World Vision India

Event: Life school for transformational development

Duration: One-and-a-half hours

Special attraction: NGO World Vision India that works for vulnerable children organised a five-day vacation school programme, Life school for transformational development. The short course teaches children the basics of value-based learning, focussing on child rights, moral values and life skills. In Patna, the event was organised at St Xavier’s College and over 1,000 children took part. “It is a community-based festival for children, engaging different stakeholders in building friendly communities that ensure the well-being of all kids,” said Jayakumar Christian, national director, World Vision India. Chandeshwar Prasad Chandravanshi, chairman, Bihar State Child Labour Commission, inaugurated the function and assured full support. “We hope to make children agents of change through this intervention. The primary focus is on making communities children-friendly. With child rights violations and abuse on the rise, we feel more and more children in our country are at risk,” said Priya Ranjan Das, programme manager, Patna, World Vision India.

Usha Martin World School

Event: World Environment Day

Duration: Two hours

Special attraction: Over 160 students took part in the competition and displayed their imagination on canvas on how to save Mother Earth. School principal Anita Singh threw light on the importance of nature and healthy environment and sensitised the students to take action to save the planet. “Without concern, one cannot be educated and students should be closely linked to nature as it is the best teacher. You all can be very effective conservators,” she added. Bijay Kumar Sahu, the vice-principal, said this is a step to make people aware of this cause and protect the environment. Students were divided into three groups - Nursery to Class I, classes II to IV, and classes V to X. The parents, too, were highly excited. The idea was appreciated by chief conservator of forests, Bihar, S.S. Chaudhary and Parshuram, regional chief conservator of forests, Patna. Chaudhary said: “It is expected that the move would inculcate responsibilities in kids to save the environment. The forest department assures all help in this activity.”