A Journey of Contemplation

This report has been submitted by Mrs Ambuj Sharma, Headmistress and PRO, Jain International Residential School. The Award participants of JIS undertook a journey to Sikkim and Nathula Pass as part of their Adventurous Journey. She has an interesting story to share on her and her participants’ soulful experience.

As part of an enriching experience, our students visited Sikkim, followed by the Nathula Pass. The trip commenced on 15th July 2018 and concluded on 22nd July 2018. Being a part of the Himalayas, Sikkim is home to glaciers, alpine meadows and countless wildflowers. We commenced our journey from Bangalore to Bagdogra. From Bagdogra, we commenced our climb and reached Rinchingpong, to be welcomed by a cool breeze and the promise of sheer tranquillity. We drove through groves of bamboo towards a rustic farmhouse – the Yangsum Heritage Farm. With the Bhutiya and Lepcha community people who stayed in proximity to the farmhouse, we ate freshly prepared meals, trekked and walked with them, trying to understand their lifestyle, culture and food habits.

We then visited the Pemayangtse Monastery – the oldest sacred Buddhist temple in Sikkim, nestled in a scenic backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Following this, we visited Pelling, a small hamlet where we were welcomed by a breathtaking view of the majestic Kanchenjunga. We interacted with the communities living nearby and relished the authentic Sikkim cuisine, while basking in the intoxicating burble of River Teesta.

Strings of prayer flags fluttered as they were tied along the path leading to the foothills of the Kanchenjunga. We trekked a distance of two kilometers through the thick forest from

Pelling to Geyzini to reach the ruins of Rabdentse - a city believed to be the second capital of the former kingdom of Sikkim. It was then that it dawned on us that our journey was as much about historical sites, culture, farming and ecological balance as it was about developing a strong connect with nature. We also visited the Rinchen Choling Tamu Monastery and gained insights on the Nyingma Order - the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. However, we appreciate the omnipotence of the Indian Army personnel, who were vigilant yet reassuring.

Having completed our exploration, it was time for us to delve into another journey – a journey of contemplation and reflection. With the experience that we gained on our journey, we realised the importance of dealing with life’s challenges with as much vigour as we dealt with the journey’s challenges. It was a journey of exploration; one that led us to the path of self exploration. Click here for more pictures

Award Leaders training workshop at Bangalore and Lovedale

The NAA organised two Award Leader training workshops at Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore and The Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty. The first workshop was conducted at Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore on 21st & 22nd July 2015.  Eighteen participants attended from five YES Centres - Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore; Jain Heritage School, Bangalore; Karumbiah's Academy for Learning, Gonikoppal; Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur and Edu Asia New Delhi Public School, Bangalore.  Kapil Bhalla (National Director), Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager) and K S Biradar (Member, National Training Panel) lead the workshop.

The Second workshop was conducted at The Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty on 24th & 25th July 2015. Twelve participants from The Lawrence School, Lovedale; Good Shepherd International School, Ooty and Riverside Public School, Kotagiri participated in the workshop. Kapil Bhalla (National Director), Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager) and Jacob P A Matthews (Member, National Training Panel) headed the workshop.  The training modules included the details about the four pillars of the Award i.e. Skills, Service, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey.  Apart from these there were sessions about the Residential Project, Risk Management, Volunteering and Brand guidelines.  Click here for pictures from Bangalore and Lovedale