"The non-doing of any evil, the performance of what’s skillful, the cleansing of one’s own mind: this is the teaching of the Awakened."
Dhammapada
V-Excel News
This month witnessed a lot of excitement due to the Carnival on September 14. The enthusiasm of our children
was very infectious, right from the making of various items to be exhibited at the Carnival to the actual day
of the program. ESVI Sarada Foundation, in particular Mrs. Usha Rajagopalan, with support from our Managing
Trustee, Mrs. B. Sundari, literally contributed in every sphere to make this event a grand success.
We also had the valuable and active support of the Rotract Club of Vepery for food stalls and prizes, a team of
nearly 20 from Dun & Bradstreet who volunteered in form of compering, music, account handling, arrangements etc.
Special Educators from Villipuram (our rural project), stepped in, as did some of our dear well-wishers, and some
enthusiastic students of Stella Maris College who took charge of the stalls. We sincerely thank them all for
their involvement.
On September 13, Preethi Ramaprasad presented a Bharatanatyam dance recital, "Abhyasa - A Tribute to Learning",
at the George Street Playhouse,
in New Brunswick, New Jersey as a fundraiser for us. Her dance was choreographed by Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy and
she was accompanied by Lavanya Rajagopalan (nattuvangam), Sharanya Sivakumar (vocal), Suhas Rao (violin),
Rasika Shekar (flute) and Akshay Anantapadmanabhan (mridangam), all of whom are university students in the USA.
Preethi is an undergraduate student at Rutgers
University and has volunteered her time in our school in Chennai. This fundraiser was of her own initiative and
our gratitude to her and to all her friends who volunteered their time and resources to making this event a grand
success.
Kaleisdoscope Learning Centre
On September 4, the students of KLC went for a field visit to Dakshin Chitra, a heritage center near Mahabalipuram. The
children saw how different kinds of houses were built in different states of South India built and understood what the various
occupations of people were. This was an educational trip that became more enjoyable, thanks to fun bus provided by Ashok Leyland.
Our warm gratitude to them for this gesture.
Teachers are the backbone of our organization and what could have been a better time to celebrate their valuable contribution
than the Teacher’s Day? All our teachers spent a gala day on the beach and it was a real treat to see them so free and relaxed!
This month, 27 students of Psychology from Madras University spent a day of ‘observations’ at KLC. It was heartening to hear
some inspired students promising to return to V-Excel as Special Educators.
Students of ‘Handwork’ team designed and made some beautiful and colourful jewellery made of paper. This was exhibited at
the Carnival and got raving reviews from people who visited it.
‘Come September’ …….. and like the tune of the once popular song suggests, the month was filled with dance and rhythm.
September 11 was a flower filled ‘Onam’ celebration where the children of KLC decorated a huge ‘Pookolam’ (flower rangoli) in
the school foyer. Teachers out did themselves dressed in traditional costumes and performed a ‘Kaikottikali’ with the girls
and Sri Raghav who was dressed up as Emperor Mahabali. On September 26, folk dances were performed on the occasion of ‘Gollu’.
‘The Kolattam’ and Garba, the high energy dances, were presented, resulting in a visual treat for one and all!
Bridges Learning Academy
Vinayaka Chathurthi was celebrated with the usual round of enthusiasm, but with a difference this year. Our students
made wonderful clay idols of different shapes and sizes. Stories of Lord Ganesha added to the festive mood and the children
went home clutching their precious idols with a feeling of having learnt something new.
An opportunity for the parents to meet and interact with our director, Dr. Vasudha Prakash, was arranged for September 4.
All the parents were very happy with this interactive session and many of them were appreciative of the progress made
by their wards.
The quarterly exams were conducted during the last week of this term. We are really happy that our students have done fairly
well in all the subjects.
The children were taken on a field trip to the beach, the aquarium and Gandhi Mandapam which they thoroughly enjoyed. It was
a well-deserved fun day after having worked so hard during the exams.
Vocational Training Unit
On September 5, Teacher’s Day, there was a special treat for all the teachers and staff of V-Excel and SSA. The trip to a
resort in Mamallapuram was a time to get to know people of other departments, fun and sumptuous food. It was really a memorable
day for all of us.
The Carnival on September 14 at the Youth Hostel was the main event of the month. The collective effort of many people under
the guidance of Mrs. Usha Rajagopal and Mrs. Sundari, our Managing Trustees, resulted in a grand success. It is not possible
to mention all the people but many thanks to -
Ram (Usha’s son) and his friends who worked hard for days (and nights) to prepare the games and posters
Sandeep who wielded the mike all evening- announcing, encouraging and bringing cheer.
The group from Dun & Bradstreet whose music and interaction with the people contributed to the gaiety of the evening. We
were lucky to have many other enthusiastic volunteers who shared their valuable time with us.
At the Vocational Training Unit stall, our students were very proud to see their products being sold off like hot cakes.
The second part of Mrs. Prema Gnanavoli’s training program began on September 16. While giving finishing touches to the
products that started last month, students and teachers learnt about the quality-checking process. Besides this, a lot of
valuable training is given to both students and staff. With a good skills training program in place, many behavioral
problems have diminished and student progress is very evident.
The term came to an end in a festive mood as we celebrated Kolu (Navratri) with the students, children of the Therapy unit
and all the parents.
V-Excel Remedial Center
Mrs. Gita Bhalla, Principal of our Special School - KLC, addressed the in-service training for the teachers on the much
needed and most useful topic of ‘Readiness’. The text study and child study continue to bring insights into the group.
‘Movement’ and ‘foot massage’ have become an integral part of the morning routine. Children look forward to this connection
with their teachers and have shown us how they need to bond with one another before any learning can effectively happen.
Some snippets from the classroom:
Little Arjun picked up a chocolate fallen down in the supermarket and placed it on the rack. What is remarkable is earlier
he would grab it and eat it. Parents attribute his action to the training he received here in class of not seizing and
returning fallen down articles to the table.
Akshay communicated that he wanted to invite his friends home. The parent agreed and the next field visit took all students
to Akshay’s home. The thrill that was evident from his demeanor is priceless. He welcomed all his friends into his home and
enjoyed serving them just as anyone would. Akshay is autistic and non-verbal.
Rural Outreach Program
It was ‘team’ time this month for the Special Educators of our Villipuram program with two lovely occasions such as the
Teachers Day and Carnival to meet their counterparts working at the V-Excel centers in Chennai. They really gelled well, shared
notes and enjoyed each others’ company.
We completed medical assessment for all 10 blocks of Villipuram district in September. Typically, such a program calls for
immense coordination with localites as well as with the visiting team of doctors. Based on the assessment, nearly 675 children
will be given suitable appliances for sight, hearing and orthopedic purposes. Kudos to our teachers for managing these camps
very effectively and covering more than 3,000 special children across the different blocks.
Counseling & Assessment Unit
Three regular schools have shown interest in having a professional association with us for formal assessment and remedial
support for learning difficulties. These projects will be given priority in the forthcoming months.
Children from our vocational unit have shown significant improvement in their social skills and manners which was the main
area of thrust this term. They will continue to get group counseling under the guidance of experts.
As we wound up for the first term, a few children finished their counseling program and have shown stable growth. Many of the
children will continue counseling even in the next term. This will ensure that they get long term benefit of the sessions.
The private counseling clinic, after a burst of initial activity, has slowed down and our focus now will be of spreading
awareness in the neighboring areas.
Early Intervention Unit
We presently offer them Sensory Integration Therapy to 36 children between 0-6 years in our Early Intervention Unit and.
The aim of the program is to:
Promote learning to facilitate development.
Independence in activities of daily living.
Inclusion in school and social development.
The unit is staffed with Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Educators. Prior to designing an individualized
program, the child’s assessment is done in all the areas of development and the development quotient is worked out. Use of
appropriate sensory modality helps facilitate development in the identified areas of lag. We also train parents and give them
a home program to work with the child. We conduct reviews with the parents once a month to track the child’s progress and
ensure positive outcomes.
Contact Info :: India:
V-Excel Educational Trust
#1 Norton 2nd Street
Mandaveli Chennai 600 028
Tel: 91 - 44 - 24620243
91 - 44 – 24956373 E-mail us or visit us at www.v-excel.org
Contact Info :: USA:
Academic Concepts, Inc.
1403 Merrywood Drive
Edison, NJ 08817
Tel: (732) 572-3748
Tax ID: 22-3632715 E-mail us
Volunteer Info:
Volunteers are an integral part of our success. Our most pressing needs are in the areas of occupational and speech therapies, and
as teacher aides. We also require assistance in library management.
If you have any of these and are interested in volunteering at V-Excel, please contact us.
India Autism: Trying Tradition
In India, old ideas are giving new options to treating autism. Liz Neisloss reports on that country's approach.
People volunteer for a wide variety of reasons, especially wanting to help others. But it's also OK to want some benefits
for yourself from volunteering.
Instead of considering volunteering as something you do for people who are not as fortunate as yourself, begin to think of
it as an exchange.
Consider that most people find themselves in need at some point in their lives. So today you may be the person with the ability
to help, but tomorrow you may be the recipient of someone else's volunteer effort. Adding your effort to the work of others
makes everyone's lives better.
Think about how much you receive when you give and consider why you want to volunteer. You may have several different reasons.
Here are just a few of the many possible motivations identified by other volunteers:
* to feel needed
* to share a skill
* to get to know a community
* to demonstrate commitment to a cause/belief
* to gain leadership skills
* to act out a fantasy
* to do your civic duty
* because of pressure from a friend or relative
* satisfaction from accomplishment
* to keep busy
* for recognition
* to repay a debt
* to donate your professional skills
* because there is no one else to do it
* to have an impact
* to learn something new
* for freedom of schedule
* to help a friend or relative
* for escape
* to become an "insider"
* guilt
* to be challenged
* to be a watchdog
* to feel proud
* to make new friends
* to explore a career
* to help someone
* as therapy
* to do something different from your job
* for fun!
* for religious reasons
* to earn academic credit
* to keep skills alive
* because an agency is geographically close
* to have an excuse to do what you love
* to be able to criticize
* to assure progress
* to feel good
* to be part of a team
* to gain status
* because you were asked
* to test yourself
* to build your resume
* to be an agent of change
* because of personal experience with the problem, illness, or cause
* to stand up and be counted
You will probably have some special reasons of your own. Remember that the motivations you have to select the place to offer
your services may not be the reasons why you stay. Once you're on the volunteer job, you will continue to serve as long as
you feel that your efforts are accomplishing something, that your talents are appreciated, and that you make a difference.
And if you also like the people with whom you work, so much the better!
As long as you are truly serving through your volunteer work, isn't it wonderful that such an exchange occurs? In fact, it tends
to strengthen your commitment to volunteering when you can see the benefits to both the recipient of your efforts and to yourself.
And it is much more comfortable than "charity" because it upholds the self-esteem of those with whom you volunteer.
