Strides Newsletter || V-Excel Educational Trust

Strides Newsletter - January 2020 - Issue 165

Academy of Teaching Excellence

Students participating in the Annamalai University programs had their written examinations in December 2019 while the viva-voce was facilitated by Dr. Santhanam and were held on January 9th 2020.

Examinations for V-Excel's PG Diploma in Multiple Disabilities and Diploma in Inclusive Education program were conducted. There was ine examination scheduled per day for each of the 4 papers. Answer sheets have been handed over to the faculty for grading.

The viva-voce of these candidates was facilitated by Mrs. Gita Bhalla for The All Inclusive Program and was held on January 2nd to 4th, 2020.

Plans to start Sign Language classes are underway.

Counseling & Assessments

The month of January was full of celebrations and various learning activities. Our regular activities of the counselling desk at the corporate and our regular counselling clients have been continued. There are five new people who have started coming for counselling. Puja our art and movement therapist was invited to conduct movement at an Autism conference which took place in January in Chennai.

Play therapy sessions for VRC, KLC and BLA continued. Reports have been sent for the first term for the VRC children who were seen for individual play therapy. The play therapy sessions work with children to regulate their emotions and transform their behaviours. Parents have reported a lot of improvement in children who have been coming for play therapy in VRC. We also realised that equally important is to work with parents to sustain the improved behaviour of the child.

Puja have been seeing children for art and music to work with some of the KLC children. As we have seen many a times, the annual day practice serves as a therapeutic activity for many. Their so called hyperactivity, anger, aggression gets sublimated by the characters they play.

Regular sessions to work on individual difficulties and preparing the trainees for placement are going on in YES and VTU. Parents have been met to prepare the parents and making them ready for the placement of their sons or daughters. Our counselor in YES has met two parents whose wards will be trained for Nivesh our initiative with parents in vocational activity. Grooming becomes the most challenging and important aspect for which the trainee needs to be prepared.

Our psychologist conducted a vocational assessment for one of the children who had come for consultation through our MAVAMA program.

Apart from individual sessions with the teachers and staff from all the units, Counselling department also conducts inservice for the teachers. This month we started a three sessions inservice with KLC on Conflict Resolution. Looking at conflicts in our own life story and looking at patterns so as to not to repeat it. Can conflicts be our educators in overcoming our own difficulties by looking at the gesture of the conflict. It was recieved well in the group. We started the process by singing, followed by a game followed by giving a bit of a background and then group work.

A parent group has been initiated at VTU and we hope that it becomes a healing space for the parents on a regular basis. Parents have been met regularly. There have been many inquiries for internships from undergraduate and postgraduate students this year. They work very dedicatedly and it’s always been an asset to have them.

Early Intervention

From Lalitha Sridhar's Desk

Encouraging early speech and language in young children

The age at which the children learn the language and start talking can vary. Speech is the verbal expression of language and includes articulation (the way sounds and words are formed). Language is the entire system of giving and getting information in meaningful way. It is understanding (Receptive language) and being understood (Expressive language) through communication – verbal, non- verbal and written. Developmental milestone in communication at different ages is as follows:

Pointing and naming (0 – 1 ½ years)
Receptive language (1 ¼ – 2 ½ years)
Expressive language (2 ½ upwards).

Any child that does not meet the age appropriate milestone is considered as the child having speech and communication lag.

Activities to encourage early speech and language.

Get the child’s attention. Keep the child’s attention by doing things together.
Copy what the child does. Help the child to point and name the object. Start with the object of interest.
Blow bubbles and pop the bubbles with finger and encourage child to use his/her finger to pop too.
Take turns – In conversation we take turns to talk. Take turns in games. (E.g.) pushing car to each other, throwing ball.
Copy what your child, says and add 1 more word. If child says ‘car’, say ‘big car’ or ‘car go’.
Expect your child to communicate – Give choices and wait for him to communication by pointing or talking.
Keep your talking simple – Use same wards when doing the same activity every day.
Help the child to understand what a word means, and help him use it appropriately.
Start with Naming of object, person, food, clothes, animals, transport.
* Action words (e.g.) Go! Up! More! Bye!

* Position words (e.g.) where things are

* Describing words (e.g.) hot! Big!
Talk about what you are doing and what he is doing while you are doing it.
Play action games, yes/no games.
Ask questions.
Help the child to join words together.

Talking should be fun and useful. Motivate the child to talk. Take time to listen to him when he tries to talk. Use good speech that is clear and simple for the child to model.

Kaleidoscope Learning Centre

From Gita Bhalla's Desk

The New Year began with anticipation. Like a bud waiting to unfurl. After months of hinting, talking and discussing it aloud the time had come for our annual play to be announced and practice was to commence. This time a step ahead, the theme, script, screenplay all original, a never before told fairy tale has been born. Ideas from the students, brainstorming by the staff and then etching our characters, story, including the travails and challenges that a fairy tale cannot miss having and excluding the quick dash to the present where the tale then becomes contrived. Great care has been taken to keep the elements of storytelling in place and keeping our everyday speech and mannerisms away to give it an authentic flavour!

Towards this now, practice has begun in right earnest and different units are collaborating and each practicing their part for it to all come together in the last week before the play. A little bit more about the how and why of the annual play becoming of monumental importance to our center.

Each year the stage production becomes a vital part of the school curriculum where in more than 150 children with varying disabilities and marked sensory disturbances perform on stage with the help of their teachers and therapists. In our experience, over the years this one event turns about a healing experience for the students. Students learn to be part of the normal world and showcase their understanding of themes which are deep, introspective and impactful. This happens through dance, drama, music, storytelling, and sensory integration.

This year we present a ‘never before told‘ fairy tale entitled “The last leaf of Lorien”! An original fairy tale with all the archetypal kings, queens, princes and fair maidens, adventure, challenges, good winning over evil, happily ever after. But this fairy tale has been born in the souls of students of grades 7 and 8 who through this tale wish to break myths about what’s really important when we take a human birth. What’s the winning combination- is it intelligence, physical prowess or faith. The complete screenplay, music , and movement has been home grown and we really hope that, while all children participate in this and benefit nominally , many students with behaviour issues, psychological challenges, sensory issues really experience some healing. Drama therapy has been a very important counselling tool used by us but an event of this nature becomes a therapeutic, organic, enjoyable tool to achieve our goals with our students. Since most of the children themselves are non-verbal, the play needs to be rich in props, music, costumes and genera paraphernalia.

So as one can guess this month and next, is going to be full of annual day trivia, preparation, stories and anecdotes. We welcome all readers, our friends and well-wishers besides the families of our students to come in large numbers and witness this labour of love as it is staged on 6 of March at Narada Gana Sabha at 4 pm.

Pongal was celebrated in the foyer and the children enjoyed the festivities. Colourful clothes, song and dance and sweet Pongal added to their joy.

V-Excel Educational Trust

V-Excel Sparkle

Our volunteer, Jayashree Bharath, spoke to Vasanthi Sivaraman about her V-Excel experience.

Meet our first sparkler for 2020 - Vasanthi Sivaraman!

It was the year 2003, and the children of V-Excel were practicing for the school annual day. Vasanthi entered V-Excel then along with her friend Mrs. Gita Bhalla. She offered to help with the annual day preparations and thus began her volunteering journey with V-Excel. For 5 years she volunteered with different classrooms including kindergarten. It was during this time, V-Excel got a generous donation from a couple sponsoring all kitchen items to the school. Vasanthi was requested to take charge and this marked the beginning of all kitchen activities in school!

Kitchen activities are one of the most loved activities by the children. They get to involve themselves while making food, taste it and see the final product. This creates a happy scenario for the children. This classroom set by Vasanthi radiates pure joy for all involved and shows the dedication with which she works. A patient teacher, children enjoy learning from her. Today, we have a few children who prepare the snacks from scratch on their own!

Vasanthi is our sparkling hero of this month creating positive learning environments for children. We all love her so much, it's no wonder she considers V-Excel her second home!

Annual children’s day celebration

Annual children’s day celebration of the E.I. Unit was celebrated on 4th January 2020. This is a day when children along with their siblings and parents take part in the celebration. Lot of fun filled activities were planned with “Pongal” as the core theme. “Uriyadi”, “Rekla race”, “Walking on textures”, “Transplanting”, “Stacking”, “Go-together”, “Garlanding the bull”, “Do it yourself corner”, “Parent corner” and “Photo corner” were the activities planned. The whole premises had a festive look with all the decorations and kolams. On the whole it was an awesome experience for the children, parents and the staff. Last but not the least was the “Brahmi plant” (Vallarai) which was chosen to be given as return gift, was well appreciated by all.

A big thanks to all those who made this day a memorable one!!

District level Sports meet

Our Nashik Center students participated in District level Sports meet on 5th Jan 2020. About 17 students participated in the event. Eight students won medals in the various events.
* Spot Jump(Boys)
* Himanshu Gupta - Gold Ashmit Sandhu - Silver
* Vaibhav - Bronze 100m running
* Akansha - Gold
* Jyothi- Bronze
* Spot jump(girls)
* Vedika - Gold
* Shot-put throw(girls)
* Dhruvi - Gold
* Astha - Bronze

All the Gold and Silver medals winners can go for State level Sports meet this year.

V-Excel reached out to all the people who have contributed to its growth and always stood behind us.

V-Excel reached out to all the people who have contributed to its growth and always stood behind us. Some guiding, some encouraging, some contributing, some facilitating. And some who do all of the above by just being present with us physically sometimes and always in spirit!

Dr. Lakshmi Prasanna has been one such guiding light in our lives and she received our specially curated and hand crafted gift hamper which contained an assortment of things made by the students, staff and parents of V -Excel in the month of December! From us to you ....

The goodness of the gift hampers continues to lift our souls... this is what one of our mentor Dr. Lakshmi Prassanna said on receiving her collection:

“I felt that each gift in the hamper was very carefully chosen and created. This cannot be received and opened in haste. I sat on my bed and enjoyed myself immensely like the best me time I had. Felt very blessed to be receiving things that the students would have hand made with so much care and excellence. I spent a wonderful evening with my gift. Just me and the hamper and all your love. Thank you!”

Tiffin Times at Vidya Sagar and organised by SCAN

Super 'Tiffin Times' Sunday made possible by SCAN (Special Child Assistance Network) and Vidya Sagar. Great feeling to be associated with these great teams. Tiffin Times has become an integral part of these wonderful events organised by SCAN.

One such event happened on Sunday, 12 January 2020 at Vidya Sagar and Tiffin Times served tasty food for the whole group. Menu included Aloo paratha, Hot bhajjis, Bhelpuri and Sundal along with Coffee and Tea.

Looking forward to more such interesting events and continued patronage. Support us! Support our community!

Pongal celebration at YES!

Grand celebration with interesting games, beautiful traditional dances, delicious Chakkara Pongal and loving wishes marked the occasion of Pongal festival at the Youth Empowerment Services centre, unit of V-Excel Educational Trust.

Trainees got great experience as few trainees were part of the organizing committee and others helped them throughout. The theme of the celebration was about those many games and activities which are forgotten these days. It was completely a fun-filled day with each of one of them trying their hands on the games and other activities.

It was indeed a feast to eyes to see all the staff and the trainees in their traditional wear.

Pongal celebration at Sreyes Farm

Vocational Training Center celebrated the Pongal at Sreyes Farm, a Special Space, an initiative by ESVI Sarada Foundation, located at Tiruvallur on Friday January 17, 2020.

All the trainees, teachers, counsellor and staff were present. Our Director Usha Rajagopal along with Farm coordinator Rishi planned series of program for all.

Venugopal the Farm Consultant took a tour and explained about the process and farming details. Pongal was prepared in traditional way, trainees decorated the place and drew kolam. Cows were decorated with flowers and balloons on their head.

Traditional games like hitting 7 stones and Tug of war were organised by Rishi followed with music and dance by teachers and trainees.

Teachers and trainees learnt to make varrati using cow dung and also plucked spinach and some vegetables.

Overall it was a fun filled but with learning about traditions for all of us which was very unique and different from celebrating in the city.

We would like to thank Mr. Rajagopal and Mrs. Usha Rajagopal for this wonderful initiative and arrangements.

Remedial Center started Pongal with a rangoli competition

Celebrations mean colour and vigour.So all festivities begin with a colourful kolam in India. The colours and patterns bring out the creativity at the same time depict the happy mood of a person. It spreads the same vibes to one and all who see it. All the bending and moving around is definitely a good exercise for our body. So kolam integrates mind body and soul. So why not begin a happy ocassion with a colourful kolam!

Our Remedial Center started Pongal with a rangoli competition. The children were grouped under two teachers. It was a wonderful experience.

Cookie making workshop for trainees and trainers of V-Excel Educational Trust

Very many thanks to the Rotary Club and the Annettes Club of Chennai Royals for organising an interesting and useful cookie making workshop for trainees and trainers of V-Excel Educational Trust.

Workshop happened on 20 January 2020 at Youth Empowerment Services (YES), one of the vocational training centres.

There were 4 trainees from the baking unit which is part of the culinary skill training at (YES) centre, as part of this workshop along with 6 trainers from YES and VTU, the other vocational centre.

All the participants had hands on experience and were completely engaged in the process. It was very well planned and executed by Ms. Bianca.

The session was very interactive and the step by step instructions were given for better understanding and follow up.

Special thanks to Jeyalatha ma'am and Ms. Bianca!!

YES Trainees- a trip to Vedanthangal

Trainees and staff of Youth Empowerment Services, a unit of V-Excel Educational Trust had a day out at Vedanthangal yesterday, 24 January 2020.

Reaching Vedanthangal around noon, all of us refreshed and had our lunch at the farmhouse organised by Ms. Rama Nagarajan. Next one hour was spent playing, singing and dancing there. They also got an opportunity to feed the cows and to play with the calf.

Then as we went to the bird sanctuary, weather was so pleasant and breezy that we had a real good time watching all the birds. Watching the birds through binoculars from the watch tower was a different experience for them.

On the whole, it was a great day with lot of beautiful memories and experience.

Youth Empowerment Services trainees participated in the 12th Annual Dance Recital of Leo's Dance Academy and performed on stage for a medley mix

It was a proud moment for the Youth Empowerment Services, a unit of V-Excel Educational Trust, as 8 of its trainees participated in the 12th Annual Dance Recital of Leo's Dance Academy and performed on stage for a medley mix.

These trainees are part of the training sessions conducted by Mr. Leo at the centre. These sessions are primarily therapeutic and helps a lot in bringing out their emotions and expressions. This has also given them a great opportunity to showcase their talent.

They performed so well that they got a standing ovation today and more than that the sense of achievement and accomplishment was so visible on their faces. All the participants were presented with a medal.

After the performance, Leo invited Ms. Gayathri Suryanarayanan, Vocational Coordinator and the volunteer Ms. Rama the representatives to the stage and honoured them with flowers and mementos. He also gave us an opportunity to address the audience about the work that we do. Gayathri spoke to the audience about this and then invited several parents of the YES trainees to join her on stage.

Very very grateful to Leo for this wonderful opportunity and support.

Dr. Vasudha Prakash was conferred the prestigious Women Economic Forum (WEF) award of “Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All”.

Dr. Vasudha Prakash was conferred the prestigious Women Economic Forum (WEF) award of “Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All” in Madurai on 26-Jan-2020. At the 2-day 32nd Women Economic Forum Global Edition held at the Gateway Hotel in Madurai, Dr. Vasudha also spoke on the topic "From CSR to ALL Social Responsibility". The theme was “Women Sculpting & Restructuring the World” WEF is a global forum of the ALL Ladies League (ALL) to foster empowering conversations, connections, community and collaborations among women entrepreneurs and leaders from all walks of life from across the world.

Tarang in Chennai

The monthly Tarang concert held on Thursday, 28th January at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) - Mylapore between 2.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m.

V-Excel Educational Trust and BVY presents "Golden Memories" by Super Singer Fame Sai Vignesh, Shravan, and Madhu Iyer accompanied by Suresh on Pad, Sathya on Keyboard, and Justin on Tabla.

V-Excel Remedial Center

From Lekshmi Ramesh's Desk

Remedial Unit and Bridges Learning Academy

This year has begun with promises and challenges. With the team members supporting each other we are sure we can make things happen.

January 4th - Parent teacher Meet:
“Together may we give our children the roots to grow and the wings to fly.” Thank you parents for trusting us with your dear ones.

The parents of our students met the teachers to discuss about their wards - their progress and future plans. The feedback of the parents was the greatest award the teachers could achieve. The surprise element of the day was a video show of all the activities and programs in which the children participated between the months of June to December 2019.

Harvest festival: 14th January :
The children celebrated Pongal the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu with a kolam competition. The children participated with zeal and displayed their creativity with the able guidance of their teacher. They also had a colouring competition. Our dear unit head gave a talk on significance of Pongal and how it is celebrated. The children enjoyed the celebrations and the five days of holidays.

Visit to Guindy National Park:As a wise man said “Parks and playgrounds are the soul of a city”. Guindy National Park is indeed a boon to us Chennaites. So we decided to take a trip to the place on 25th January. This time our experience comes in the form of a story narrated by one of our students.

(Narrated by the student and written down verbatim by the teacher.) “When ma’am told us that we were going to Guindy National Park, it took me by surprise!!”

On 25th January we left the school by ten in the morning by school bus. We went straight to the snake park. We bought the entry tickets and continued. We saw some snakes coiled around a pot. It was thick and lengthy. It was a python. We saw different kinds of snakes – ranging from thick to thin and short and long. There were venomous and non-venomous snakes. We also saw some crocodiles and alligators. Before we saw crocodiles we saw some baby turtles and iguana. The iguana looked as if it had come from Jurassic Park.

We saw a chameleon, its colour was black. I think it was scared so it was black. (I am not a racist).

We saw a show where a caretaker of the park showed us different types of snakes on stage. He showed us a cobra; he lifted a cloth and the cobra raised its hood. Maybe the cobra thought it was some kind of creature. The cobra’s hood looked like the ones we see on TV. It was white.

Pots were kept in the cages. They had lights in them. The lights gave warmth to the snakes.

We then went to the children’s park. We saw deer, peacocks, emu, some monkeys too. I saw a jackal which was running back and forth. Maybe the jackal was stressed. We saw spoon bills, cranes, egrets and parrots. There was a butterfly area too but I didn’t get to see it. Next time I go there I would like to watch it.

There was a huge slide on a tower. I went down the slide six times. If it had not been for my friend, he said it was lunch time, we could have spent more time there. We moved on. We went to the play area found a shady place and had our lunch. We then hopped on to the bus and proceeded to our school. I liked the giant slide a lot. I didn’t like the heat. I hated it.

Anandam Learning Center

The year begins with a note of promise. The team is always looking for novel ways to help the children to develop holistically. New games were introduced to enhance memory, attention and concentration of children.

International Girl Child day was celebrated on 24th January with talks by children and teachers and a theme based rangoli competition. It was basically done to sensitise the need to take care of the girl child and giver her equal opportunities in a family.

Republic Day was celebrated with flag hoisting and competitions for the children.

Satellite Centers

From Jayanthi Vishwanath in Nashik

Our Nashik Center students participated in the District level Sports meet on 5th Jan 2020. About 17 students participated in the event.

Eight students won medals in the various events:

* Spot Jump - Boys
* Himanshu Gupta - Gold
* Ashmit Sandhu - Silver
* Vaibhav - Bronze
* 100m Running
* Akansha - Gold
* Jyothi- Bronze
* Spot Jump - Girls
* Vedika - Gold
* Shot-put throw - Girls
* Dhruvi - Gold
* Astha - Bronze

All the Gold medal winners can go for State level Sports meet this year.

On 7th Jan, our students participated in the Regional conference of Saksham foundation and presented a skit with a Social message Hum sab Ek hai, which depicted the importance of religious tolerance and the need for peaceful coexistence between the followers of different religions and cultures. The skit was well-received by the audience. Our Regional Director Mrs.Jayanthi Vishwanath by Saksham Foundation was felicitated for the exemplary work carried out by her for the disabled.

On 14th January our children made kites, to be flown for Shankaranti festival. Our VTU trainees prepared sesame ladoos and celebrated the festival at their unit.

On 26th January, Republic Day was celebrated with great pomp and show. Five Trustees of Shankaracharya Nyas attended the function. Mr.Rajaram Mogal, a senior member of the Trust, hoisted the National flag. All the Special Guests and parents enjoyed the various music, Fancy dress, dance and drama, related to patriotism, Unity and Freedom, which were presented by the students.

Our students attended a quiz competition and presented a musical drama on the topic Save The Trees at an inter school cultural program conducted by Genius Tinytots Preschool Academy.It was a fantastic event to bring inclusiveness of our students with the general community.

On 31st January, our BLA students were taken for a picnic to Nashik Flower Garden. It was a treat the eyes to see all the flowers in full bloom. The children and staff enjoyed the morning amidst the attractive flowers. They were taken for lunch to a special restaurant which offered several variations of Dosas. They went back home happily after the picnic.

From Gopal Jahagirdar in Solapur

On 11th January 2020, Solapur unit organized Annual Day function at Indira Sabhagruha Hall, Indira Nagar. Mrs. Kala Iyengar, Principal of Little Heart Nursery School, was the Chief Guest and Mr. Dilip Kulkarni was the Special Guest for this function.

Children performed a welcome song, Ganesh Vandana and Patriotic song which respects different cultures, costumes, language but shows unity.

Vocational students gave a powerful message "Save Animals Save Nature" through the skit. Everyone enjoyed the show to the fullest.

On 26th January, we celebrated Republic Day at our center. Mrs. Nandini Revankar - President of Inner Wheel Club Starlet Solapur hoisted the Flag. All teachers and students sang patriotic songs. Inner wheel club members distributed snacks for children.

On 31st January, Mrs. Pradnya Apte - counsellor, Mrs. Jayanti Shettigar - Accountant and Mrs. Sandhya Thorat - Special Educator from Nasik V-Excel unit visited Solapur unit. Pradnya took a group counselling session for parents and gave valuable inputs to parents. What would be the work they should do with their children by taking small activities and how should they keep their children busy at home. Pradnya also took a group counselling session for teachers and told about some teaching techniques and teaching methods and guided about assessment and reporting which they follow at Nasik and gave her valuable inputs to teachers.

From Abhyasa Kendra - Srirangam

Abyasa Kendra celebrated Pongal festival with all students at Kumarakudi village. It was a daylong event Pongal was celebrated in traditional way. All the students participated in traditional games. Students performed different folk dances. Trainees exhibited the various Vocational skills they are trained by participating in cooking, drawing kolam and decorating the place.

From Erode

Calming Activities for Sensory Processing Disorder

Children with sensory processing disorder generally become over stimulated by any situation beyond their control. Calming activities play on important role in sensory DIET. It helps to organize, regulate and facilitate development.

Squishes: Pillows or cushions can be used to give firm squishes on their leg and arm.

Swings: Controlled swimming for a period of time.

Deep Pressure: Use of weight products such as weight blankets, weight towel and using weight toys.

Pushing and pulling activities: Tug of war gives good proprioceptive input. Scooter board and therapy ball garden activities and playing play gym.

From Tiruneveli

Pre-requisite skill training to facilitate in ADL

Training in these areas will help in performing toileting, eating bathing and grooming .

Upper extremity strength and weight bearing
Upper extremities joints range of motion
Mid line crossing
Motor control and co-ordination
Sensory processing
Planning and sequencing
Object manipulation
Fine motor skills
Focus and attention
Grasp and hold
Hand transference
Expressive and receptive language skills

From Outreach Centre - Pollachi

Fine motor skills activities - folding newspaper

Fine motor skills are essentials to hands – on activities, both in the classroom and at home. With this folding newspaper activity our students folding skills and fine motor skills were developed. The child has to roll the paper and then fold into circles to finish this activity. When it’s done, they will have many such rolls which will be staked together and a beautiful paper jar with a lid is ready!

This activity helps children in developing stronger hand-eye coordination and small muscle control.

Vocational Training Unit

From Usha Rajagopal's Desk

The month started with New Year Gift Hamper distribution for VTU’s donors by the trainees, unique pongal celebrations, Trainee Sriram’s placement and Saravana Prabu Internship.

Distribution of Gift Hampers to Grundfos, TEAM, Mylapore MLA and ESVI Sarada Foundation were handed over by our trainees and staff.

Charu and Anand met Ms. Mahathi, Grundfos and discussed the proposal for Sanitary Pad project. With the help of Mr. Anand the proposal was given a final shape and sent forth the same day.

Happy to revive the assembling of the sanitary pads; as we received the materials finally from the vendor. Thanks to Siva and Mani who meticulously followed with the vendor by making frequent visits.

Trainees attended the EI Children’s day program and played the games organized by them.

Usha Venkatesh met Sailakshmi and Nikil’s parent to discuss about forming the VTU parents support group.

Charu met Sriram’s mother to discuss about he joining in Blue Lagoon from Tuesday, Jan 7, 2020.

Order of Ms. Sushama from Pune were executed, trainees packed and our admin despatched.

Sriram joined Blue Lagoon as an intern on January 7, 2020. He will go for three days in a week and will be reviewed by the end of the month by the GM of Blue Lagoon.

Charu and Usha met Saravana Prabu’s father and discussed about his internship at Blue Lagoon. As he was not regular to center had to get consent from the father. He gave it in writing and also was ready to train him independent travelling from his house to Blue Lagoon.

Happy to get a message from Grundfos that they continue their support for the sanitary pad project for the year 2020-21.

Charu along with four trainees (Sailakshmi, Pranav, Rishi and Sowmya) attended YES Pongal celebrations. It was fun-filled and had the privilege of performing the puja. Thanks to Gayathri and team. They had organized amazing and different games.

Saravana Prabu joined as an intern at Blue Lagoon. He will go there for 3 days in a week.

Sriram and Sarvana Prabhu attended work at Blue Lagoon inspite of Pongal Holidays

Pongal Celebrations at Sreyes Farm on Jan 17, 2020 :

All trainees, staff and teachers left by van and car to Sreyes Farm. All the male trainees were in dhoti and girls in traditional attire. It was an amazing experience and thanks to Mrs. Usha Rajagopal and Mr. Rajagopal. The arrangements were overwhelming, the farm consultant took all on a tour inside the field and explained all the techniques and process. It was interesting to know that some plants need companion for their growth and support each other. Some receive nutrients from another one and there are plants whose only job is to ‘give’. Had delicious lunch and trainees decorated the place with flowers and rangoli. Traditional pongal celebrations started and till it got ready, Rishi teacher conducted games of 7 stones and tug of war.

Abhirami and Uma attended the story telling program at Sharada by Mohan.

Our teachers Abhirami and Bhavani attended baking workshop conducted at YES.

Usha, Charu and Abhirami attended the Annual Day meeting organized by Gita Bhalla.

Charu, Uma and Usha attended the 2nd day National Conference on ‘Recent Trends in the Interventional Approaches of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychologists and special educators presented regarding various approach in interventions. A topic on Sex Education was presented by Dr. Amrita Pande. It was very informative and different approach and interventions was suggested. We met her and invited her to our organization and she is willing to address parents and teachers.

Happy news from shared by Mr. Kanakavel, GM, Blue Lagoon that he is very impressed with Sriram’s work and would like to take him on board from Feb 1, 2020 and will be on probation for 6 months.

Discussion on conf call with Parimal, Radhika and Usha Venkatesh to fix dates for in-service and parents support group meeting. The final dates were for Feb 14, 2020 for In-service and Feb 29, for Parents Support Group.

Chinmay and Chandra started going to Sharada for Annual Day rehearsal.

Tarang January 2020 a special event. It was a wonderful two hour event. Super Singer Fame – Madhu Iyer, Shravan and Sai Vignesh gave splendid performance and all the trainees enjoyed by singing along and also danced for the old peppy songs.

Usha and Charu had a meeting with a visitor Mr. Rao from Vocational Rehabilitation Center, Guindy. Charu approached him for the carpentry training at their center. He was interested to have tieup with us by giving Government certification for our specific vocational trainings. We are planning to visit to meet the Director for further discussion.

Charu and Usha visited the Twin Twigs Leaf plate unit at Navallur. This is to explore possibility to have this vocations at V-Excel. Twin Twigs is willing to outsource this project which will be a good vocation and a livelihood in future for the trainees.

Order received from Ms. Madhumitha for Bhoomi Mitra Bags 120 numbers.

Mr. Manu Sekar, CEO & Founder of #HashH@ckCode/ - Immersive Tech Education & Mentorship visited all our centers. He runs an exclusive program for Autism children and young adults on programming at Little Mount, Saidapet. He will be giving us a demo for parents shortly.

Usual vocational activities of making CD coasters, paper bags, Sanitary pads and jute bowls were on going along with the therapy, counselling and functional academics.

Functional academics focused more on communication, personality development, work ethics.

Youth Empowerment Services

From Rama Nagarajan's Desk

Wishing you all a very happy new year 2020. This year has started with lots of positive and encouraging events and celebrations.

On 03 January 2020, Tiffin Times participated in the ‘MANAM’ fest organised by BALM, Kovalam. Trainees Gokula Krishnan, T.A. Hari and N. Hariharan participated and were guided by the trainers Yuvaraj and Lakshmi Sridharan.

On 12 January 2020, Super 'Tiffin Times' Sunday made possible by SCAN and Vidya Sagar. Great feeling to be associated with these great teams. Tiffin Times has become an integral part of these wonderful events organised by SCAN. One such event happened on Sunday, 12 January 2020 at Vidya Sagar and Tiffin Times served tasty food for the whole group. Menu included Aloo paratha, hot bhajjis, Bhelpuri and Sundal along with Coffee and Tea.

On 14 January 2020, Grand celebration with interesting games, beautiful traditional dances, delicious Chakkara Pongal and loving wishes marked the occasion of Pongal festival at the Youth Empowerment Services centre, unit of V-Excel Educational Trust.

On 18 January 2020, a storytelling workshop was organised at our Sharada premise. The workshop was by Mr. Mohan Krishnan on ‘How to tell a story’ and the focus of the workshop is to enhance the story telling ability of the trainers and to see if it can be incorporated into our training program.

On 20 January 2020, the Annettes Club of Chennai Royals organised an interesting and useful cookie making workshop for trainees and trainers of V-Excel Educational Trust. Workshop happened on 20 January 2020 at Youth Empowerment Services (YES). There were 4 trainees from the baking unit which is part of the culinary skill training at (YES) centre, as part of this workshop along with 6 trainers from YES and VTU. All the participants had hands on experience and were completely engaged in the process. It was very well planned and executed by Ms. Bianca. The session was very interactive and the step by step instructions were given for better understanding and follow up.

On 22 January 2020, 22 of us including 16 trainees (from all 3 centres), 5 staff went for a very interesting tour around the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering technology. Taramani. IHM campus. One of the professors Mr. Mohan of Housekeeping department took us on this guided tour. We visited all the departments and Mr. Mohan very patiently explained about all the activities and processes. It was very interactive and our trainees could relate to the topics and work discussed.

It took about 2 hours for us to finish the tour and they had arranged for some refreshments for all of us. Best part of the day’s outing is that few faculties there, have shown interest in training our trainees as a goodwill support. Ms. Parimala, HOD, has also assured us of her wholehearted support.

On 24 January 2020, trainees and staff of Youth Empowerment Services, a unit of V-Excel Educational Trust had a day out at Vedanthangal yesterday, 24 January 2020. Reaching Vedanthangal around noon, all of us refreshed and had our lunch at the farmhouse organised by Ms. Rama Nagarajan. Next one hour was spent playing, singing and dancing there. They also got an opportunity to feed the cows and to play with the calf. Then as we went to the bird sanctuary, weather was so pleasant and breezy that we had a real good time watching all the birds. Watching the birds through binoculars from the watch tower was a different experience for them. On the whole, it was a great day with lot of beautiful memories and experience.

On 25 January 2020, it was a proud moment for the Youth Empowerment Services, a unit of V-Excel Educational Trust, as 8 of its trainees participated in the 12th Annual Dance Recital of Leo's Dance Academy and performed on stage for a medley mix. These trainees are part of the training sessions conducted by Mr. Leo at the centre. These sessions are primarily therapeutic and helps a lot in bringing out their emotions and expressions. This has also given them a great opportunity to showcase their talent. They performed so well that they got a standing ovation today and more than that the sense of achievement and accomplishment was so visible on their faces. All the participants were presented with a medal. After the performance, Leo invited Ms. Gayathri Suryanarayanan, Vocational Coordinator and the volunteer Ms. Rama the representatives to the stage and honoured them with flowers and mementos. He also gave us an opportunity to address the audience about the work that we do. Gayathri spoke to the audience about this and then invited several parents of the YES trainees to join her on stage.

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