Stories create magic and a sense of wonder at the world. Children love to listen to stories and learn about different cultures and imbibe values. Telling stories requires a different set of skills, builds confidence and enhances communication skills. The KG students participated in Tell a Tale – storytelling with puppets competition with their usual enthusiasm. They employed voice modulation and used puppets effectively while narrating their stories. All the stories concluded with a moral and left the audience with something to reflect upon. Results- English First Gian Irom KG A Second Advit Sidana KG B Third Ayaan Bajaj KG A Third Leishna Keisam KG C Consolation Gautam Krishna M KG C Results- Hindi First Priyanshi S Rathore KG B Second Gaurav Kumar KG B Third Gargi Sharma KG C Third Vashishth Chauhan KG C Consolation Yash KG A
Donate an Hour is a volunteering platform where people from diverse backgrounds and different walks of society, come together with the aim of giving it back to the society. The NGO has built a self-sustainable ecosystem for the growth of underprivileged. Our students visited their Gurugram campus on 30 November 2023 to ‘donate time to shape lives’. The visit incorporated warm hospitality in an interactive environment. Mr. Divya Prakash, the Co-founder, gave a detailed history of DoaR’s beginnings and development. Interacting with pupils, activities and Q & A sessions improved participants’ comprehension and bolstered the sense of community. Students left with an insight into the generosity and community involvement that are integral to DoaR’s objectives.
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed” Taking on the challenge of tackling environmental degradation, our students have embarked on a mission to make the future greener and cleaner, through our initiative ‘Eco Club’. This student-driven program is a commitment to establishing a balance between man and the environment. Collaborating with numerous organizations throughout the country, our students are actively working to raise awareness about environmental problems, and to give back to nature through planting trees and using eco-friendly methods to contribute to the restoration of the environment.On 23 November 2023, the students visited the Canadian High Commission to mark the Climate Conference COP28 which is going to be held in Dubai, by listening to the stories of twenty-eight young entrepreneurs and environmental activists who have taken various initiatives to tackle climate change and have inspired many in doing so. The innovative ideas and vision of these twenty eight change makers have been encapsulated into a book which was released on the occasion.The students had the privilege of interacting with the High Commissioner of Canada to India, Cameron Mackay, and the climate activists, and were inspired by their insights and experiences, while collecting some empowering words of inspiration. These climate activists are a shining example of how young minds can make an impact on society. Eco Club spreads awareness on the growing problem of environmental degradation and is a beautiful initiative through which young Tagoreans can give back to nature.
Our students’ deep concern for those in need of a helping hand is best seen in all the social outreach projects which are being run by them. Project आlok is the newest effort from their side and is a collaboration between our Flawless Flaws campaigners and the Atijeevan Foundation. Its purpose is to educate acid attack survivors through weekly meetings and English modules and to help them prepare for job interviews. The launch on 14 October 2023 was graced by Ms. Pragya Prasun, the founder of Atijeevan (herself an acid attack survivor) and her team. Their stories were both inspiring and motivational. Ms Tehmina, a social worker from Pakistan who works to support gender violence survivors by providing them with psycho-social support, spoke of the importance of such projects. In addition, the event was attended by Ms Aditi Sood, a social media influencer and the founder of the NGO ‘Tails with Hope’. Ms. Sood shared her unique insights as did Ms. Saburi Chopra, an ex-student who also spoke about her journey with the campaign. The event was hosted by Jesnoor Kaur and Parthivi Bhatia of Flawless Flaws were the hosts and kept the atmosphere warm and informal with the interactive activities for the survivors. It was an exciting new beginning for an exciting and deeply satisfying venture which will undoubtedly be a great support for the indomitable acid attack survivors.
Pride Circle and the Keshav Suri Foundation recently hosted an insightful panel discussion titled ‘Queering The Pitch’ at The Lalit on November 20, 2023. Members of the Breaking Barriers campaign were the only school students invited to partake in the session. This international session featured distinguished speakers hailing from France, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. Among the notable panelists were Mr. Krishna Omkar, Founder, Return on Equity; Mr. Fabrice Houdart, ED, Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors; Professor Lee Badget, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts and Mr. Srini Ramaswami, Co-founder, Pride Circle. The interaction dug deep into the concept of the Pink Economy, emphasizing its significance as a segment of the market driven by LGBTQ+ consumers and businesses. The discussion shed light on the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs while also discussing strategies to create a more inclusive business environment. It also touched upon the importance of corporate inclusivity initiatives and how businesses can actively promote diversity and inclusion. During the Q&A session, the audience actively participated, seeking advice on promoting inclusivity in their respective spheres. A notable moment came when one of our students inquired about tangible strategies for creating inclusive environments in educational institutes, earning applause from delegates. Mr. Keshav Suri, founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, lauded the Breaking Barriers initiative by TISVV, acknowledging their decade-long collaboration.
Road safety education is absolutely vital in helping children become aware of traffic lights and road rules and it is never too early to start. The young students of Nursery and KG participated with enthusiasm in the ‘road safety’ activity organized for them in November 2023. They enjoyed colouring the traffic lights and reciting the rhyme ‘red light red light’. They learnt that red light means stop, while yellow means slow down or wait and green light means that the vehicles are allowed to go ahead. It was an excellent introduction to a skill which will help them to stay safe.
The career talk session at our school today provided valuable insights into the realm of public policy. The speaker, Sourya, shared a comprehensive view of careers in public policy, explaining the intricacies of policy-making and its impact on our daily lives. Sourya illustrated the essence of public policies through relatable examples, likening them to Uno cards. He delved into laws that directly affect us, such as demonetization, bans on firecrackers, legal driving age, and city shutdowns for international events like the G20 Summit. The discussion extended to global scenarios like the ban on laptop imports and onion exports, emphasizing the pervasive influence of laws. The speaker highlighted that, whether or not we actively engage with legal matters, laws play a significant role in shaping our lives. He emphasized the interconnectedness of laws with our daily experiences and the importance of understanding their implications. The talk outlined various areas falling under the umbrella term of public policy, including the development sector, bureaucracy, and the involvement of private multinational corporations. Sourya’s expertise, backed by his experience with organizations like the Red Elephant Foundation and Tarunima Foundation, added depth to the discussion. In his role at the Centre for Civil Society, Sourya leads the Training division and contributes to research and policy advocacy. His background as a Peacebuilder trained by UNESCO MGIEP and involvement with Students for Liberty as a Local Coordinator in Hyderabad further enriched the session. Overall, the session not only provided valuable information about careers in public policy but also instilled an understanding of how policies shape our daily lives, making it a thought-provoking and insightful experience for all attendees.
As part of the social outreach program Outlive Yourself, the students of Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar, organized a Blanket Donation Drive on 24 November 2023, to aid those in need during the winter. Students worked hard to collect and donate blankets to the inmates of Swarg Vridh Ashram, Nihar Vihar. With a shared commitment to giving back to the community, over 70 blankets were collected and donated during the drive. The spirit of generosity and compassion was evident. This substantial contribution reflects the dedication of our students to making a positive impact in the lives of those in need. The event not only provided warmth to the old people there but also fostered a sense of community, empathy and shared responsibility among the students.
Pride Parade is an incredible experience that can be both exhilarating and emotional. It’s a chance to celebrate diversity, love, and acceptance, and to be surrounded by people who share your values of acceptance and inclusivity. This year too our school was invited to be a part of the Delhi Pride Parade on 26 November 2023. Under the banner of our campaign Breaking Barriers, our students attended this event with great enthusiasm for this noble cause. The students prepared for the day with excitement, creating posters and getting their faces painted in diverse vibrant colors. With beautiful brightly-coloured posters showing our strong advocacy for the community, the students soaked in all the positivity. The energy at the Pride parade was electric, with music, dance, and laughter everywhere. The street was filled with people of all ages, races, and sexual orientations, all united by their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Apart from having a lot of fun, they also interacted with members from the other campaigns supporting the community, along with many other influential advocates. One of the most moving aspects of the parade was seeing the pride of the community on full display. People were not afraid to be themselves, and were proud of who they are, giving out a powerful message of self-acceptance and love. This was certainly an unforgettable experience for every student.
ORGAN India (Organ Receiving and Giving Awareness Network) is an initiative that was launched in March 2013 by The Parashar Foundation, (a Delhi-based NGO) to address the unhappy state of organ donation in India. They seek to remedy the shortage of organ donors and spread awareness about it. Ms Sunaina, CEO ORGAN India, accompanied by Ms. Divya, visited our school on 31 October, 2023 to conduct a session on organ and tissue donation. The students of Class IX along with the team of ‘Outlive Yourself’ and ‘Flawless Flaws’ participated in it. Ms. Sunaina addressed the students about the dire need for organ donors, organs and tissues that can be donated, types of organ donation and the side effects of a transplant. A short movie about heart transplantation, provided a glimpse into the complex process. She spoke about the World Transplant Games and representation by Indian athletes there. Students were given an insightful glimpse into the life of Mr. Karhun Nanda, who exemplifies vitality after a successful heart transplant. The interaction culminated in an engaging quiz, where those who answered correctly were delighted to be rewarded with diaries.