On 13 August 2024, Ahana Suryavanshi, Vice President, and Supriya Ray, Secretary of the Interact Club, represented our school at the Interact seminar for the 2024-25 session. The event introduced them to the new Interact leadership team, including District Interact Representative (DIR) Aneesha Nair and District HR DIR Namya Bhutani, along with 26 Zonal Interact Representatives.This seminar provided more than just introductions—it was an opportunity to rethink their responsibilities as young leaders. Ahana and Supriya left the event with a deeper understanding of their roles and the impact they could make through upcoming Interact initiatives. Meeting with accomplished Rotaractors also enriched their experience, opening new pathways for collaboration and growth. This event solidified their commitment to spearheading projects that will not only benefit the community but also empower them to create lasting change.
The Saturday Sehpaathi Raas workshop, held on 27July 2024, was a vibrant event dedicated to introducing underprivileged children to the rich heritage of classical dancing and Warli art. We welcomed students from the NGOs Jaagriti and Samarpan, providing them with a unique opportunity to engage in cultural activities that celebrated traditional arts. The workshop aimed to foster an appreciation for these art forms and offer the children opportunities for creative expression. Ms. Peehu Bhardwaj, an accomplished classical dancer, introduced the participants to the intricacies of classical dance forms, while Ms. Sujata Arora, a talented Warli artist, guided them through the traditional techniques of Warli art. The sessions were designed to educate the children about the historical and cultural significance of these art forms, encouraging them to participate and develop an interest in the performing arts. By providing a platform for creative expression and skill development, the workshop inspired the children to explore and appreciate their cultural heritage.
Ninaad, our cultural festival dedicated to celebrating imperfections in the spirit of inclusion, made a significant impact this year by raising over ₹1,20,000 for acid attack survivors. At a Special Assembly on 22 July 2024, our school had the honour of hosting five survivors from the Acid Survivors and Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF) and one from the Brave Souls Foundation. The funds, collected through ticket sales and donations from parents during Ninaad 6.0, were presented to these survivors. During the course of their visit, the survivors shared their powerful stories with our students, creating a profound connection and fostering a deeper understanding of their difficult journeys. Additionally, a podcast was recorded to capture the survivors’ experiences and reflections on Ninaad, aiming to share their wisdom and journeys with a broader audience. This initiative not only enriched our students but also spread awareness and empathy beyond our school community.
Senior students conducted a sensitization session for students of Class IX on 25 July 2024, aiming to educate them on the LGBTQ+ community’s history, key terms such as gender identity and sexual orientation, and the challenges faced by its members. The session sought to promote empathy, inclusivity, and allyship through interactive activities, personal stories, and open discussions.Students engaged in various activities designed to challenge stereotypes and foster understanding. The interactive format encouraged students to ask questions and express their thoughts, facilitating a more profound and personal connection to the topic. Additionally, videos regarding LGBTQ+ issues were shown, providing visual and emotional insights that complemented the discussions. The Class IX students expressed their newfound empathy for LGBTQ+ community and explored practical strategies to help their peers. This initiative emphasizes the value of ongoing education and awareness in promoting respect and acceptance for all students, marking a major step towards developing a more welcoming and supportive school climate.
Samarpan Foundation is a charitable not-for-profit entity established in September 2006, focusing on humanitarian, ecological, environmental, and animal welfare needs. Students who are part of Sehpaathi and Girl Up TISVV visited Samarpan Foundation on 8 May 2024 with the dual objective of teaching basic English skills and engaging the students in recreational activities. They implemented interactive teaching methods with games, and public speaking to facilitate learning, covering topics like alphabets, articles, comprehension and foundational topics. Our volunteers also organized various games and activities like Atlas, Eye-Spy, with worksheets to promote teamwork, creativity, and mental activity. The students’ enthusiasm and active participation showcased the success of our efforts in creating a positive impact. Overall, the visit was a fulfilling experience, emphasizing our commitment to holistic education and development. This is an ongoing project for Girl Up TISVV; they plan to visit on a weekly basis. The visit was a fulfilling experience, emphasizing our commitment to social outreach, and holistic education for all.
Students from TISVV, ranging from Classes IX to XII, collaborated with Project Hifazat and Paree to organize a menstrual hygiene awareness session for women in Coolie Camp. The event aimed to address challenges and taboos surrounding menstrual hygiene. Through engaging discussions, the importance of using sanitary pads and fostering open conversations about menstrual health was emphasized. The enthusiastic response from participants underscored the significance of the initiative. Additionally, a pad donation drive was conducted to support those in need, showcasing the collective effort in tackling crucial health issues. This event exemplified the power of community action in breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation and promoting better menstrual health practices.
A sanitary pad donation drive was held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, by the members of Girl Up Tisvv and The Interact Club of Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar. The students collected over 5000 pads with a targeted 100 beneficiaries in mind. They met with the women of the Bhavarsingh Camp with the aim of helping to eradicate the use of rags during their menstrual cycles and shedding light on topics like Toxic Shock Syndrome. Our students began with a briefing about the harmful effects of rags, the usage of pads, taboos, and myths surrounding the topic, and the importance of women’s menstrual health to prevent diseases. Afterwards, they donated the pads to the women at the camp. It was an unforgettable lesson in empathy for our students, helping them to understand the many ways in which we can help create a more progressive society
Sehpaathi’s commitment to education was on display during the second session held at the school premises on April 20, 2024, for the students of Jagriti NGO. Renowned author and poet, Ms. Sheryl Madan, led a captivating storytelling session featuring the tale, “All Summer In A Day”. With attentive listening and support from our volunteers, the 20 students immersed themselves in the story, showcasing their comprehension skills and creativity by offering their interpretations of the ending. The session continued with Digital Literacy lessons, focusing on Microsoft Word. As a gesture of encouragement, Team Sehpaathi provided refreshments, along with a copy of the storybook and a worksheet for further practice at home, fostering ongoing engagement and learning.
On 16 April 2024, the core members of ‘Breaking Barriers’ were invited to the launch of ‘Project Rooptaran – for trans-inclusion’, orchestrated by Step by Step School at The Lalit. This momentous occasion featured enlightening discussions with trailblazers such as Lakshmi, Asia Pacific’s first transgender representative at the UN, and Aryan Pasha, India’s pioneering trans-body-builder. They shared poignant childhood anecdotes, underscoring the vital role of schools in promoting trans inclusion.Vibrant cultural performances, put up by students of Step by Step School and the Keshav Suri Foundation, added a sense of positivity and energy to the day. Leveraging our decade-long campaign experience, the ‘Breaking Barriers’ team provided valuable guidance to fellow students on effective campaign management. The presence of Mr. Keshav Suri himself added gravitas, as he lauded our students’ efforts, fueling their resolve to empower other schools to launch their own “Breaking Barriers” initiatives and foster a more inclusive society.
On 7 April 2024 our social outreach programme Sehpaathi and the NGO Jaagriti took a significant stride forward in their endeavour to reach out to those who need a helping hand. This collaboration was coordinated with the help of Mr. Anchit, an alumnus of our school. Fifteen students from the NGO have been selected to visit the school over the course of the year, and immerse themselves in our vibrant school environment, enriched with lessons on communication skills and technological competency.For the first session, the students were warmly welcomed into a one of the classes, where they were introduced to the nuances of communication skills. Engaging ice breaker activities fostered a comfortable learning ambience, complemented by firsthand experience of the Interactive Boards. Later, the students were taken to the computer lab, and encouraged to individually explore the features of the computers as a first step in their journey towards digital literacy.The trainees left equipped with newfound knowledge and were tasked with a worksheet designed to extend their learning beyond the confines of the classroom.