Thursday, November 18, 2010

ACTIVITIES - November 2010

ACTIVITIES – NOVEMBER 2010

30th November 2010 – “Spin a Yarn for life” sessions at Bala Vidya Mandir School by Kalairani and Dr. S. Kulandhaisamy

V. R. Devika had a Youth for peace meeting in the office with Pralayan, Sangeeta Isvaran, Kalaiselvan, Yuvaraj and other volunteers.

V. R. Devika had a meeting at Kattaikuttu Centre for the Koothu festival

29th November 2010 – V. R. Devika and Vasantha Parthasharathy met with the Principal of Presidency College, Chennai in connection with the Youth for Peace project.

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home School for Class VI students by Kalairani

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home for teacher trainees by Kannankumar

28th November 2010 – V.R. Devika had a meeting with Kausalya Jaganmohan and Anitha P for Pierce Leslie programmes.

27th November 2010 – V. R. Devika was the Chief Guest at the performance of traditional folk dances of Tamil Nadu, Kolattam, Tappattam and Oyilattam by children from the villages belonging to the Kramiya and Sangama Rural Heritage Clubs. This performance was held at Alliance Francaise, Nungambakkam, Chennai on 27th November 2010 from 04.00 to 06.00 p.m.

26th November 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at AMM School by Chitra Nagesh

25th November 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar

Youth for Peace meeting in office by V. R. Devika with Sangeeta Isvaran and Pralayan

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Navbharath Matriculation School by Priya Nagesh

24th November 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School by Sangeeta Isvaran.

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Navbharath Matriculation School by Priya Nagesh

23rd November 2010 – V. R. Devika received “Sathya Vimarshaka Sundaram” Award from the Bharathanjali Trust which celebrated its 20th Anniversary and Swami Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s 85th Birthday. The function was held at 6.00 p.m. at “Sri Maha Swamigal Auditorium” Vani Mahal (Main Hall), G. N. Chetty Road, T. Nagar, Chennai -17

V. R. Devika organized the discussion on “The Aftermath of the U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to India” at the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras on the 23rd November 2010 at 2.30 p.m. The Speakers were Mr. Matt Beh, Political Officer, U. S. Consulate General, Chennai; Dr. R. Manivannan Head i/c Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Madras and Mr. Satyamurthy, Senior Journalist, Director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter.

“Spin a Yarn for life” sessions at Bala Vidya Mandir School by Kalairani and Dr. S. Kulandhaisamy

V. R. Devika and Vasantha Parthasharathy met with the Commissioner of Police, Mr. T. Rajendran and Deputy Commisioner of Police, Mr. Satyamurthy in connection with the Youth for Peace Project.

22nd November 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar and Sangeeta Isvaran.

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home School for Class VI students by Kalairani

“Spin a Yarn for life” at Avvai Home teacher trainees by Kannankumar

21st November 2010 - V. R. Devika was felicitated by the Karnataka Rajyotsava Samithi -2010 in the Karnataka Rajyotsava Celebrations at Dr. U. Rama Rau Kalamantapa at 111, Habibullah Road, T. Nagar, Chennai 600017.

19th November 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” and Youth for peace sessions at AMM School by V. R. Devika and Sangeeta Isvaran.

18th November 2010 – “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Sankara Vidyashram by Chitra Nagesh

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Navbharath Matriculation School by Priya Nagesh

Article on the Youth for peace Initiative was published as part of the “Initiate Change” series in the Hindu NXg dated 18th Nov 2010.

17th November 2010 – V. R. Devika had a Youth for Peace meeting with Sangeeta Isvaran

V. R. Devika attended Karnaprayag adoption Centre’s 30th Anniversary celebrations and the first oration on surrogacy by Justice A.R. Lakshmanan.

16th November 2010 – Meeting at Bharatha Kalanjali

“Spin a Yarn for life” and “Youth for Peace” sessions at Bala Vidya Mandir by V. R. Devika and Sangeeta Isvaran

15th November 2010 - Children's day was marked in a unique manner at Olcott School. As part of the Aseema Trust’s “Spin a yarn” project, Mr. Kannankumar had trained children of class 8 in Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School and Olcott School in Oyilattam with a song based on Gandhi. On 15th November, children from Besant Arundale School participated in the Children’s day celebrations in Olcott School. The Oyilattam was performed in a unique manner with the children from Olcott School singing for the group from Besant Arundale and vice versa. This was a wonderful experience for the children as they performed together even though they had not rehearsed even once together. They thoroughly enjoyed the programme and look forward to many more such exchange programmes in other schools of the neighborhood.

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai home or Class VI children by Sowmya Balakrishnan

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home for teacher trainees by Kannankumar

14th November 2010 – Details of the DVD release of “Penmai – to be a woman” jointly by the Aseema Trust and the Kalanjiyam Trust, was published in the Adyar Times dated 14th November 2010.V. R. Devika took part in the Rajesh Memorial performance of Bharatha Kalanjali as the compere

V. R. Devika had a meeting with the girls from SOS for a programme at Karnaprayag

V. R. Devika attended the Children’s day performance on Pancharatna by Pavithra Srinivasan at Shri Krishna Gana Sabha.

13th November 2010 – V.R.Devika took part in Children’s Day Celebrations of Hand in Hand at Kanchipuram and had a meeting at Kattaikoothu Centre for Youth for peace and a Koothu seminar.

12th November 2010 – V. R. Devikagave a seminar on Gandhi at the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras

V. R. Devika attended a meeting at Bharatha Kalanjali

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at AMM School by Kalairani

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Besant Theosophical Society School by Chitra Nagesh

11th November 2010 – V. R. Devika attended meetings at the University, and at Bharatha Kalanjali

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar

Article on the Youth for peace Initiativewas published as part of the “Initiate Change” series in the Hindu NXg dated 11th Nov 2010.

10th November 2010 – Youth for peace meeting with Sangeeta Isvaran, Vikram Raghavan and Ritvik Raja of Youth for Classical Music (YACM).

“Spin a Yarn” session at Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School by Kannankumar

V. R. Devika attended a meeting in the University.

V. R. Devika attended the book launch on Mamallapuram by Professor Swaminathan

09th November 2010 – Youth for Peace meeting at the Aseema Trust office by V. R. Devika and Sangeeta Isvaran attended by D. K. Oza, I.A.S; Ms. Priyadarshini Rajagopalan, Prajnya Trust besides the Aseema staff.

V. R. Devika also attended a meeting at Dakshinachitra.

08th November 2010 – Invitation by the U. S. Consulate General and the NDTV Hindu to aspecial program to mark U. S. President Barack Obama’s visit to India. The President delivered a speech in the Indian Parliament at 5.30 p.m. Following this Mr. Andrew T. Simkin, U. S. Consulate General Chennai and prominent Chennaiites Mr. N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu; Mr. Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, Vice President, Global Corporate Research and Communications, Cognizant Technology Solutions; Dr. Swarna Rajagopalan, Political Scientist and Writer and Ms. V. R. Devika, Cultural Activist and Managing Trustee, The Aseema Trust lead an interactive panel discussion with invited guests. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Sanjay Pinto, Executive Editor, NDTV Hindu.

This panel discussion was broadcast as an exclusive program “Vanakkam President Obama” on NDTV Hindu on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. with repeat telecasts.

V. R. Devika attended the Week, Hay Festival Inauguration at the residence of The British High Commissioner.

04th November 2010 - Article on the Youth for peace Initiativewas published as part of the “Initiate Change” series in the Hindu NXg dated 04th Nov 2010.

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar

03rd November 2010 – “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School by Kannankumar

Meeting for Youth for Peace at Aseema office chaired by V. R. Devika and attended by Premnath, Kalairani and Vasantha Parthasharathy.

02nd November 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at AMM School by V. R. Devika and Sangeeta Isvaran

01st November 2010 – V. R. Devika attended book launch of the Hindu.

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home for Class VI girls by V. R. Devika and Kalairani

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home for Teacher trainees by Kannankumar

Monday, November 1, 2010

ACTIVITIES - October 2010

ACTIVITIES – OCTOBER 2010

26th October 2010 – “Wall paper on Peace” published in the Hindu Young World dated 26th October 2010, in the Kaleidoscope section.
V. R. Devika gave a power-point presentation on Gandhi at Anjuman Higher Secondary School organized by the American Consulate.

25th October 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar.
“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home for the teacher trainees by Kannankumar

22nd October 2010 – V. R. Devika gave a lecture demonstration on Koothu at Dakshinachitra for Semester at Sea students and Faculty.

21st October 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar.
“Spreading the message of peace on a sari” was published as part of the Initiate Change series for Youth for Peace in the Hindu, NXg.
V. R. Devika attended a meeting on Nature Conservation by the Nature Conservation Society.

20th October 2010 – Release of the CD “Penmai – to be a woman” by Dr. Gita Arjun at Bala Mandir German Hall at 3 p.m. The programme started with the song “Engal vazhkai engal kaiyil” sung by the children of Navbharath Matriculation School. The CD was released by Ms. Maya Gaitonde, Secretary, Bala Mandir and the first copy was received by actor Revathi. Children from several schools attended the programme and were the first beneficiaries of the educational CD. Biscuits for the children were sponsored by Adayar Departmental Stores, Adayar.

19th October 2010 – Interview with Pralayan regarding his experience on working with the children of Avvai Home for the production on Gandhi and peace.

18th October 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home for the school children by Sowmya and Kalairani.

15th October 2010 – Saraswathi pooja was celebrated in office. V R Devika and the Aseema Trust were happy to welcome Shantha Guhan, Vishalam Ramanathan, Kannankumar, Chandra, Premnath and the teachers from Avvai Home for the Pooja. We ended it with “prasadam”.

14th October 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar.
Responses from the readers to the quote on Dignity and Self-respect (dated 07OCT10) were published in the Hindu NXg as part of the “Initiate Change” series for Youth for Peace on 14th October 2010.

12th October 2010 – The poster “Chakram Chakram” a bilingual Wall News bulletin on peace for and by the children from the Aseema Trust was released by Nirmala Lakshman, Joint Editor of The Hindu and Mr. Nandakumar, IRS at the Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School, Saidapet. This poster was produced by the Aseema Trust as part of its Spin a Yarn project.

Chennai Mayor M. Subramaniam inaugurated the poster display by the students of the school. The girls had been given three themes to work on viz., Cleanliness is Godliness; Individual action leads to Collective power; Love and Peace are ultimate weapons. VGP Parijatham Trust partnered with the Aseema Trust in the poster contest.
The NSS volunteers of Avvai Home presented a short production with music, movement and dialogue on Gandhi, directed by Pralayan, the eminent theatre artist, assisted by Manikandan, Hari and Lakshmi, Avvai Home.

V. R. Devika had a meeting with the teachers of P. S. Senior Secondary School.

V. R. Devika had a meeting with the French Consul General.

11th October 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar
“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home for Class VI students by Sowmya Balakrishnan
“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Avvai Home for teacher trainees by Sowmya Balakrishnan

08th to 11th October 2010 – V R Devika will give a key note address at the IAEVG-Jiva International Career Guidance Conference: 8-10 October 2010 in Bangalore on the topic “Seven Deadly Sins and Work as Gandhi saw it” with a demonstration on the spinning wheel.

07th October 2010 - “Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar.
Responses from the readers to the quote on Courage (dated 30SEP10) were published in the Hindu NXg on 07th October 2010 as part of the “Initiate Change” series for Youth for Peace.

04th October 2010 – The Aseema Trust and the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras have organized a seminar on “Reading Gandhi for the Post Modern World – Non-Violence: Transformation, Communication and Social Justice” at the Department of Philosophy, Tholkappiyar Valagam, University of Madras, from 10 am to 5 pm.

“Spin a Yarn for life” session at Olcott School by Kannankumar

03rd October 2010 – V R Devika did a story telling and spinning session at MGR Janaki School, Arcot Road Saligramam at 11.45 am on 03rd October 2010.

02nd October 2010 – The Aseema Trust has organized a residential camp for 25 girls of Avvai Home at Dakshinachitra Heritage Centre, from September 26th to October 02nd, 2010 under the National Social Service Scheme. The theme of the camp is “Peace and I”. The well-known theatre artist Pralayan has directed a production on the theme which will be staged by the girls at Dakshinachitra at 11 am on 02nd October 2010.

This production was staged at the Government of Tamilnadu’s commemoration of Gandhi Jayanthi at Gandhi Mantapam, Sardar Patel Road at 6 p.m.

01st October 2010 – V. R. Devika gave an illustrated spinning and story-telling session at the India Immersion Center of Global Adjustments at 6 p.m.