Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Taare Zameen Par - The Final Story


In January, I came to know that I had done well in my CAT exam. I had got calls for GD/PI from all 6 IIMs. My GD/PI prep was first on my priorities from January to March. Everything else took a backseat.
I used to take the classes regularly, barring the Sundays on which I had the mock sessions of GD/PI. I feel sad to say that I couldn’t make solid prep for the classes for the students. I used to decide on-the-spot as to what I should teach them. Inspite of that, I did a seemingly good job, with the help of SH.
Meanwhile, AJ and AM took up the initiative for the higher education of the students and their sponsorship. Our Nai Disha volunteer team took the initial step of approaching the schools for deciding the intake of the students for the school and the possibility of tuition waivers for the under-privileged students. We successfully negotiated with the different schools and got some good bargains. We followed up the initiative with the task of convincing the students and their parents to continue the student’s education. Both the initiatives were successful. We also finalised the schools in which the students have to be admitted into.
Next up was the funds for the sponsorship of students. Somehow, I had the knack of convincing our managers on the CSR initiatives. Others before me had tried to do it but had failed. Maybe I was too good to be refused...lolz....
I took up the issue with our manager. And he gave me the green signal. I compiled a good mail and mailed it to all Samsung employees, insisting them to contribute them whole-heartedly. Finally, when the mail was sent, the initiative was a success. We managed to arrange for the annual full-time sponsorship for 7 students.
Others in the team went ahead with the sponsorship initiative in her company. They managed to arrange 5 donors. In the end, we had a very successful initiative. We also conducted essay-writing and debate competitions. The funds for the prizes came from the surplus amount from the library initiative.
Later, we gave farewell to the passing out batch. We gifted pencil-boxes, our pictures with them and greeting cards with something written especially for them.
In one of our meetings, we discussed about our future initiatives - publishing a newsletter, blogging about the initiatives(I have been doing that) and archiving our earlier initiatives.
Later on, a new volunteer joined us, PR. Initially I doubted it whether she will continue the classes. But, she did continue and has done an excellent job of adjusting with the students and our Nai Disha volunteer team. A very cheerful gal, she can put all at ease.
After a fruitful association of 1.5 years, it was bye-bye time for me at Nai Disha on May 31st.
I could feel the love of the students for me on my last day. I could feel the sadness in their faces at my farewell. The one year that I had spent with the passing batch was a very enriching experience. It was full of fun, emotion and learning. I hope I have planted the seeds of ambition and hope in their lives.
I would like to thank the entire Nai Disha team for their support and encouragement.
P.S - This is my last blog on Nai Disha. Apologies to those who had expected my last story on Nai Disha soon.
P.P.S – My next blog will be about the initial horrid and later pleasant first week had in IIM B.

6 comments:

DIPTI RANJAN PANDA said...

So,this is the secret behind converting IIMB call...:)...nice pic BTW

Priya Gupta said...

Once again ,nice narration.
And why was that initial impression about me :P
is the photo of the last day ?

Amartya Singh said...

Looked a bit dis-oriented with the teaching thing in the beginning, but i was wrong.....
One complain though u didnt dance..

Swamy Saran Atul said...

dude, you're not supposed to talk/blog about the 1st week at any IIM :D

Amartya Singh said...

hey im nt goin 2 spill the beans.....

Unknown said...

Hey Armatya....very good series indeed....
Best of luck for days ahead in IIM-B....make sure to meet all of us in NaiDisha, if in case you come to Delhi anytime...