary and posed a few questions related to the words they had written from the dictionary. On the later part of the day, a few students from the Zepher group had come to handle IX and VIII standard. We asked them to handle the XI science group students also. They were very much eager to teach the kids of IGIA. Because of their college commitments, they are not able to attend the IGIA students on a regular basis. So we decided that only committed people would be handling X and XI students.

Karthic was handling mathematics for class X and VIII, while Sridhar was handling IX standard in the pre-lunch session. After tea break, Sridhar and I was into XI commerce girls. They were very much interested in Computer Science. So we had to teach them the basics of computers (from io devices, OS, program, interpreter, compiler etc). We spent time till 7:30 pm with the XI commerce girls. They asked us to take them to the computer lab and tell about the various hardware and software. They agreed to write a test on Accounts the next day.

There was a concern from the warden that we have to complete our classes by 5:30 pm. We later spoke to him and explained him about the practical difficulties on completing the classes. We had to tell about the time left over for their exams etc. Finally he was convinced with our words and agreed with a very few conditions, which was fair. These conditions would be posted after discussion/ consultation with the volunteers.

We spoke with the Zepher group in bringing in a doctor whom they know. There is no update from their side till date. We have to get in touch with the concerned person. We need to bring in a doctor for the various medical problems the students have.

While leaving, we discussed with Kokilavani regarding the trip and computer lab for XI students. We got a positive nod for the computer lab immediately. But for the trip, we were told that she has to consult with Mr. Rajan. After this we headed towards the main gate and left IGIA for the day.

~Anup

Tentative Exam Dates

Hi All,

We got to know the tentative exam dates for the students. Here it is:

XI -- Feb
X -- March
IX -- April

So, members please act accordingly.

Regards,
Anup

Children's Day Celebrations at IGIA on 14th NOV

Last Saturday, as usual Myself, Gomathy, Karthic, Muthu, Sridhar and Shanmugam assembled at Silkboard and reached IGIA around 10.30AM. The day was Children’s Day. We had a plan for the entire day and we had prepared to take classes for the students over there. But to our surprise, as soon as we entered IGIA, we hear sound coming from the students through the Audio System. Then we went to the Dining hall where arrangements were made for the Children’s day celebrations and some program was on the stage. Anup was waiting for us there and watching the stage shows. The School Principal welcomed us with a warm smile and she explained us the program schedule. She asked the students to repeat some of the shows for us. The students performed a lot of stage shows which showed their enthusiasm towards developing their talents apart from their studies. Few students sang tamil and kannada songs, few students played skit and few played dramas.

(Role Plays and Dramas)

At the end, they had fashion show. Students dressed like Dr. Radhakrishnan, Mrs.SoniaGandhi, Aadhivaasi, Spiderman, Bharathiyar, Foreigner, Traditional Malayalee Girl, Actor Vikram(PidhaMagan) and many many. I expected to see Our Nehru Mama in the form of any student. But they forgot him, even though they were celebrating the day because of him.

(Mrs.SoniaGandhi(back)and Malayalee Girl)


(ModernGirl)

(Aadhivaasi)


(Spiderman)

At last, Sridhar and Karthic addressed the students. Sridhar asked the students to improve their talents apart from studies. Karthic conveyed them the importance of Education and the reason for the children’s day celebration.

(Karthic addressing the Students)
Finally the students were distributed with the snacks.

(Students having their snacks)

After Lunch we continued to take classes for the VIII, IX, X and XI standard students till 8.15pm. This was a wonderful experience for us as we usually go there for taking classes or do our regular activity. We could see happiness on all their faces. Let us keep the spirit!!

Intouch,
Mathi

Weekend Activities: 15-Nov-2009

After a tiring journey the before night, I got up bit late in the morning and prepared Journal, Ledger, Trial Balance, P/L account, Trading a/c and Balance sheet to teach PU I commerce students. I started by 9:30 from Silkboard and reached IGIA at 11:00 am.

I met Gokilavani and called up PU I commerce group girls for accounts class. I started the class at around 11:30 after everyone were in. Initially 6 of the girls (Sujanthini, Sharmila, Subha, Priya, Sutharshana and Bhavya) hesitated to listen and stating a common reason: Tomorrow is exam and wanted to study.

But when I explained that accounts is an easy subject if we understand, they started to pay attention. I started with the first sum of their book. It took me 3.5 hours to teach the basics of accountancy problems. Once I finished telling them the concepts, they got full interest and started to ask for more sums and were doing it correctly on their own. Only at a very few places, they got confused seeing the data (it was even confusing for me). I asked them to figure out themselves. They were right 95% times. One or two incidents they couldn’t figure it out. But, they were able to solve sums on their own in 4 hours. It was a great achievement from their side.

Sharmila told “Engalukku idhu varaikkum collegela nadathnadhu onnumae puriyama summa okkarndhutu irundhom, aana ipo engaluku supera Puridhu. Romba interestinga irukku. Neenga porumaya solli kudutheenga, rumba thanks!”

After asking them to solve a few more problems, I just went out to relax. I was expecting them talking with each other rather than solving the problem when I return. But my ‘expectation’ was wrong, they were solving the problem with full interest!!!

I allowed them 10 mins for relaxation. Sutharshana stayed back and was asking me her doubts. She has interest, but, something in her makes her not to study. She has got a thought that she can’t study well. If we make her throw this thought, she can come out with flying colours.

I again started with the class. Then around 4, the bell rang for lunch. I left them for lunch and asked them to come back in 45 mins. I too went for lunch to the usual dosa shop. As it was 4, I couldn’t get dosa, I was given the left over rice with bitter gourd sambar. I came back in 20 mins and was waiting for my students in the same class reading accounts book. I found it more interesting now as compared to when I studied .
All of them came back and were saying that the food was not at all good. But still they felt sleepy (unda mayakkam). Then I moved on to take Ledger accounts. It’s the mere continuation of Journals. Initially they were bit confused and when explained, they understood the concept and started to solve problems. It was close to 4:45 pm and I didn’t want to force them further as they had midterm exam the next day (Monday).

A few more comments at the time of parting…

“Please anna, enga examku mundhana naal inga vandhu thangi solli kudunga. Naanga rumba nalla mark edukanum”
“Unga naala daily varamudiyadha anna? Neenga vandheenganna, naanga supera mark edupom”

“Romba porumaya solli kudukreenga, enga ellarukkum pudichirukku”

“Continuousa neenga ellarum vanga anna, engala motivate pannunga, naanga kandippa nalla padipom”

“Naanga ellarum PU I final examla 80%ku mela vangna, engala neenga mysore palaceku kootitu poganum”

After talking for a few minutes, I called up all X std students. I wanted to complete Matrices and ask about the homework given by Sridhar and Karthik. People forgot about Sridhar’s task. They remembered Karthik’s task of writing the answers for the test and they told they will produce the same during his next class (Saturday).

At 5:15, the bell rang for tea. I didn’t want people to go for tea immediately as they have to stand in the queue. I told you can go later, a few students, wanted to go immediately and they wanted to have tea that time itself. They gathered their gang and went off. I was waiting for them in the same class and was talking with Jasidharan. I got to know from a few people that most of the volunteers are not happy with the behaviour of X standard girls. They talk a lot and disturb the class.


After they came, I was asking them what is the necessity for us to form a team, plan and come to IGIA to teach people, rather than resting and enjoying at home? They were just doing their own work. One girl writing a letter, other one reading it. One watching outside. One scribbling something on her notebook. When I was asking them, the problem creator, stood up and told she was feeling thirsty. She told that she never drink tea. I got angry and started to scold each one of them. Finally they all were sorry and I started with alphabet pronounciation, basic Indian laws (teasing physique, colour, language discrimination), role plays and team work. I said about laws as our psychologist teased one of her class mate based on her height. She felt sorry for the same.

I got a sorry letter from our “pasakaara ponnu” for behaving odd in the class. All the students wanted UWF to take them out of the campus (one day tour) if they score more than 80% in their board exam. It was 8 and I wanted to leave. The girls advised me to reach home safely and take rest.

I said bye and started home. Reached home within 70 mins, had dinner and slept well.

Weekend Activities: Snapshot

31-OCT-2009
This week's activities started after Sridhar and I reached IGIA at around 10:30 am

I went to the X standard and Sridhar went to IX standard and we both distributed notebooks, pens and notepads in each class. These stationery items would be used to take down the notes from the black board and write atleast five English words with their meanings.

After the stationery distribution, we started to handle the classes as usual with Sridhar for Chemistry in IX std and myself for Economics with IX std students. We also decided to give the same stationery for the XI students.

One of our UWF member KamalNath got inputs on what to be taught in Kannada for IX and X standard students. He would be handling two classes every week for Kannada right from the basics.

Sridhar and Kamal had searched for doctor during lunch time but couldn’t find anyone. Later post lunch we had a synchronization meeting with a few college students on the subjects and topics to be covered and taught. We were open to accept them as volunteers in UWF. But they are yet to decide on it.

Post lunch:

Sridhar was tutoring XI science students and I started with X Mathematics.
In the mean time were told not to be too lenient with the students and avoid creating interaction between girls and boys in the class.

We were also asked to complete the class by 6 pm, else have the classes seperately for boys and girls. There were many reasons cited.

We started back to our home by 6:30 pm on our rocket :)


01-NOV-2009

It was Sunday, and its a routine for the IGIA people to wash their bed spreads, dresses and other clothes. So we planned to reach there a bit late. In the name of finding the shortest route, we roamed around and finally reached IGIA by 10:45 am. We were welcomed by our students and many of them greeted us gud morning!

It was time for our sessions. I went to the X standard to take mathematics and Sridhar was involving XI girls for the role play. The scenario was people interacting in a vegetable market/ groceries shop. As usual I went in to take GP and HP. I distributed their mathematics test paper which we had taken for analysis the previous day. We had our session till lunch time.

We had to meet a college student before lunch and interacted with him about his plans for IGIA. We told him about UWF and its activities. We three went for lunch at the near by dosai kadai. We returned back in half an hour.

Post Lunch:

After lunch, Sridhar went to handle XI standard commerce group girls. He walked through the Economics first chapter and made them understand each and every topic. They started to find economics easy. We can still make them to be masters!!! In the mean while I was handling X std again. I asked them to write a small test on AP, GP which most of them did correctly. People who were not able to get answers were because of minor/ silly mistakes which was notified to them to correct the same.

After about an hour we interchanged our class rooms. I went to XI standard and Sridhar handled X standard. I was handling Communication and Personality development sessions. I dealt with English Homonyms, word formation, extempore and public speaking techniques. Sridhar was interacting with the X students on devils/ spirits and their existence. The final conclusion given by Sridhar was: there is nothing like devils/ spirits. People can post their views on this conclusion :) :)

Later we went back to the class room to discuss how much we were productive for the day. The students told 95% fun and 5% studies for Sridhar's class :) :) And for me it was 65% and 35%. Sridhar set himself an AI that his productive hours should atleast be 65%. All the very best, Sridhar!!!

We dispersed by 6:30 pm and we had a talk with Kokilavani. We asked her to subscribe to two deccan chronicle newspapers and UWF will be sponsoring for it. We also ensured that the paper reaches the concerned people. We need to keep a track of this!

Action Items
1. Pull in more volunteers
2. Arrange for a doctor who can regularly visit the campus on our behalf
3. English – English – Tamil dictionary for students and English – English dictionary in the library
4. Ensure the stationery provided are used effectively.
5. Bring in more commerce grads
6. Pour in ideas for the improvement of communication