June 2019 Newsletter | AFS India

STUDY ABROAD Discover new things about yourself and find your place in the world by going abroad.

HOST AN AFSer Experience your world through the eyes of a young person from another country.

A world-class intercultural educa onal organiza on; a global movement to develop and ac vate global ci zens AFS Intercultural Programs India is an interna onal, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organiza onthat provides intercultural learning opportuni es to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.

SCHOOLS Implement AFS Intercultural Learning Programs at your school for your students & educators.

VOLUNTEER Join a Global community of changemakers & serve a change agent in your community.

Newsletter Your source to stay up to date with AFS Intercultural Programs India’s ac vi es, events & opportuni es www.india.afs.org | india@afs.org

JUNE 2019 2

Editorial by Aadil F.

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AFS Effect+ Workshops and ICL Educators' Training

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Domes c Class Exchange Program

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Interna onal Class Exchange Program

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Alumni Impact Stories

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Na onal Pre-Departure Orienta on 2019-20 Batch Kennedy-Lugar YES Re-Entry Orienta on for 2018-19 Batch

11 12 Host Family and Counsellors Orienta ons 13 15 Community Service in Guwaha , Srinagar, Chennai and Pune

Becoming a Changemaker Si ng in our homes and offices, we are excessively absorbed in our side of the world to an extent that we don’t find it important to think about the world that exists around us. Water crisis, communal violence, air pollu on, climate change, inequality, etc. are real issues plaguing the society around us and demanding an urgent call to ac on. Each one of us, in our own li le ways, need to be aware and contribute to making a change to make this world a be er place to live.

With the scale and intensity of these challenges growing worse with each passing day, we need mo vated and commi ed people ready to come together, find solu ons, and take a hands-on approach to build a be er tomorrow.

AFS is a volunteer-based organiza on that believes in encouraging its wide network of 53,000+ volunteers and 500,000 alumni worldwide to bring change through a series of changemaking ac vi es, events, and workshops. At AFS India, more than 800 volunteers 1000 alumni are engaged in ac vi es furthering the mission of AFS. We encourage our volunteers to be a changemaker in their own individual way. Here’s what makes them one.

1. Team Player and Team Builder: Coming from diverse backgrounds, AFS volunteers learn to co-exist and value different opinions while working together. Every volunteer brings commitment and individuality to the project. It is essen al to belong to a team and contribute as a team player. Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so li le; together we can do so much”.

2. Set Goals: Start with something small. Don’t wait for any inspira on to set short term or long term goals. Come together with people for a cause and ideate a plan with goals that can be achieved with the given resources and me. At AFS, we encourage volunteers to set individual and team goals at the beginning that can steer their approach towards it.

3. Pa ence and Passion: The two virtues let us grow at many levels.

The AFS volunteers prac ce pa ence and passion at every level of a project ranging from designing to execu on. The key to imbibing these virtues is to stay mo vated and surround yourself with people prac cing them.

4. Collaborate: Collabora on is a catalyst in the process of achieving the set goals. At an individual level or organiza onal level, collabora ons can bring together resources with diverse skill sets and further impact. AFS India believes in collabora on and recently collaborated with Youth for Peace Interna onal, World Youth Council, and CISV India. Even at the city level, our volunteers are engaging with organiza ons to co-create projects and community services.

5. Embrace Failure: Undoubtedly, there will be mes when the de is against us and the project does not go as planned, and we fail. It is important to accept and embrace failure as part of the journey. We teach our volunteers to work relessly and pause for a bit to understand the causes of the failure to ensure that we are capable of tackling them the next me. Failures are hard but they make us more focused and determined.

Besides these core five traits that make you a changemaker, there are others like being the voice for others, prac cing empathy, and the power of listening. Your school cer ficates or college degrees do not define your capability as a changemaker, you can be one if you are determined to make a change and focused to bring a ray of hope for the world and future genera ons, in your own li le way.

Page 02 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

Photo Above: During Discussion

Intercultural Learning | Educa on AFS Effect+ Workshops and ICL Educators' Training

#InterculturalLearning The Eect+ Workshops were organised following schools in the month of June 2019 - The Shishukunj Interna onal School, Indore - Sri Aurobindo Mira Universal School, Madurai - Anita Methodist Matricula on Higher Secondary School, Chennai This supports the global movement to advance intercultural learning and global ci zenship educa on and AFS's mission to create CHANGE-MAKERS! It brings tools from progressive educa on in the classrooms to promote inclusivity and foster skills to tackle global challenges.

Brainstorming Session

AFS ICL Educators' Training Workshops were organised following schools in the month of June 2019 -

Global City Interna onal School, Bangalore Indore Public School, Indore St. Paul Higher Secondary School, Indore Sri Aurobindo Mira Universal School, Madurai Anita Methodist Matricula on Higher Secondary School, Chennai

Ac vi es During The Session

The workshops were duly facilitated by Sarita Badhwar.

What Every AFSer Should Know About AFS The ICL Level W training for volunteers was held on 16th June, 2019, at Anand Chapter. The Level W training is an essen al tool for volunteers to be familiarized with the history of AFS, fundamentals of AFS Intercultural Approach, models of culture, cultural adapta on, cultural styles, communica on values and dimensions, and the AFS Educa onal Methodology.

The one-day training was well received and appreciated by the chapter volunteers stepping into roles of responsibili es within the chapter.

Brainstorming Session

The workshop serves instrumental to promote heightened awareness among volunteers and sta as they become familiar with core Intercultural Learning (ICL) concepts and communica on strategies. The training was duly facilitated by Ajay Mehta.

Page 03 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

School | Educa on

Photo Above: During Domes c Class Exchange Program

Domestic Class Exchange Program

By Sonika Singh, Educator, Heritage School Jammu

#DomesticClassExchange - Punjab Public School, Nabha and Heritage School, Jammu - Sunbeam Lahartara, Varanasi and Heritage School, Jammu 12 students of Class 11th, along with two teachers of Heritage School Jammu were hosted by Punjab Public School, Nabha . On the other hand 12 students of Class 8th along with two teachers from Heritage School Jammu, got a chance to be hosted at Sunbeam Lahartara, Varanasi 28th to 4th November 2018.

host students. The students stayed in the school hostels and were made part of this new intercultural learning experience. They returned with fond memories.

On the other hand, Heritage School, Jammu also hosted the students from both the schools from 12th to 19th November 2018.

The host students were shown the en re school and Amphi Theatre where some interac ve sessions took place. The students visited Mansar, Surinsar, Amar Mahal, Bahu Fort, Akhnoor and Raghunath Mandir.

The objec ve of the program was to focus on the exchange between the AFS India Member Schools in a dierent state and gain intercultural experience.

The students were taught regional dances and songs along with the visit to the city market to observe the Dogra a re and taste the cuisine. The program also entailed sports ac vi es, science experiments, and jam sessions.

During the exchange, the students got an opportunity to interact with the students of the new school, learn their culture, language, dance forms and taste a variety of food. The host school aslo arranged for an excursion trip and recrea onal ac vi es for the

The exchange program gave students an intercultural learning experience and helped them in understanding diversity in terms of culture and people.

Page 04 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

Photo Below: Ac vi es During The Program

School | Educa on International Class Exchange between YPS Patiala and Lycée Clos Maire Beaune, France

By Maj. Gen. Sanjiv Varma, Director, YPS Pa ala

#InternationalClassExchange An Interna onal class exchange was held between YPS, Pa ala and Lycée Clos Maire Beaune, France from 5th to 15th June 2019. There were 18 students and 2 Educators from YPS Pa ala who went on the program.

“The YPS India-France EXCHANGE program was a huge success.

The students, teachers and the families were very elated and sa sfied. The students were given an opportunity to explore the Beaune region, study the culture and live the French life closely, observing the customs & beliefs. This will definitely give them an

Photo Above: Students on Interna onal Class Exchange Program

alterna ve perspec ve to look at the world with a new lens. Infact, we were ini ally apprehensive sending students as young as 12 years but we believe in 'catching them young' to broaden their horizons. We took the risk. The students learning from this exposure has affirmed our decision. The welcome by the Mayor was an honor for our group.

We are thankful to Professor Alban Georges, Professor Marc Doudin and AFSer Elise for a well-planned i nerary & the smooth conduct of the program and the host families for their warm hospitality and love.

We are looking forward to the visit of the French delega on in October and hope they too will have an enriching experience of India.”

Photo Below: Indian Students with French Students

Page 05 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

School | Educa on

Photo Above: During Interna onal Class Exchange Program to Italy

The Unexpected Gift

By Poornima Menon, Principal, Anand Vidya Vihar, Vadodara, Gujarat

#InternationalClassExchange “Some mes life throws curve balls at you, the trajectory of which one may not be able to judge ll it reaches the des na on.

That is how I describe the interna onal school exchange program between India and Italy, precisely speaking between Anand Vidya Vihar School, Vadodara, Gujarat, and Liceo Scien fico Galileo Galilei school, Siena, Tuscany. When an e-mail from the AFS office dropped in last year, asking for the readiness for an interna onal school exchange program, I never knew it would be this frui ul and even ul.

The prepara ons for hos ng the Italian students started in the month of December itself. The host families at Vadodara were readily excited to host and impact our Italian guests with Indian hospitality. On 21st January 2019 our families started with their hos ng journey.

The Italian students came to India as guests but when they returned on 30th January 2019, they le like a loving family member. A er exploring Gir lion sanctuary, doing a city tour at World Heritage City Ahmedabad, and discovering other places of tourist a rac ons at Vadodara, they concluded that India like Italy has so much to offer, that a short period hardly suffices to explore.

A er spending so much me with the Italian students during such visits and interac ng with them during the family func ons, ou ngs

and evening dinners cemented such a strong rela onship between all that while bidding goodbyes to each other, all the eyes were moist.

Soon it was me for the Indian students from Vadodara to pack bags and set their feet on the Italian soil. What we received as hospitality from Italy can never be explained in words. Being at such a stunningly beau ful place with so many hear ully welcoming people around, actually made us realize that there could probably be nothing more that we could ever ask for.

All the tourist places that we were taken to, be it San Gimignano, Florence, Pisa, Val d'orcia, Mount Pulciano and others spoke of a charm that moderniza on has yet not been able to contaminate.

The architectural design and pain ngs were a major draw and source of a rac on. Visits to Florence and Pisa leaning tower was such a wonderful experience that it will be cherished for a life me.

School visits were another memorable experience.

While returning we explored the Eternal City, Rome for two days.

The sights that met us, the roads, the buildings, the lip-smacking food, the monuments, the history, and every nook and corner will always remain entrenched in our minds.

We hope to con nue hos ng and sending students through these programs. As a member school, we believe that such experiences go a long way in opening the minds of people especially, children who then grow up to be broad-minded and large-hearted. That is something that we all want desperately for a be er tomorrow.”

Photo Below: Students on Interna onal Class Exchange Program

Page 06 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

Photo Above: Vyom Raisurana During His Exchange Program

Alumni Impact Story "It is never a bad day to do a good deed"

By Vyom Raisurana, Alumni, YES'10

#YESAlumni “It's hard to really say or share my 'impact' and talk about the YES program or AFS's engagement at large in my life. It's like someone asking me 'what's the impact of your life?'. It is true that a er (almost) a decade, I can say that the YES program had a phenomenally transforma onal role to play in my life. We go on this program at an age when we are already ba ling the odds of surfacing up from childhood and gaining responsibility as an adult.

To go to another country and manage things as an independent adult (but with 'secret' support) is the best possible experience one can have while growing up. In the process of exchange, you actually learn to understand and deal with the unan cipated situa ons of real life. The actual educa on that we recieve a er going on an exchange program is to expect the unexpected and yet flourish!

Classrooms don't teach that, they can never teach that. Reitera ng, it's hard, to sum up my growth as a person without the experience of the YES program being there. For the purpose of making the story tangible-I learned: - how to appreciate what I have-gra tude - how to make independent decisions and managing in case of failure

- being 'comfortable in my own skin'-self-awareness - that there is actually so much to learn and grow than I could possibly imagine!

This itself drew to the fact that I learned how to express my gra tude to the community. I grew up with this feeling (including my host community) that it can actually be very difficult to help or aid to the en re world, but you can always start from somewhere and volunteering helps to accomplish the expression of gra tude that one has. As I always feel and say-"It is never a bad day to do a good deed".

I would recommend this program to anyone and everyone reallyirrespec ve of where you are in life. There is never a perfect me to invest your money, energy, and resources to go on an exchangeand is less likely that there would be. If there is a slight hint or sliver of interest-GO FOR IT! Do not over think about it. It will be one of those decisions in your life that you would only thank yourself years later and say 'I'm glad I did it'.

I do not feel I am aptly equipped to give a message to the Indian youth or anyone for that ma er. If at all, what I would say is-Good or bad, it will all pass. Understand that nothing is permanent-life or situa ons. Thus, if good happens, do not "want" more of it or do not brag or boast about it. If bad happens, do not "push" for it to go away or accentuate the 'pain' by repea ng how painful/hur ng you are.

Learn to be- EQUANIMOUS in all situa ons!”

Page 07 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

Alumni Impact Story “Journey from Alumni to Intern"

By Sanyukta Buwa | Alumni’15 from Mumbai | Hosted in Germany

#AFSAlumni “My journey with AFS began in 2014. I had first applied for a ten months exchange program to Germany a er finishing school but backed out because I was not confident. I started learning German right a er school because of my interest in languages and was soon no fied by local AFS volunteers about two months of a shortterm reciprocal exchange program to Germany during summer vaca ons. It came to me as the perfect opportunity as I was fairly good with German by the me I le .

My lovely host family had four people in it - parents, a brother and a sister. It was truly a mul cultural and mul lingual family. My host mother had Chilean and Spanish roots. She had family in almost all parts of the world. During my stay, many of her friends and rela ves from across the globe came to visit us. Her father had come to stay with us for a month all the way from San ago de Chilé. It not only helped me in ge ng to know the German culture but also in understanding the South American culture closely. Food and music from various countries had become a part of my daily life. As my family was mul lingual, I picked up a few words of Spanish, a ained considerable fluency in German and was also able to grasp the local dialect - Schwäbisch.

I was placed in Tübingen, which is a beau ful town to the southwest of Germany near Stu gart. It is called 'The town of Universi es'. My family took me around the en re town and we loved riding our bicycles along the river Neckar on a sunny spring day. All of us were passionate about traveling and I explored parts of Bavaria, Frankfurt, Berlin, and Stu gart with my family and friends.I a ended a German high school with my host sister. The German educa on system, the standard of educa on, overall learning atmosphere and infrastructure le me in admira on. I was determined on pursuing my higher educa on in Germany.

A er my stay in Germany, my host sister came to stay with us in Mumbai as a part of the reciprocal exchange program. We had a wonderful me together. She enjoyed trying all kinds of Indian cuisines. As it was peak monsoon season, we could experience plush greenery everywhere while traveling.

Page 08 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

Photo Above: Sanyukta Buwa During Her Exchange Program

I con nued learning German a er my exchange program and kept in touch with my host family and friends in Germany. I visited my host family in Germany with my Indian family one year a er my exchange. My host mother came to visit us in Mumbai last year.

She had been prac cing Yoga for many years and was very keen on visi ng India.

AFS brought along a huge change in my life and helped me in finding a path to my future. It made me realize the importance of giving back to our society. We were very happy to host an Austrian girl for three months. I wanted more and more people to make use of this life-changing opportunity and so I became an ac ve volunteer with AFS in 2016.

Educa ng host families and students about intercultural differences and crea ng an open-minded approach among them are the most crucial things that I have been able to do as an AFS volunteer.

Thanks to all my incredible mentors in the Mumbai Chapter, I have been serving as a Sending Coordinator for KL-YES (Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study) Programme under their guidance since 2017.

I was intending on applying to German universi es this year for my Master's but I read something in the November 2018 Newsle er which caught my eye. AFS Germany was offering 4 internship spots for interna onal volunteers/returnees in the 18+ Programmes Department at their head office in Hamburg for a dura on of one year. The job descrip on matched my exact interests, I had the required experience and qualified in other criteria along with language proficiency expected. I applied for the internship immediately.Recently, I received an email from AFS Germany for scheduling a skype-interview. The interview went smoothly and I was told shortly a er that I had been selected for the internship.

I feel truly honored and happy to have received this opportunity.

This will be a great learning experience for me. It will help me in finding a clearer path in my future and new roads will open up by engaging with more people from around the world. I am thankful to both of my Indian and German families for their strong support in my decisions, my friends and every person in AFS with whom I have worked so far, for enriching me with experiences that I needed. I would like to end this by saying what the Germans say while star ng something new and exci ng - los geht's!”

Alumni Impact Story “The most important thing that I learned was TO LOVE MYSELF”

By Gul Mehra | Alumni'15 from Delhi | Hosted in Italy

#AFSAlumni “I first got connected to AFS when I went to Russia for a short-term class exchange, thinking that it was just another trip. Never did I realize what changes it would bring in my life within the coming year!

A er having met so many exchange students during the class exchange, I decided that I would, at any cost go for a YearExchange. I wanted to get out of my nutshell, I wanted to explore the world and AFS gave me the perfect pla orm for it!

I le for Italy in September 2015, while my parents con nued hos ng students who were on short term programs. The next thing I know a er I arrived in Italy was that I was totally in a different world. I was now in the mid of the forest in a warm and cozy house, far away from the chaos of Delhi. Ini ally, the silence of nature, was too much to handle, since I wanted people around me, to stop feeling lonely but, by the me it was the new year, I had embraced this place so well, that I could spend days with my host family, without being wanted to go out anywhere.

Photo Above: Gul Mehra During Her Exchange Program

important personali es in Europe. It did, of course, help me make the right career choice a er I came back to India.

The program did have a huge impact on my personality and my outlook towards the people, in general. I no longer needed a maid to serve me food or do my dishes. I had learned the fact that I am solely responsible for my ac ons and that no one else can solve my problems for me. The way I presented myself was different, the way I talked was different, I no longer judge people, I no longer care of who judged me as well. The most important thing that I learned was TO LOVE MYSELF. I literally started loving spending me with myself. I thus became independent and gained skills like decision making power, the confidence to be able to take a stand for myself, self-awareness and cri cal thinking.

I would totally recommend these exchange programs to everyone around me. This was the best decision that I took for myself, and I know what all it brings to you, thus, it is not something that should be missed by any chance. I can't thank AFS enough for everything that it has given me!”

I learnt to set the bonfire, to cut the woods, to go for trekking in search of fruits, to wake up as early as 5:30 everyday, to walk more than I ever did in the past 15 years, and most importantly travel a lot every day, since my school was down the hills 60 km away.

I was lucky to be in a family where everyone had an ar s c mind. I got an opportunity to a end so many events, and meet so many

Group Photo: During Her Exchange Program

Page 09 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

interacted to gain deeper insight into the culture and learn from their experiences. We’re thankful to the officials for giving us their precious me. The aim of the orienta on was to guide and prepare the students for the program before their departure to their respec ve hosted countries in upcoming months.

Orienta on

Photo Above: Group Photo Na onal Pre-Departure Orienta on

National Pre-Departure Orientation 2019-20 Batch

#AFSOrientation The Batch of 2019-20 young ambassadors came together to a end the Na onal Pre-Departure orienta on Camp in Delhi from 10th to 13th June 2019. It was a 4 day camp with a total of 50 students par cipa ng in the same. This year, we have students going to USA, Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark for a yearlong AFS program. Students from Belgium, France and Italy had a chance to meet the Officials from the Embassy where they

The sessions focused on: - Se ng the students expecta on from the program - AFS Rules and communica on channel - Iceberg concept of culture - Tips for adap ng to a new culture - Being an ambassador - Adjustment in a host school and host family - Indian tradi ons & religious ma ers - Budge ng ps - Tips on the packing list - Types of communica on New techniques and methodologies were adopted to carry out the sessions which made par cipants interact and take an ac ve part in group ac vi es and energizers. Intercultural components were added to give more exposure to the par cipants about being on exchange programs and how ICL can help them achieve their goals overall during the exchange program.

We had AFS India alumni as facilitators for the orienta on along with the AFS India staff members. AFS Students got great exposure during their me with AFS alumni. The students are excited to experience the exchange, and they look forward to star ng their journey in their hosted countries.

17th June evening and a ended a Re-Entry Orienta on. The orienta on sessions mainly focus on Reverse Cultural Shock and the Tips for Readjustment in the Family, School and Society. Some of the other important sessions conducted were Alumni Engagement, Tree of Life, The New Me, Achievements during the Exchange Program, Being Back Home, etc. They were also introduced to various intercultural learning concepts that gave them skills and understanding to navigate through their readjustment journey back in India.

Photo Above: Group Photo Kennedy-Lugar YES Re-Entry Orienta on

Kennedy-Lugar YES Re-Entry Orientation for 2018-19 Batch

#YESOrientation Group of 40 Kennedy-Lugar YES batch 2018-19 students were welcomed at the Delhi Airport on 15th June. The AFS India staff received them at the airport and the students stayed in Delhi ll

Page 10 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

One of the highlights of the orienta on was when par cipants got to read Dear Me le ers which they wrote a year back and also saw the Before/A er the presenta on of how they have changed in looks. It was a great way to make them realize the change that took place over a year gap. AFS India staff also had a one to one interac on with the students and overall the par cipants had a wonderful experience and they enjoyed their stay back in their host country.

YES Returnees were also given an idea about chapter engagements. They were made aware of the AFS India's processes and various ac vi es that they can par cipate in once they go back to their chapters. Each of the staff members of AFS India connected with the returnee via an online call to introduce the processes and gave them clarity on the expecta ons once they go back to chapter as alumni.

We wish the newly YES graduates good luck. We look forward to seeing them get engaged and par cipate in various ac vi es as an alumnus and volunteers. Our hear elt gra tude to all the stakeholders for their tremendous support to the students.

Hos ng Host Family and Counsellors Orientations

#HostingOrientation We are happy to share that AFS India Hos ng Team is gearing up with zeal and enthusiasm for the upcoming Hos ng Cycle. One important milestone achieved in the hos ng cycle was to empower the support and backbones of our process-the host families and counsellors.

Host Family and Counsellors Orienta ons were organized in all 20 hos ng chapters - Jodhpur, Gwalior, Nashik, Pune, Bangalore, Karaikudi, Chennai, Kolkata, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Varanasi, Nabha, Bhopal, Indore, Rajkot, Mumbai, Ooty and Delhi in the month of May and June, 2019. With the aim

Host Family and Counsellors Orienta on, Pune Chapter

Host Family and Counsellors Orienta on, Varanasi Chapter

to provide host families and counsellors with the necessary skills to have fun as they host, know the "why" of our AFS experience, learn through their intercultural encounters and support the par cipants be er, the orienta on served as an important pla orm for host families to talk about their expecta ons, fears and apprehensions before the par cipants arrive. The orienta on is instrumental to ensure that they are all ready to take on the exchange experience as well. The orienta on touched bases with AFS Educa onal Goals, Cultural Adapta on Journey, DIVE amongst many other concepts.

We are grateful to our volunteers for suppor ng in conduc ng the orienta ons and skillfully facilita ng the same at dierent chapters.

We look forward to having a successful hos ng cycle.

Host Family and Counsellors Orienta on, Nashik Chapter

Host Family and Counsellors Orienta on, Anand Chapter

Host Family and Counsellors Orienta on, Ahmedabad & Gandhinagar Chapter

Page 11 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

Host Family & Counsellors Training, Indore Chapter

Host Family & Counsellors Training, Jodhpur Chapter

Host Family & Counsellors Training, Vadodara Chapter

Host Family and Counsellors Orienta on, Bangalore Chapter

Host Family and Counsellors Orienta on, Kolkata Chapter

Page 12 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

Photo Above: Students at Asha School

Volunteerism Community Service Activities | Guwahati

By Nandita Baruah, Volunteer, Guwaha Chapter

#AFSCommunityService The students and educators from Mariya's Public School, Guwaha have been doing different community service ac vi es during the month of April and May. “To mark the occasion of Bihu celebra on, a group of students from Maria's Public School accompanied by two teachers visited Asha, a school for differently abled children at Narengi Army cantonment in Guwaha on 12th April 2019. The program started with an inaugural speech by the principal of Asha school followed by a vote of thanks by one of the teachers of Mariya's Public School.

Therea er the group handed over the gi hampers which consisted of seasonal snacks donated by the students of Mariya's Public School to the children of Asha School. The children seem to be very happy while interac ve with them.

Also, to add to the spirit of Bihu celebra on, a group of 11 students accompanied by three teachers from Mariya's Public School, went to Noonma Police Sta on, Guwaha to celebrate the fes val with

Distribu ng Sweets

the Police Officials. It was an unforge able moment for the police officers as they never expected such a heartwarming approach from the school children. They were felicitated with our tradi onal axomya gamusa (beau fully woven symbolic piece of cloth with a rac ve graphic designs) and students conveyed their hear elt gra tude for every type of assistance provided by the police for our safety and security. The students asked a number of ques ons which were happily answered by the officials. Students offered the police officials with different tradi onal sweets. The program ended with Bihu song and dance.

Also, on the same day, some other students from the school performed a street play to spread awareness on vo ng rights in the neighbourhood. The audience included the students of Raghu Nath Choudhury High School, Birkuchi and other local residents. The play had a posi ve impact on the students and le a mark in the minds of the local people. It ended with a great cheer and applause.

Also to spread awareness regarding health and hygiene in the month of May a group of students of Maria's Public School visited a

Distribu ng Gi Hampers

Page 13 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

nearby Government school at Bonda village on 16th May 2019. On reaching the school, the Marians set the ball rolling by demonstra ng on enlightening presenta on focusing on the significance of environmental, water and self-cleanliness in rela on to overall health well being of the students. The students

Students During Street Play

from both schools also engaged in crea ng posters rela ng to environment conserva on which was indeed not only aesthe c to look at but also conveyed a deep message about myriad topics such as the cleanliness of mother earth, body hygiene and systema c ways of its maintenance.”

Poster Making on Environmental Awareness

Fun with Learning Activities | Srinagar

By Maariya Naim, Volunteer, Srinagar Chapter On 23rd May 2019, the volunteers of Srinagar chapter carried out a community service ac vity at a local school and organized various ac vi es for the children of different age groups.

"The main ac vity that we carried out was the Nature Scavenger Hunt, where the kids were divided into small groups and were headed by one senior. The groups were given a list of objects to find and bring back to the people in charge, and the winners were awarded small sta onery kits. It was an ac vity based on cleanliness and awareness about the environment. Candies and Kung Fu Panda bands were also distributed among the children.

With older students, an English learning session was carried out.

They were pre y excited because we've done this before on one of our previous visits too. Overall, it was a psychology-based ac vity and was fun. A storytelling session was planned for the ny tots,

and at the end of the day, all the kids were literally on top of volunteers. We also taught them how to make bookmarks and caterpillars out of scrap paper, which made them quite happy.

Through the span of 3 hours that we spent there, the children got so a ached to the volunteers, they didn't let go of their arms or their hands.

We held a small mee ng at the end of the event, and we discussed general problems regarding idea on and also communica on. All the volunteers felt very inspired to work harder in the future. One thing a volunteer said, "I didn't know I had signed up for this much amount of inner sa sfac on and happiness when I signed up for AFS volunteerism, but I guess I'm in for a life me!", which I'll never forget. I guess it's just true and all of us feel the same way!

Kudos to AFS! Lots of love from Srinagar."

Fun Learning Sessions

Volunteers During the Ac vity

Volunteer to create change Join a movement of ac ve ci zens helping people and communi es learn to live together.

Page 14 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

Beach Clean Up Activity | Chennai

By Naveen Raja, Volunteer, Chennai Chapter “The AFS chennai chapter collaborated with The Environmentalists founda on of India and par cipated in the beach cleanup ac vity that was held on 2nd June 2019 on the occasion of world environment day.

12 volunteers from the Chennai Chapter ac vely took part in the beach cleanup at the broken bridge loca on of Besant Nagar beach.

Group Photo: Volunteers During The Ac vity

The main agenda of the ac vity was to remove the plas cs and micro plas cs from the beaches which were noted as poten al threats to the marine creature. This ac vity helped the volunteers to gain awareness about the threats that plas cs hold and also the need to keep our beaches clean. The ac vity contributed to the achievement of the 14th Sustainable Development Goal.

Also, through this ac vity the new volunteers who joined the chapter got a chance to meet and interact with the old volunteers”.

During The Ac vity

Maharashtra Day Celebration | Pune

By Unmesh Datar, Volunteer, Pune Chapter “To mark the occassion of Maharashtra Day, the volunteers of Pune chapter par cipated in a community service event organised by “Paani Founda on”, a non-profit, non-governmental organiza on which is ac ve in the area of drought preven on and watershed management in the state of Maharashtra. The organiza on was founded by Indian actor Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao. The community service event was held on 1st of May, 2019 and it focused towards helping the drought ridden areas in Maharashtra and empowering them by building watershed structures across the state which will result in the crea on of lakhs of litres of water storage capacity, when the monsoon arrives.

Group Photo: Volunteers During Ac vity

There were 14 Volunteers and 1 Host student present for the community service. The volunteers started for the village named Jawal Arjun where they were given the task of building Mud Dams around a farm to conserve the water and making it soak in the ground. The ac vity started around 7 a.m. in the morning and finished at around 11 a.m.

The volunteers successfully built mud dams which will help the farmers to have a be er harvest in the coming year”. The ac vity contributed to the achievement of the 6th Sustainable Development Goal.

Making Water Shed

VOLUNTEER + ACTION = IMPACT Page 15 | June 2019 | Newsle er | AFS India

Shifa Naaz from Hyderabad, Hosted in USA