Unique Workshop for Rural teachers

“Due to the way of teaching and the belongingness with which the teachers teach, the children love coming to school. They miss school on Sundays! “, said Amit Chatterjee, a teacher from Burdwan district, West Bengal.

Param Pujya Sri Sri Ravishankar ji’s vision for holistic, multicultural and value based education for all has manifested in the form of 115 free schools in tribal, rural and slum areas which provide food, clothes and books to the children. The work is still on to reach out to many more children!

With the intention of standardizing the functioning and documentation of the school work and improving the teaching techniques, a unique 3-days workshop was held by the Art of Living in the Ashram on 18-20 February, 2011. Around 140 school staff from 17 states, including representatives of school teachers, Head Masters/Mistresses of each of the schools functioning under the aegis of Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth (VVMVP) and their State Committee coordinators, attended the workshop.

“It was a wonderful experience coming together to learn new teaching techniques and improvising ourselves, that too in such a beautiful place. 80% of the students in our school are first generation students”, said Amit Chatterjee. “This is the first time I’m coming out of my state. We had to travel for 5 days to reach here but it was worth it. I met teachers from all over the country and exchanged views and ideas. The workshop was enlightening and refreshing at the same time” said Jagatdhatri, a school teacher from Tenthuibari, Tripura.

The workshop provided hands-on training for the participants in the sprawling VVMVP school campus located near the Ashram as a part of the sessions. The participants were made familiar with the process of starting and running free schools with help from VVMVP.

“We faced a lot of problems convincing parents to send their children to school. But gradually, we have overcome a lot of these issues. This workshop has definitely empowered me to work efficiently and bring a better change in our villages” said Swapan Pathari, co-ordinator of 40 schools in Tripura.

The Art of Living has made education accessible to various villages. The programs have enabled parents to understand the value of education and created harmony amongst diverse cultures. The schools believe in imparting education which not only help the students materially but also emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Testimonials

M.,
age 26
“I had decided to go back to my anti-depressants before this (The Art of Living) course, but now I don’t need them. I will practice these techniques every single day for the rest of my life. I only hope other people are lucky enough to take this course. It has given me more help than I could have ever imagined possible. Thank you.”

Course participant

“I’ve been suffering from a loss of concentration, weak memory and extreme anger. Now I feel as if something heavy has been lifted from my back.”

Course Participant

“I found that this training of breathing is so useful and its benefit shows when I do it. I feel that my heart is stronger and younger. When I can’t sleep I just do the breathing and I feel energy in all parts of my body.”

Dr. Venus

“I feel peace with myself and have less stress. I think if I continue with the practice, this feeling of peace will continue to grow.”

M. Ali Bankat

"Before this experience, I was sad, depressed and starting to lose hope because of the situation here in Iraq. Now, after only four days, I feel confident in myself – happier, have hopes and dreams again and I feel that life is so beautiful. I have started to love everyone and physically I have much more energy and am able to do more things. I want to thank you very much for helping all of us feel better.”