Reports
JYEP Activities in 2023
Almost all the Campuses had their Open Day Functions throughout the year, during which the Junior Youth and their Animators, through creative and interactive presentations, educated their parents about the salient features of this programme. These events were wonderful and at the end of each one of them, the parents were served dinner and they closely interacted with the Animators and the Co-ordinators of the programme.
The Junior Youth and the Animators of the Indira Nagar Campus organized an Exhibition at their respective branch on April 04, 2023. The school invited the parents of the Junior Youth and the Animators to this great event. The guests greatly enjoyed participating in this programme.
In 2022, we had two great conferences, one in October for the Animators of Classes 9 and 11 and one in December for the Animators of classes 10 and 12. The book, ‘Wellspring of Joy,’ was studied in these two conferences. Each conference was for a period of two days during which the youth not only learnt a lot, but also had a lot of fun. Both these conferences were very successful and more than 900 Animators participated in them.
We had several training sessions for the training of the new volunteers in the different branches of the school in March and April 2023. Most of these conferences were for about a week or so during which the training manual for the programme was studied and the volunteers were also introduced to the three books that are taught in the JYEP classes at CMS. We had close to 800 volunteers participating in these training sessions.
This year, many of the Co-ordinators and Assistant Co-ordinators of the JYEP were trained to become the teachers of the Pathfinders Books 1 and 2 which are being taught to students in classes 9, 10, 11 and 12. It has been decided that the ones who are trained will assist the class teachers to teach these books to their students.
Mahanagar Campus of CMS organized a service project on waste management from April 29 to May 1, 2023. This was a very creative and useful undertaking and the participants greatly enjoyed themselves taking part in this event.
The Animators and Co-ordinators of the JYEP organized a Parent Orientation Programme at their campus on April 29, 2023. The participants in this event greatly enjoyed themselves and had a lot of fun together.
Brainstorming session
Energizer activity
There was an orientation session on the Global Dream Literacy Project at the RDSO campus on May 2, 2023. The programme enabled the Animators and the Junior Youth to realise the importance of literacy and commit themselves to Each One, Teach One project.
The Co-ordinators and Animators of JYEP at Gomtinagar Campus 1 organized a three day Conference and studied the book, ‘Habits of an Orderly Mind,’ from June 01 to June 03, 2023. The programme was very successful and more than 100 Junior Youth participated in it.
Study Session at Animator’s Conference
Junior Youth Empowerment Programme Animators’ Conference: 5-6 October 2019
428 animator students of standards 9 to 12 from the 10 JYEP campuses attended the Animators’ Conference organized by the Department of Character Education and Youth Empowerment on 05th and 06th October 2019, at WUCC, Kanpur Road. The animators came from Aliganj I, Chowk, Gomti Nagar I, Gomti Nagar Extension, Indira Nagar, Kanpur Road, Mahanagar, Rajajipuram I, Rajendra Nagar I and Station Road.
The programme consisted of the study of materials on the characteristics of the period of youth. It reiterates the sublime purpose of the JYEP as that of empowering the junior youth with a two-fold sense of purpose: that of individual and social transformation. It draws attention of the animators to their responsibility of helping young people aged 12-15 to develop their powers of expression and strengthen their capacities to recognize the moral issues underlying individual and collective decisions.
As the material unfolded it became clear that the youth need to be assisted in acquiring a language rich enough to enable them to understand the powerful forces that shape social values and therefore the primary focus of this study was to encourage youth to think critically about the world around them, to analyze assumptions, and to distinguish truth from falsehood. Understanding the service projects designed and undertaken by the junior youth themselves and of the need to be humble in our attitude towards service were discussed at length in various groups.
Learning prayers and quotations, artistic activities, cooperative games, reflection and planning were other elements of the two-day programme. Students also made presentations of their plan for their schools, as well as songs, skits, etc. The animators also reviewed the texts that they are using for enabling the junior youth in their respective campuses understand concepts and enhance their analytical thinking and observation skills.
Training of newly appointed junior and senior teachers on Raising Capability for Social Action 20-21 July 2019
On 20th and 21st July 2019, the newly appointed junior and senior teachers of City Montessori School participated in two-day training on ‘Raising Capability for Social Action’. The training took place at WUCC, CMS Kanpur Road Campus, where 47 teachers got trained with the help of four facilitators.
The study material was based on the concept of capabilities and the essential capabilities of leadership namely, the capability to: encourage others and to bring joy to their hearts; infuse one's thoughts and actions with love; be visionary and to encourage others to be visionary; manage one's affairs and responsibilities with a rectitude of conduct; assess one's strengths and weaknesses without involving the ego; oppose one's self-centered tendencies by turning towards one's higher purpose for existence; exercise initiative in a creative and disciplined way; sustain effort and persevere in overcoming obstacles; understand relationships of dominance and be able to facilitate their transformation into relationships of inter-dependence, reciprocity and service; serve as a catalyst for the establishment of justice; engage in empowering educational activities, both as a student and as a teacher; learn from systematic reflection on action and to do so within an evolving and consistent framework; think systemically in the search for solutions; participate effectively in consultation; build unity while cultivating diversity; and serve on the institutions of society in such a manner that these institutions are actively encouraged to empower the individuals whom they serve, to express their talents in service to humanity.
The groups were divided into smaller groups to analyze each capability on the basis of the four elements: qualities, concepts, attitudes and skills, and they discussed its relevance to their teaching-learning situation. They also discussed how Junior Youth Empowerment Programme (JYEP) is actually raising capability for social action and service in both animators and junior youth. The teachers asked for more seminars on these themes to be organized in future.
Seminar on Virtues Project on 20th - 29th June 2019 & 3rd July 2019
Facilitator: Mrs. Dara Feldman, Founding Chairperson of the Virtues Project International, USA
From 20-29 June, the coordinators of Pre-primary and teachers of Primary Section of City Montessori School participated in the Seminar on ‘Awakening the Gifts Within: An Introduction to The Virtues Project’ conducted by Mrs. Dara Feldman who is the Founding Chairperson of the Virtues Project International, USA. The training was conducted in 5 batches of two days’ each for teachers of Class I, II, III, IV and V. The training took place at WUCC, CMS Kanpur Road Campus, where approximately 550 teachers participated.
A similar session was conducted on 3rd July 2019 for 4 hours for all the Principals, Vice-Principals and Administrators of the school.
Mrs. Dara Feldman spoke on “Awakening the Gifts of Character” as an introduction to the Virtues Project. She reiterated the fact that all children are born with the virtues in potential, and that when parents and educators awaken these gifts of character, we can change the world. She highlighted the five strategies essential for inspiring individuals with more authentic, joyful lives and for educators to create safe, caring and high performing learning communities. Using the language of virtues; recognizing teachable moments, restorative justice, honouring the spirit and offering companioning were the salient features of her presentation which was participatory in nature and enjoyed by all. There were lots of games, activities, arts, crafts, dance and music as a part of the workshop.
The workshop did not just helped the participants as teachers but also empowered them to live more meaningful lives, as parents to raise children of compassion and integrity, and as leaders to encourage excellence and ethics in the work place. It inspired and mobilized the participants to commit acts of service and generosity and to heal violence with virtues.
The management of the school extended their gratitude to Mrs Feldman, saying that all of us here at CMS will remain indebted to the contribution of this seminar in giving the discourse on education a new colour and flavor.
Animators’ Conference Junior Youth Empowerment Programme 13-14 October & 23-24 December 2018
391 students attended the Animators’ Conference in 2018. There were 230 who attended the conference on 13-14 October and 161 on 23-24 December 2018. These conferences were organized by the Department of Character Education and Youth Empowerment at WUCC, Kanpur Road.
At both the conferences, the programme consisted of the study of the book ‘Drawing on the Power of the Word’, learning prayers and quotations and artistic activities. The content of the book resonates with the experience of the animators themselves in facilitating a junior youth group. It reiterates the sublime purpose of the JYEP as that of empowering the junior youth with a two-fold sense of purpose: that of individual and social transformation. It draws attention of the animators to their responsibility of helping young people aged 12-15 to develop their powers of expression and strengthen their capacities to recognize the moral issues underlying individual and collective decisions. As the material unfolded it became clear that the youth need to be assisted in acquiring a language rich enough to enable them to understand the powerful forces that shape social values and therefore the primary focus of this study was to encourage youth to think critically about the world around them, to analyze assumptions, and to distinguish truth from falsehood. Artistic activities, cooperative games, reflection and planning were other elements of the two-day programme. At the concluding session, the students made presentations of their plan for their schools, as well as songs, skits and nukkad natak highlighting social issues.
Since the conferences, the animators have been focusing on fulfilling the plans that they made with renewed vigor and enthusiasm with the help of the junior youth in their own campuses. Service to the common good continues to be the dominating passion of their lives. The principals and management of the campuses have lent all support to the animators in fulfillment of their service in the school.
Animators’ Training of Junior Youth Empowerment Programme 2018
The Junior Youth Empowerment Programme attracted an additional 400 students going to class 9, who volunteered to serve as animators for 3 years, into its circle of over 1000 animators. The students from 9 campuses, namely, Aliganj I, Gomti Nagar I, Gomti Nagar II, Indira Nagar, Kanpur Road, Mahanagar, Rajendra Nagar I, Rajajipuram I and Station Road participated in the training program from 9/10 March 2018 soon after the examinations. The resolve, enthusiasm, and active participation of these students during the study sessions, consultation and planning, cooperative games, arts and crafts, and memorization of prayers and quotations was exemplary. The spirit of service permeated all. The high sense of purpose and the conviction that they could bring about a transformation, not only, in their own lives but also in the life of the junior youth of their own campuses and consequently in the school community, brought the spark of light in their beautiful eyes that one saw day after day. CMS is, indeed, proud to have introduced this international programme as an integral component of its curriculum of education.
Animators’ Conference of Junior Youth Empowerment Programme: October 7-8, 2017
500 animator students of standards 9 to 12 from the 9 JYEP campuses attended the Animators’ Conference organized by the Office of Youth Empowerment & Capacity Building on 7th and 8th October 2017 at WUCC, Kanpur Road. The animators came from Aliganj 1, Gomti Nagar 1, Gomti Nagar Extension including Cambridge, Indira Nagar, Kanpur Road, Mahanagar, Rajendra Nagar 1, Rajajipuram 1, and Station Road.
The programme consisted of the study of materials on the characteristics of the period of youth, the need for special attention to the 12-15 age groups, the imperative duty of educational institutions to imbue the youth and junior youth with a high sense of purpose in order to lead holistic lives and contribute to the dual process of individual and collective transformation. In addition materials on the forces of investigation of truth and thirst for knowledge, understanding the service projects designed and undertaken by the junior youth themselves and of the need to be humble in our attitude towards service were discussed at length in various groups. Artistic activities, cooperative games, reflection and planning were other elements of the two-day programme. At the concluding session the students made presentations of their plan for their schools, as well as songs, skits and nukkad natak. One of the highlights of the conference was when three volunteers who have taken a gap year before entering college shared as to how their association for over 4 years with the JYEP in their own campuses motivated them to come and serve as volunteers for one year. One of the animators also spoke about how she has started a junior youth group in her own neighbourhood and encouraged others to partake of that joy of service with children of their own neighbourhood. The animators also reviewed the texts that they are using for enabling the junior youth in their respective campuses understand concepts and enhance their analytical thinking and observation skills.
Animators’ Conference of Junior Youth Empowerment Programme: December 22-23, 2016
1st Day: (22nd December 2016)
All the animators reached the venue WUCC by 9:00 a.m. After registration (through attendance sheets) they began the proceedings with devotionals comprising prayers presented by Animators of CMS G.N I. The whole atmosphere became spiritual and set the tone for the rest of the day. Next on the Dias was Dr. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon who spoke about the importance of JYEP and how it amalgamates the philosophy of CMS in its fold-viz- the three realities of man and the three kinds of education required to help him reach his true potential. Her words, full of encouragement were well received by the audience. Next to come up and address the Animators was Mr. Roshan Fownhi Gandhi, Director of Strategy, C.M.S. He broadly highlighted the aims of this conference and how the JYEP would help them look at their lives with fresh perspectives. Thereafter the participants were divided into 6 groups of around 60 students each and began the study of the JYEP Training Manual Part II.
Post Lunch session had a segment wherein the Animators had to make a presentation (Drama, Poem, Song, Art work, etc.) showcasing all they had learnt during the day. Between 5 and 6:30 that evening the presentations were on show in the Auditorium. Each group (of 60) had between further divided into n4 smaller groups with their facilitators and each such group had to make a presentation. There were 24 presentations in all:- right from Skits, Songs, Collages, Art work, Image maps.
In between the sessions Angela and Harsh had taught the Animators two prayers and in the evening they learnt a new song.
From 8:30 to 10:00 p.m. the Animators gathered in hall No. 11 for an evening of fun and frolic, wherein an informal setting they interacted with each other and forged bonds of friendship. The Animators retired at 10:30 p.m.
2nd Day: (23rd December 2016)
The day began with Breakfast and then was a Joint session with all the Animators before they broke up into smaller groups. The Animators shared their experiences regarding their journey of being an Animator. They spoke about their groups and the changes they have witnessed both in themselves and their group members. It was a truly humbling experience as we heard the profound transformation that was taking place all around our campuses.
Manoneet upadhyay a class XII Animator from CMS Aliganj 1 shared with everyone how he has managed to stay on top of studies, manage the Head Boy cap and be a part of JYEP activities. This was very helpful was the animators who faced a lot of pressure from both their parents and teachers.
JYEP ANIMATORS’ CONFERENCE: 30TH AND 31ST DECEMBER 2014
The last two days of December 2014 were very special and memorable for the animators, volunteers, teachers and facilitators of Junior Youth Empowerment Programme at CMS. 120 student animators of classes 9 and 10 fromfive campuses of CMS (Gomti Nagar Campus 1, Aliganj Campus 1, Gomti Nagar Campus 2, Rajendra Nagar Campus 1 and Kanpur Road Campus) gathered together with fifteen adults at WUCC, LDA. The conference objective was for the animator youth to study together and reflect on the two-fold moral purpose of transforming self and society, and sharpen their vision for the construction of a New World Order.
The conference started with prayers, a video documentary showing glimpses of some service projects of JYEP animators and students,followed by inaugural addresses by our respected founder manager, founder-director, President of CMS, and senior principals -Dr. V. Kamran and Ms. DeepaTewari.
The four workshop groups were facilitated by volunteer youth, with JYEP teachers and facilitators working behind the scenesto ensure that the sessions run smoothly. The materials focused on the immense potential and capacity of youth and junior youth and the imperative need of empowering them to arise in acts of service for the betterment of society. Among other things, the material dwelt on identifying and analyzing the positive and negative forces of society; of building moral structures to assist in making responsible and constructive choices; of enhancing the innate thirst for knowledge and attraction to beauty of excellence in all things; and of acquiring an integrated and coherent vision of reality. The animators reflected on the effect of animating junior youth in their schools on their own intellectual, spiritual and social capabilities, as well as on their power of expression and eloquence. The animators created charts, composed poems, made skit presentation and performed Happy Hippo Shows depicting the concepts in the materials they had studied.
With the enhanced vision of the kind of society they can create, and the role that these service activities play in that creative process, the animator youth made plans of action for the next year both for the junior youth sessions in their campuses as well as for their neighbourhood communities. The conference ended with the presentation of the plans and artistic activities; gratitude to our volunteer youth; and words of wisdom from Dr. Bharti Gandhi, our respected founder-director.