Deepam - Making a small difference

I reconnected with my Deepam kids after a long gap today and it was an enriching experience.  I have been working with Olcott Memorial High School since founding Deepam six years back.  All these years, my Saturdays wouldn't be complete without a few hours connecting with the kids at Olcott.  But this year, due to my frequent travels, I couldn't go as regularly as I like to.

So, when Sugumaran told me that today was the last class at Olcott for this academic year, I made it a point to go to School and reconnect with the kids. Man, it was a great experience and four hours well spent.  I always receive more than what I give from the kids and today was no different.  I was tired, it was hot outside and I almost didn't go.  But, once I went there and spent time with the kids, I came back home energized and wearing a smile.  That for me was priceless.

Being the last class, the plan was to evaluate their English proficiency and I was given the task of scoring kids reading and comprehension skills.  This year, Deepam volunteers put lot of focus on improving the English skills of these eighth graders and it showed in my conversation with the kids today, particularly since I there was a 'gap' in my interactions.

Based on the year around progress and observation, Deepam has created a Focus 20 group.  The idea is to give extra attention to these kids next school year and help them further improve their English language proficiency.

The Deepam Kids of Olcott - class of 2014.. proudly displaying their completion certificates.  Good Luck kids on your upcoming final exams.. See you all in as ninth graders in June.

More photos here 

Have you played the Game Krishna?

Deepam @ Olcott on Feb 23, 2013

Thanks to Vinayak, got introduced to a new game called 'Krishna' today... Have you heard of it before?

 It's played like this.. Kids stand around in a circle and the coach at random calls out a student to pose like 'Krishna', immediately the student should stand like Krishna and the kids next to them should stand like 'praying' Krishna.

The trick is to play this game at fast clip and eliminate people who don't play their roles immediately.

 Interestingly boys were the ones to got eliminated first.. Girls won the game.. and there was celebrations all around.

In the English session we covered Interrogative Pronouns.. We broke the class to smaller teams and had one Volunteer Teacher for 5 - 6 kids.  Volunteers and the kids are finding this useful as we are able to better manage and interact the with the students better.

The key to smaller teams is volunteers, we need more of them to help the kids more.... Can you spare 4 hours every Saturday to share and learn?  Yes, by sharing what we know we not only give but also grow..

More Deepam here @ Olcott pictures here

Deepam - Fourth Anniversary

Deepam Fourth Anniversary Celebrations.. 

It looks like just yesterday.. KK& I talked about this idea after our run and it is already four years.  Thanks to a set of committed and steady stream of volunteers.. we have able to touch about 500 kids.  To celebrate this and our 4th anniversary, we are having a low key get together, tomorrow, Saturday, March 17, 2012.

Do join us and support Deepam and the wonderful kids who are all eager to learn and teach.  Yes, I have gotten more than I gave through these interactions with the kids and I am sure you will do to.. Join us, share and grow..