Anti-Smoke Bhogi Rally by AIKYA at Nageswara Rao Park

Special children of AIKYA, parents, special educators, Team Everest volunteers, Lions club members, Mylai police, and Chennai Social Service volunteers participated in a walk in Nageswara Rao park, Mylapore on 13th Jan at 7:30 am. Everyone carried a placard that had slogans about the ill-effects of burning old things on Bhogi day.

Devarajan, Lions Club President (of Chennai &Padi) and Rajkumar, Secretary of  Team Everest flagged off the walk. The participants shouted slogans and walked the entire stretch of the park. As there were several enthusiastic health freaks walking in the park, the slogan " Burn your calories, Do not burn trash" became very apt.

This is the first activity of the Social Responsibility Cell(SRC) of Serve India. The police, Ms. Parvathy of AIKYA, Kartheeban and Rajkumar of Team Everest spoke a few words about volunteering and bad effects of air pollution. Prema of Team Everest had taken great pains (cycling included!) to make the placards and flags at the last minute. Overall, it was a very successful and happy event for one and all.

Lions Club President Devarajan waving the flag to start the walk

Placards and Slogans - There we go!

Police was our friend

(L-R) Kartheeban, Prema, and Ms. Parvathy

AIKYA Opens Social Responsibility Cell (SRC)

The Social Responsibility Cell(SRC) was inaugurated at AIKYA on 11th Jan, 2012. SRC inculcates the spirit of giving and sharing amongst school kids through a range of activities. SRC is an initiative of Serve India of Team Everest.

Prema of Team Everest asked the children of AIKYA the meaning of the word Help. She then enquired how they helped their parents and grandparents at home. She asked if they shared their pencil and pen with their neighbours in class. In a lighter vein she asked if they stole anything from their classmates and if that was a help too. Ms. Parvathy, Director of AIKYA, wondered if the children can help their parents if they just kept quiet and did their work!

Later, Sukumaran a volunteer of Team Everest from CTS spoke to the kids about volunteering atleast once a month (12/365). The children were very happy to get badges for their various roles in SRC - Class Pilot, Student Secretary, and Student Head.

To view event pics, click here.