Issue 1 Connect JFM 2017
Featured Family The Mirashis
Who : Sachin , Tvisha ( 9 ), Swapna from Singapore .
What : Volunteering as a family for a week at an experimental school in Sewagram Ashram ( setup by Mahatma Gandhi and associates ) in an Indian village .
Why did you think of volunteering as a family ?
1 . We have been monetarily supporting causes close to our hearts - education and entrepreneurship and wanted to get actively involved .
2 . We also wanted to give Tvisha a different experience and perspective .
3 . Being a city family , we tend to take the comforts and conveniences for granted . It is hard to imagine a life without a soft bed , soft pillows , hot water in the bath , transport , education . Life in village is constrained due to limited resources there . We thought it would be good to step out of our comfort zone and test our adaptability as a family .
4 . We have set lifestyles - weekday lifestyle , weekend lifestyle , holiday lifestyle and family lifestyle . We took a break from planning , rushing , socialising and resorts and did something we hadn ' t ever before .
The experience :
The first day was a bit tough , but once we came to terms with the adjustments we needed to make in our regular lifestyle , we settled into the environment through the days . Then it was an outstanding experience - pure nature , lovely people , peaceful environment , intellectual discussions , gratifying teaching experience and vivacious children . We taught the senior students and teachers a module on entrepreneurship . We also got a rare opportunity to join in a march on foot through 6 hamlets creating awareness about quality education and equal opportunities for both boys and girls .
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