Values for the Yatra NOVEMBER 2012

7/31/2019 Values for the Yatra NOVEMBER 2012

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/values-for-the-yatra-november-2012 1/9

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter November 2012

ValuesValuesValues for the for the for the YatraYatraYatra

‘Called to be ’Value Gurus’ for Today’s Young

Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb

“There is no single effort more radical in it’s potential for saving the world than

a transformation of the way we raise our children” ‐Marianne Williamson

India celebrates Children’s Day every 14th November to coincide with the birth anniversary of Independent India’s

first Prime

Minister,

Pandit

Jawaharlal

Nehru.

The occasion focuses on the Celebration of Childhood. Childhood is more than just a chronological moment in the

life of a child. Childhood is about playfulness, innocence, trust, dependence, being loved and appreciated. Childhood

is life! Childhood is the bond that parenthood would love to nurture. Childhood is a spectrum of dreams, hopes,

anxieties and visions. Childhood is about pain, fragility, risks, hurts and disappointments too. Childhood is also

formation, discipline and falling in line. Childhood is the abode of creativity, spontaneity, colour, art and music.

Childhood is joy, peace, hope and love. Childhood is a daily celebration. Childhood is the key to the Kingdom of God.

But sadly, Childhood in India is a lost treasure. Children, at times , are seen as an economic burden, a stumbling

block to parental ambitions and self seeking pleasures and often victims of social and religious fallout. Children are

often the victims of abuse in all forms especially in the very place they call ‘home’.

A UNICEF 2005 report on the state of the world’s children under the title “Childhood Under

Threat” says that over one billion children, half of the world’s population of children, have been

denied their childhood. Poverty and AIDS have prevented the world from meeting the goals on

their improvement. Their right to a healthy life as adopted in the 1989 convention is often endan‐

gered by the failure of governments to carry out human rights and economic reforms. It is re‐

ported that some 640 million children lack adequate shelter; 400 million have no access to safe

drinking water; 270 million lack health care amenities and 140 million — mostly

girls

—

have

never

been

to

school.

It

was

earlier

reported

that

more

than

150

mil‐

lion children are malnourished worldwide.

As we celebrate Children’s Day, can we once again bring back CHILDHOOD to the

little ones? India has a lot of children, but with very little childhood. Child Labour,

Child Abuse, Child Prostitution, Child Trafficking, Child Malnutrition, Child Soldiers

and a whole lot of other forms of abuse are on the rise. Children’s day is more

than just a colorful school assembly or a fancy dress performance.

Children’s Day is an invitation and a call to stand for the rights of the child and to

recognize in every child the greatness of a genius that lies therein.

AVEC wishes all our students HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY and we pray that all our

educational institutions become homes where CHILHOOD is never under a threat.

The ’Value’ of

CHILDHOOD



“Childhood is being stolen away from our children, who are clearly vulnerable to the

messages and influence of powerful corporate interests. Children have a right to their

childhood, and to deny them this right is detrimental not only to their general health

and well‐being, but also the health and well‐being of our whole society.”

Archbishop Freier

Julie Gale, the founder of ‘Kids Free 2B Kids,’ lamented the “pornification of our

culture” and that the average age of exposure to porn is now 11 years. This was

affecting the way boys and girls now relate to each other during their childhood.

Professor Beder, who is co‐author of This Little Kiddy Went to Market: the Corporate

Capture of Childhood , says, “Many children are becoming unhappy and depressed,

and the unhappiness then creates “an opportunity for the pharmaceutical companies”

The Person you can become! GIVE ‘CHILDHOOD’ A CHANCE



CHILD PROSTITUTION:

India is

becoming

a ‘large

scale

hub’

for

child

prostitution.

Presently,

there

are

over 1.5 million involved in the trade. UNICEF estimates that over 1.8 million

children enter the flesh trade each year worldwide! In Mumbai, a 9 year old

child can be bought for R 60,000/‐ or US$ 2000 at auctions!.

"Child prostitution is the ultimate denial of the rights of the child."

(Dr Jon E Rhode, UNICEF representative in India)

CHILD LABOUR: “India has nearly 55 million children working as bonded labourers in agriculture, mining, brick‐kilns,

construction work,

fishing

activities,

carpet

weaving,

fireworks,

matches,

glass

moulding,

bidi

‐

making (cigarettes), gem‐cutting and polishing work, electroplating, dyeing, washing and domestic

work. About 20 percent of these bonded child labourers were sold to cover some small debts

obtained by their parents, usually for some social celebration like a wedding in the family”

Varandani G., Child Labour and Women Workers

CHILD ABUSE: 53% of children in India face some form of child sexual abuse! In

India, one case of child abuse is reported every 10 seconds. Over 80 per cent of

child abusers are known to the child. Child Abuse give statistics and reveals how

they become wary adults and have dysfunctional relationships because of such

scars. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that one in four girls and

one in seven boys are sexually abused. Abuse can be – psychological abuse, neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse.



According to CRY (Child Rights and You) 8,945 children go missing in India every year

500,000 children are estimated to be forced into the sex trade every year

Approximately 2 million child commercial sex workers are between the ages of 5 and 15 years

Approximately 3.3 million child commercial sex workers are between 15 and 18 years

Children form 40% of the total population of commercial sex workers

80% of

these

children

are

found

in

the

five

metros

–

Delhi,

Mumbai,

Kolkata,

Chennai

and

Bangalore

71% of them are illiterate.



CHILD TRAFICKING: "Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 victims are trafficked across international

borders annually. More than half of these victims worldwide are children!"

India is a source, destination, and transit country for trafficking for many purposes

such as commercial sexual exploitation. Majority of the trafficking is within the

country but there are also a large number trafficked from Nepal and Bangladesh.

Children are trafficked to Middle Eastern countries for sport such as camel racing!

The Time of India (Nov. 1, 2012) recently reported the following: 68% mothers, who were housewives,

agreed to spanking their children. "The fact that in most households, the fathers were working full time

and their absence from home left mothers to take the responsibility of disciplining the children and

thus, spanking them to gain control,” said Swati Popat Vats, Director of Podar Jumbo Kids.



Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter December 2009

Diamond Values:Education to Becoming

ECOLOGICAL VALUES: DIWALI PROJECT 2012

The Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC) invites students in the schools affiliated to the ABE to participate in

the ‘DIAMOND VALUES: EDUCATION TO BECOMING” Competitions.

For the

month

of

November,

AVEC

focuses

on

promoting

Ecological

Values.

SOME GUIDELINES: A PROJECT is a school program and not an individual student entry. The whole school/ or a particular class will have

to be involved. Since it would be during the Diwali holidays, a few ideas are thrown open for students to embrace

ECOLOGICAL VALUES. Most Indian festivals are noisy and environmentally filthy!

VOICE AGAINST NOISE: Noise levels during this year’s Ganpati immersion were higher than last year, according

to the readings taken by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the authority for monitoring noise

pollution. It recorded the readings at 25 places and at most of the places, the noise levels have risen. Adopt

the slogan ‘VOICE AGAINST NOISE’ and create a safer environment. HEALTH IS WEALTH: Respect the elderly in the neighbourhood. Educate students on the need for QUIET NIGHTS!

Exposure to night‐time noise also induces secondary effects, which are measured the day following the night

‐time exposure, while the individual is awake. The secondary effects include reduced perceived sleep quality;

increased fatigue; depressed mood or well‐being; and decreased performance. Diwali related burns and acci‐

dents are ever on the increase among children.

PROTEST AGAINST CHILD LABOUR IN CRACKER INDUSTRIES: Child labour is a curse to society and a crime to hu‐

manity. Statistics of Children reveal that over 40,000 young children work in forced labour and under hazard‐

ous conditions to manufacture crackers for Diwali in Siwakasi, Tamilnadu alone!

INVEST IN LIGHTING UP A LIFE: Crackers burn up money! Challenge your students to invest their money in light‐

ing up a young Life. Sacrifice your money for crackers and buy text books, school stationary, games articles,

food stuff, clothes and blankets etc for the less fortunate.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR BIRDS and ANIMALS: Get your school environment clubs to enlighten the school

(through school assemblies, notice boards, debates, etc) on the hazards of burst‐

ing crackers for birds, animals and even your own pets at home. Dogs and cats

cower in fear as birds spend a sleepless night on their perches, with some even

falling victim to the rockets and air‐borne firecrackers. Animal welfare activists

who have been crusading against cruelty to animals fear that this year too, fire‐

works would leave many stray and pet animals and birds dead or mutilated.

Send us a Project Report of what your school has done and the difference that your students created in promoting

an Eco‐ friendly Diwali celebration. The report should also include photos, comments from students, parents,

school neighbourhood.

Diamond

Trophies

will

be

awarded

to

the

best

ten

schools!

God bless you all . AVEC TEAM

Make A Difference





TEACHERS 4 CHILDHOODDefending Childhood—Building Lives



My Value based Principles in Defending the Child Never Seldom Often Always 1. As an Educator, I seek the good of the child and enable the child to grow

and

develop

in

a

non‐

threatening

environment.

2. Children feel safe in my care. They are comfortable in my presence.

3. The Rights of the child are made known and explained clearly to all

children in my classroom.

4. I take care never to abuse the child in public through my harsh words and

actions.

5. Children in my care understand that I can be trusted and will do them no

harm. I am ‘aware of the boundaries’ I have to keep.

6. I do not discriminate any child on account of his/her Caste, Creed, Sex or

Economic Status.

7. I educate my children in my class on the need to be careful with strangers

8. I understand the dangers and harm that Corporal Punishments could

cause the children in my class.

9. I recognize the need for creativity and fun in the educative journey of the

child.

10. I intervene in the life of the child when I notice any form of abuse has

been inflicted on them either at home or at school.

11. I enable the children to defend their own rights whenever they have

been violated upon.

12. I educate Children on the dangers of Internet and social networking

sites as potential areas for cyber abuse.

13. I promote healthy relationships between all the children of my class.

14. The children in my class find me a friendly and caring person in whom



AVEC: Activities for OCT’12



Value Coordinators Forum; October 4, 2012

OCTOBER 4, 2012: The annual Value Education Coordinators’ Forum for the

Archdiocese of Mumbai was organized by Archdiocesan Value Education

Centre (AVEC)

on

October

4,

2012

at

Don

Bosco

Primary

School

Hall,

Matunga. Two hundred and twenty Value Coordinators representing over

hundred schools affiliated to the Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE) par‐

ticipated in the Value Forum. Ten principals of schools also took part. The

Forum centered on two relevant themes – ‘Peace’ and ‘Environment’, both

dear to the heart of St. Francis of Assisi on whose feast day we assembled. Fr. Donald Fernandes, Principal of Don

Bosco High School and Junior College and Director of Don Bosco College, Yerwada gave a fitting keynote address. He

affirmed, “Values are not taught but caught by the young through the people who surround them”.

AVEC Coordinator, Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes briefed the gathering on the

progress made

by

AVEC

in

achieving

its

targets

and

objectives

during

the

last triennium 2009‐2012. AVEC Resource person, Sr. Vera Almeida ani‐

mated a very meaningful prayer service. Principal of Don Bosco –

Matunga, Fr. Bosco D’Mello welcomed the august gathering to his school

and considered it a privilege to host the annual Value Forum 2012.

‘Diamond Value mementos’ were presented to all the guests of honour.

President and Founder of the One Life Alliance (OLA), Mrs. Kia Scherr

and survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks inspired one and all through her ‘tragic story’ now turned to being an instru‐

ment of Forgiveness, Peace, Love, Compassion. “Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does change the present.

Forgiveness is

a skill

you

can

learn.

It

is

a choice”,

she

kept

challenging

the

listeners.

One

could

sense

sacredness,

the

‘Jesus Difference’ in her life. “She truly is inspiring and we cannot but join hands in supporting her cause for Oneness

and Sacredness of Life in our educational system”, remarked a young Teacher.

Educational Consultant and Principal of Sheth M.A. High School, Andheri,

Ms. Sherly Paul through her very passionate and enthusiastic style, spoke

of her life changing encounter with Kia Scherr. “My school is on the road to

transformation because of her. I see a ‘Ray of Hope’ for my institution and

we pledge to keep alive the values of the One Life Alliance. It is not a bur‐

den, a one‐more‐activity for the school. It is a program that envelopes Val‐

ues into

the

lives

of

every

teacher,

student

and

member

of

the

broader

community”, she affirmed.





Asia Book House Education Publishers, Mr. Sanjiv Philips presented their

‘Road Map to Good Living’ a Value Education Book Std I‐X series for

schools. Asia Book House joined hands with AVEC since 2009 in promoting

Values through good literature. They also presented stationary, books and

a nice ‘Teacher’s Day’ memento to all the participants. AVEC 36 Value Post‐

ers and a DVD resource were also handed to all.

The afternoon session focused on the ‘Value of Caring for the Environ‐

ment’. Founder of ‘I Love My Mother Earth’ Foundation (ILMME), Mr. Sanjay Srinivas challenged the Value Coordina‐

tors through

a new

perspective

to

get

the

students

on

board.

“We

only

extract

from Mother Earth. It’s time we gave back to Mother Earth”, he implored. Using

simple ways in which his foundation contributes to Mother Earth was very re‐

vealing. Director of GreenLine ‐ a Don Bosco Initiative, Fr. Savio Silveira spoke of

the Green Schools Campaign as an ‘Opportunity for Creating the Next Genera‐

tion of Environmental Leaders’. In presenting a number of student‐school green

initiatives, he invited many more schools to promote ‘Greener people’ rather

than just one‐more‐greener ‐project. Presently 40 schools have joined the campaign.

Mrs. Kia Scherr presented ‘Diamond Value: Education to Becoming’ Trophies and

certificates to

various

schools.

Director

of

AVEC,

Fr.

Glenford

Lowe

appreciated

the

work put in by his AVEC Team in making this year’s School Value Coordinators’’

Forum 2012 a grand success.

AVEC Correspondent





Our Lady Of Nazareth—Bhyandar, STD IX Value Education Orientation ‐ Two Sessions for 385 Students, 17 Oct ‘12

Don Bosco Spiritual Adventures—Lonavala 26‐28 Oct, ‘12

ECOLOGICAL VALUES

A SCHOOL PROJECT“Promoting an Eco-Friendly Diwali”

Send us a Project Report of what your school has done

and the difference that your students created in pro‐

moting an Eco‐ friendly Diwali celebration. The report

should also include photos, comments from students,

parents, school neighbourhood. Diamond Trophies will

be awarded to the best ten schools!

For clarifications,

please

call

the

AVEC

office

Reports to reach the AVEC Office before 27/11/2012

AVEC COMPETITION

DIAMOND VALUES:

Teacher’s Lesson PlansLast date: December 27,2012

Prepare a full 40 minute lesson plan ( both students

and Teacher’s manual) on any of the 12 DIAMOND

VALUES of your choice for any class from Std I – Std X.

Please go through the Structure and the Summary of

the 12 Diamond Values as proposed by AVEC.

AVEC COMPETITION



Values for the Yatra’ is an initiative to provide Animation Resources for Teachers

involved in Value Education in the ABE schools/ Jr. Colleges .Values for the Yatra will be published

every month and is for . Your valuable suggestions are most welcome to assist us

in making Values for the Yatra a useful tool of animation and bonding among the teachers and stu-

dents of the ABE schools in Mumbai.

Fr. Glenford Lowe, SDB / Rochwyn Fernandes / Sr. Vera / Veronica D’lima

AVEC—Don Bosco Youth Services, Matunga 400019 , MUMBAI

Ph: 24154477

[email protected]

avecmumabidbys.blogspot.com avec mumbai

Diamond Values:“Education to Becoming”

Personal ValuesPoem Competition: My Teacher—My Value Guru

Certificates of Merit will be awarded to all the Winners of the ‘Diamond Values’ Competition

Congratulations to the Winners

SCHOOL Name Place Seniors St. Anne’s High School, Fort Saloni Gopani X –B First

Don Bosco Senior Secondary, Nerul Smriti Sarma X Second

Campion School, Fort Ravishankar Sarkar IX Third

Inters Divine Child High School, Andheri Rithvi Shetty VIII –D First

Campion School,

Fort

Shaayal

Chatterjee

VIII

Second

St. Andrew’s High School, Bandra Carlton Rodrigues VIII B Third

Juniors St. John the Baptist, Marol Ketan Kandori VI‐D First

St. Anne’s Girls’ High School, Dabul Mitali Gohel VI‐B Second

St. Anne’s High School, Fort Prerna Thandani IV—B Third

Campion School, Fort Aaryan Chopra V Third



Documents

Values for the Yatra NOVEMBER 2012