Values for the Yatra NOV DEC 2011

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ValuesValuesValuesfor thefor thefor the YatraYatraYatraArchdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter NOV-DEC 2011

Value of Selfless Service: DISPERSIONSelfless Service alone gives the needed strength and courage to awaken the sleeping humanity in

ones heart Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Lose yourself in generous service and everyday can be a most unusual day, a triumphant day, an

abundantly rewarding day! William Arthur Ward

Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility

service, and character. William Arthur Ward

DISPERSION is one of the characteristics of a Diamond. Dispersion, refers to an op-

tical property of gemstones whereby flashes and pinpoints of spectral colors are dis-

played as the stone is turned in the light. The dispersive colours we see are not really

there in the gem, instead, they are createdby the behaviour of white light in the stone

Dispersion results when light passes through a transparent material with inclined

surfaces.

Great people are those who imbibe in themselves this great Diamond Value of Selfless Service and Making

a Difference in Society. We see Selfless Service in abundance in nature. Nature is constantly in a loving act

of giving. The sun gives, the moon at night. The rain clouds break to water the earth, the busy bee gives us

honey and seeds break forth in new shoots to feed us. We can live because nature gives and gives freely!

Humankind, on the other hand, struggles to give in selfless service. A closed fist and a calculated hand

limits humankind to a Selfish style of living. Greed is Good! The eyes are focused on self and ones ownsurvival. Rich nations want to dominate the weaker ones. The Diamond Value Dispersion teaches us that

we can chose to be different: To live a life of Selfless Service and Make a Difference in Society.

Its takes a loving heart and a great ounce of courage to go against the normal grind. When one can truly

say, My life is broken for you, then lifes purpose takes on a new perspective. To give without

counting the cost and expecting no reward in return, is the secret of a Selfless person. The

corporate world too has taken the call to pay back to society, to reach out to the less fortunate. Sport

stars, Green Movements, Musicians, Hollywood and Bollywood personalities, Spiritual Leaders and

Students across the globe have taken the opportunity to make this world a better place. Selfless

Service people are big-hearted people. They care for the other. They are driven by compassion and

love. They are often misunderstood and their valuable work goes unappreciated. They have a

determination to move on, inspite of the odds and difficulties.

The Values for the Yatra invites all its readers to join hands in reaching out to the

World in Selfless Service. Begin in your own classrooms, the corridors of your

school, in your neighbourhood streets and malls, in your travel in trains and buses,

everywhere, every time, everyone can be reached out too in compassion and love.

This issue focuses on the Value of Making a Difference by saying

NO to EVE TEASING and Sexual Harassment in your school/ college

Dont be INDIFFERENT begin now You can make a Difference!

Lowe Glenford sdb


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Making a Difference:STOP EVE TEASING

Dates have a memory of their own. Events are recalled by the day it

happened. Days like 9/11, 7/11, 26/11 bring untold memories of pain,

suffering, death. Humankind stood in disbelief and asked, WHY?

The night of October 20, 2011 was another of those sad days in the history of Mumbai. Two young lives

lost to multiple stab injuries at the hands of goons and insolent young eve-teasers. As Keenan and

Reuben lay in a pool of blood, helpless friends called for help. The crowds were mere spectators to a

brutal attack. Where were the brave hearts of the day? the only ones who stood upfor the defense of

the young eves were the very victims of sexual harassment. 20/10 will always be another sad day in the

history of Mumbai and India.

So, what can you do? What can your school do? What can your neighbourhood do to make your class-

rooms, your streets, your public transport systems, your cities more conscious of the value of respect and

fight against the social malaise of eve teasing. No doubt stringent laws will be called for and the public will

no doubt be more vigilant. BUT, what can you do to make a difference?

As Value Educators there is plenty you can do to make a difference and to STOP EVE TEASING NOW:

Discuss the issue openly in the classroom using present day incidents.

Make your classroom/ school/ college an EVE TEASING FREE ZONE. Let students themselves

make stringent rules and monitor it daily.

Join the wider movements outside school/ college to show solidarity and support against Eve Teasing.

Families can play an important role. Get the Parents involved in the school to promote this Eve

Teasing Free Zone environment.

Promote the Value of Respect for the opposite sex through the morning assemblies, school debates,

and other social and cultural events.

Reward students who stand up for these Values of Respect and standing for this cause..

Invite students to discuss and stand up against the evil side of TV commercials that belittle women and

young girls.

Counsel and encourage student to a behavioural change

Invite various groups of Women to speak to the students

about the harm caused by Eve Teasing.

Let no one else die, because you remained silent.

Treat others as you would like them to treat you!


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Making a Difference:Self Evaluation

Where do I stand?

Value Statements and Behaviour Always Frequently Some-times

Few Never

1. Do I show respect to all, especiallystudents of the opposite sex?

2. Do I consciously make an effort toprevent situations of sexual harassment?

3. When I read articles about studentsbeing sexually harassed in schools, do Ifeel sad and protest against it?.

4. Do I stand up against my friends whoconstantly tease and harass otherstudents and advice them on the impor-tance and value of respecting the other?

5. Do I use the internet and social networkingservices as a means to text, upload photosto defame others or abuse them?

6. Do I violate the space of the other,

especially in public transport systems andmalls, by touching or brushing past orpassing remarks on person of the oppositesex?

7. Do I show respect to the Young Teachersin my own classroom by the words andcomments I pass?

8. Do I feel the need to report sexualharassment to the concerned authorities oram I afraid to do so?

9. Sexual harassment doest not always tar-

get the opposite sex, do I respect all in myschool and classroom?

10. Young boys too are equally the target ofsexual harassment, do you take thecourage to prevent such harassment.

Every Student and Teacher

Deserves a Safe and Comfortable Environment

Free from all Sexual Harassment and Bullying

YOUN CAN MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE START NOW!


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Making a Difference: NEW PERSPECTIVES

Youth LOST GENERATIONBy Jonathan Reed,

The poems structure was inspired by the Argentinean Political Advertisement"The Truth"

I am part of a Lost Generation,

I refuse to believe I can change the world

I realize this may be a shock but

'Happiness comes from within'is a lie, and

'Money will make me happy'

So in thirty years I will tell my children

they are not the most important thing in my life.

My employer will know that

I have my priorities straight because

work

is more important than

family

I tell you this

Once upon a time Families stayed together

but this will not be true in my era

this is a quick fix society

Experts tell me

Thirty years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce

I do not concede that

I will live in a country of my own making

In the future

Environmental destruction will be the normNo longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this earth

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic

It is foolish to presume that

There is Hope

(now read it backwards from bottom to Top)

What you Perceive, You Achieve .. Only if You have the courage to reverse the order
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFz5jbUfJbkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFz5jbUfJbk


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CHRISTMAS: Making a DifferenceAnother 365 days gone. A New Year ahead with equal opportunities and more. Its time to pick up the pieces,

review the past and reset for the future. For some it was getting wiser, for others growing older. Change is in

the hair. Christmas is here again. Gifts in plenty for all from tinsel to toys, cakes and cards, cribs and stars,

presents and prayers. But why not gift your self with something new this Christmas? Searching for a gift live

CHRISTMAS

Allow me to share with you a small Christmas reflection to make this a meaningful one

C: Christ-Centered not Crisis-Cornered

On your journey of life, change depends on where you set focus. You can be PRINCIPLED-CENTERED or

you can choose to be PROBLEM-CORNERED. The kings focused on the star rising. Herod felt threatened

by the rising star. Thaddeus Galas rightly said, Your daily life is nothing else but an expression of your

spiritual condition. Cornered people find no way out with no light at the end of the tunnel. Centred people

journey with enthusiasm from crib to cross to crown. Centre you life on Christ.

H: Holiness of Hope not Horror of Hopelessness

P. J Barley once said, It matters not how long you live, but how. The HOW reflects the quality of your life.

He was like us in all things but sin the babe who threatened a king, a learner-boy who astonished doctors in

the temple, the carpenter turned shepherd carrying the broken back to the Father. Dominic Savios life could

be summed up in these words; the older he grew, the better he became.

R: Repent and Respond not React to Revenge

John the Baptist ushered in a new era of repentance and reconciliation unlike Herod who sought to react. We

have the choice to respond to live the quality of life. In a rat race even if you win, you are still a rat. Gift your-

self with quality me time. Nothing is more energizing than living a life of peace through reconciliation. The

New Year must find you energised and alive, not stale and burnt-out with reaction and revenge.

I: Invite-In dont Intrude-In

Doors are labelled Push and Pull. It all depends on which side of the door you are. People are not doors

and neither are hearts. Relations are built on your own approach to others. People with an INVITE IN ap-

proach build bridges of love and friendship. Those with an intrude-in approach cut the branch on which they

sit. Incarnation is simply God allowing himself to be invited into the hearts of humanity.

S: Sacred-Silence not Secular-sounds

An Irish proverb goes thus, There is always something wrong with people, as

there is with a motor, when it knocks continually. Gift yourself with moments of

silence. If we really stopped to think more, we would definitely stop to thank more.

Only in silence do we discover the rich treasures of inner peace, joy, happiness

and forgiveness. Silent night echoes the mood of Christmas

all is calm, all is bright. Solitude is the soul of genius.


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T: Touch to Transform dont Transact to Trick

It is very hard for an empty sack to stand upright, said Benjamin Franklin. The global awakening can only

happen from a spiritual awakening that is of global dimensions. You can be the touch that heals the world;

you can be the touch that brings peace to people of good will. He laid his hands on them and they were

healed. He raised his hands and blessed them. Without Jesus inside us we will be empty sacks, loveless

hearts and closed-fisted hands. Take Jesus with you to touch and transform the world.

M: Miracle of Metaphors not Misery of Mediocrity

Your life is determined by your metaphors. If your life is a battle; then everyone is your enemy, every step a

death trap, every sound a bomb shell. If life is a banquet; then everyone is a friend, every step a celebration,

and every sound a drum beat. Change your negative metaphors and experience the miracles of abundanceand change.

A: Anchor on Acceptance not Anger & Arrogance

Change happens when one anchors in deep prayer, discernment and courage. In the midst of trouble, con-

flict and anger one can only spark chaos not change. G.W. Lyon said, Worry is the interest paid to those

who borrow trouble. Let not the sun set on your anger. Angry people never changed the world. Spirit-linked

people anchor in the port of transformation and send ripples of change.

S: Sailors, Ships, Seas, Storms and Shores

The world is not interested in the storms you encountered, but did you bring the ship to shore? How you cap-tained the ship is all that matters in the storm. Following the road map, hitching your wagon to a star, begin-

ning with the end in mind, seeking first the kingdom are all but the same. Difficulties and storms will always

be there. When you bring your ship to harbour there is always the celebration. The secret is in changing

course at times, ready to take a new path, knowing always that the STAR still guides and the port is there to

be reached.

CHRISTMAS IS ALWAYS A ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION. HAPPY BUILDING!!

Make straight the PATH through Values for the Yatra!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2012

AVEC Team


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Value Education Coordinators' MeetingThe Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC Mumbai) was back in actioafter nearly four months with an Orientation Program for the Value Education Coordinators from the schools affiliated to the Mumbai Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE). The Orientation was held in the Don Bosco Primary School, Matungon November 17, 2011. Over one hundred and twenty Coordinators representinover 90 schools participated in the event.

Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes welcomed the participants onbehalf of AVEC. A short prayer service organized by Sr. Vera Almeida set the tone forthe day. Fr. Gregory Lobo, ABE Secretary inaugurated the day with a few words of ad-vice and assurance of support to the AVEC program. Your students are not files, they

are people who need to be loved and valued, said Fr. Lobo.

Eminent speakers were invited to address the august gathering. Mrs. Elaine Charles,former Principal of St. Xaviers Teachers Training College was the guest speaker. She enlightened the ValuEducators on the What, the WHY and the HOW of Value Education. In her eloquent style, coupled with helong standing experience as an educator, she brought home the importance of Value Education in our schools.

Fr. Magi Murzello, Principal of St. Andrews High School Bandra, introducedcreative and innovative methods in imparting Values to the students. The spoke onMission Sunshine, a value based venture in his school, as a step in the direction ofappreciation and bringing sunshine into the darkened lives of people and students too.

Fr. Glenford Lowe, Director of AVEC enlightened the Coordinators on the Twelve Dia-mond Value Project that the centre has initiated in the schools affiliated to the ABE. Hegave a summary of the entire project and invited the schools to create an ambient that would foster such vaues. The role of the Value Educator was also highlighted in the session.

Mr. Jimmy Joseph, ASIA BOOK HOUSE presented their popular school book series Roadmap to Good Livingwhile Mr. Hiralal Makwana, Vichar Value Education Resources spoke the importance of Audiovisuals in teaching Value Education and invited the coordinators to have a look at their AV resources.

Fr. Savio Silveira, Director GreenLine challenged the participants to look at thimportance of being Greener people for a Greener World. Using current statisticand practical ways, Fr. Silveira showed how Eco-friendly Values could be initiatein schools to make students Respect the earth and its resources.

Value Education Coordinators took time to evaluate the activities of the AVEC and

proposed ways in which the bonds and communication between the Schools anthe AVEC could be strengthened. A new audio CD Assembly Songs for EverSchool was also made available. A DVD containing Value Education Resource

was also given to each participant.

Special word of thanks to Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, Sr. Vera Almeida, Mrs. Margaret Joseph and Ms. MichellDSouza for the efforts made to coordinate the entire program and to Fr. Derrick Misquitta, Administrator of DoBosco School Matunga, for the use of the school auditorium.


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Best Three in each category to reach

the AVEC Office before

26th December 2011. Winners will be

declared in the January 2012 issue.

NAME SCHOOL CLASS POSITION

Malcom Dastoor St. Xaviers Boys Academy, Churchgate X -! First

Saumya Suvarna St. Charles High School, Vakola XB Second

Franca DSouza St. Annes High School, OrlemMalad IXC Third

Saleha Bobere St. Pauls Convent High School, Dadar VIIIA Third

INTERS

Simeon Monteiro St. Xaviers Boys Academy, Churchgate VIIA First

Nidhi Shah Holy Family High School, Prestom Sagar VIIB Second

Payal V. Lohani St. Annes Girls High School, Dabul VIIA Third

JUNIORS

Carol Dias St. Annes High School, OrlemMalad VIA First

Ali Nalwalla St. Xaviers Boys Academy, Churchgate VI1 Second

Ashley Jose Convent of Jesus and Mary VI - A Third

SENIORS


Congratulations: Poem Competition

Use an A3 Size paper

A collage is a technique of

composing work of art bypasting on one surface

numerous materials not

usually associated with each

other like ribbons, photos,

fabric, feathers etc.

Making a collage is fun,

easy, and creative!


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NAME SCHOOL CLASS POSITIONSENIORS

Malcom DastoorDhruv JhaveriTanmay Laud

St. Xaviers Boys Academy, Churchgate X First

Sanat SalianPratik RamachandaniBansani MethaPranali Patel

Holy Family High School, Prestom Sagar IX AIX - AIXBIXB

Second

Lewis Kenneth Joseph

Gonsalves Rachel

St. Joseph High School, Juhu IX Third

INTERS

Declan Rego St. Dominic Savio High School, Andheri VIII A First

Sneha RohraVaishnavi NeelakantanSanjeevani PatilCherryl Fernando

Holy Family High School, Prestom Sagar VIIA Second

Nihar Chavan St. Dominic Savio High School, Andheri VIIA Third

Congratulations: Skit Competition

AVEC wishes you all aMerry Christmas andHappy New Year 2012


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AVEC E-Letter Values for the Yatra is an initiative to provide Animation Resources forTeachers involved in Value Education in the ABE schools/ Jr. Colleges .

Values for the Yatra is published every month and is forprivate circulation.Your valuable suggestions are most welcome to assist us in making Values for the Yatra

a useful tool of animation and bonding among the Management, teachers and students of the

ABE schools in Mumbai.

CONTACT:Fr. Glenford Lowe, SDB / Michelle DSouza / Rochwyn Fernandes / Margaret Dubey / Sr. Vera Almeida

AVECDon Bosco Youth Services, Matunga 400019 , MUMBAI

Ph: 24154477 e-mail: [email protected] blog: avecmumbaidbys.blogspot.com

AVEC Activities Nov2011

Canossa Convent Girls High SchoolMahim: Two-day RETREAT for 250 Students of Standard X

Don Bosco Institute of ManagementKurla: Two day LEADERSHIP CAMP at Don Bosco Karjat

One Day Value Education Coordinators Meeting at Don BoscoMatunga

on November 17, 2011.

Values for the Yatra NOV DEC 2011

Documents

Transcript of Values for the Yatra NOV DEC 2011