Methodology of Don Bosco

The Refresher Course for HRE teachers in Andhra Pradesh cruises through the second lap right on schedule. The enthusiasm generated by Prof. Haragopal and Mr. Sudhakar Reddy for the teaching of HRE was the momentum that was waiting to take us through the second day. But the content of the second day itself was more than exhilarating to take us forward on its own steam. The previous day’s critique of the present system of education high lighted the vacuum that is there and how HRE can and should fill that vacuum. Day Two was dedicated to examining how the system of education fashioned by Don Bosco through his life experience and his ever abiding presence to his students can be a useful tool to impart HRE.
Accompanied by the rhythmic showers of rain the day began with a short video clipping of the film “Don Bosco”. Don Bosco’s creative and loving presence was very beautifully portrayed in the clipping.
Mr. Machi Raju and Mr.Sleevaraj presented the report on the proceedings of the previous day. The dynamic and creative Salesian that he is Bro. Gregory led the participants through the historical situations that eventually led to the pedagogical intervention of Don Bosco in support of the poor youth of the time. He briefly dwelled on the guiding principles of the Pedagogy of Presence.
Fr. John Tharakan a practising psychologist and counsellor, introduced to the participants the skills needed to make use of the Pedagogy of Presence particularly Emotional and Listening skills. The sessions were so attractive and informative, the participants kept asking for more and more of such sessions.

Stage for Emerging Leadership

They came from the districts of the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana; they who were elected to the district committees by block level functionaries of human rights clubs set up by People’s Action For Rural Awakening in over 587 government schools across the two states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They came together to elect their leaders for the state level committees of the federation of human rights clubs in government schools guided by Fr.John Tharakan. The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state committees were set up and from these the National Committee of Human Rights Clubs Federation.
Human Rights Club members had been very active and visible at their school level and as participants of state, national and international campaigns. The time was ripe to create for them space and visibility the state level to enhance their leadership capacity. With this intent the National convention of the “Human Rights Clubs in Schools” was held on 21st , 22nd and 23rd February 2016 at Navajeevan, Ramanthapur, Hyderabad. The Human Rights clubs is part of PARA’s “Human Rights Education” Programme in cooperation with the UN sponsored “Institute of Human Rights Education (IHRE)”. PARA has now federated the 759 Human Rights Clubs in 587 Schools involving 32420 students in the two states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The National Convention was held to elect the state committees of the federation of human rights clubs and also the national committee.

Little pickpockets

The Little Pickpockets, children from schools in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where People’s Action For Rural Awakening has set up human rights clubs reached out to the children affected by the unprecedented December Floods in Chennai. They decided to pickpockets to make this possible. Only it was their own pockets that they picked to fill their hearts with the joy of giving. They put their pennies together and collected Rs.1,50,000.00 and sent their representatives to corporation schools in Chennai to tell that they care.
It was one of those regular meetings with students in Somidi Zilla Parishat School on the outskirts of Kazipet. Akansha, one of the students shared the story of how her classmate was not attending school for several days together. She said that she gathered some of her classmates and visited the girl’s family and found out the reason why the girl was being absent: her mother had taken ill and needed her support at home! Akansha and her class mates did not just give her advise as to how important it was to be regular to school etc, but put their pocket money together and with the support of their human rights club guide Mr.Rajendar, who initially was sceptical about the human rights club initiative and who like other teachers now voluntarily mentors the human rights club members – collected around Rs.2500.00 to for their class mates medication.

Don’t wait for tomorrow

Fr. Thomas Pallithanam [SDB] addressed the children, fervently reminding them to exercise their citizenship today, not waiting for tomorrow. He also encouraged the celebration of difference as well as a shift in ideology, from competing for “first place” to pursuing one’s personal best, competing only with themselves. Fr. T.D. John [SDB] then guided an interactive group discussion of the 42 Human Rights as identified by the United Nations.

Celebrating differences with eminent citizens

We are just back after enlisting 82 Heads of Schools for Adivasi Children to initiate Human Rights Education in their schools. This meant that they first attend an Orientation Programme themselves and then sent one teacher from the faculty for a Three Day Training on Human Rights Education. 96 Teachers attended the three day training programme in 3 batches. And now another 11556 students of 6th class will be doing human rights education along with their other subjects.
On 3rd July we had returned from the Paderu (ITDA) Integrated Tribal Development Agency after having made all the arrangements for the Heads of Schools Orientation Programme in view of taking up HRE in all the adivasi schools run by the government. The programme had been fixed for the 9th July. But on 4th July we were informed over phone to put all the preparations on hold and renegotiate the plans with the Project Officer (PO). It was a couple of days after Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad was gunned by the AP Police allegedly in a fake encounter. And in the Agency area every government official is vary of Human Rights of any kind! We were certain that the phone call something to do with killing of Azad. So it was with some trepidation that we fixed an appointment with the PO, Ms.Nirmala IAS for renegotiation.