Over three lakh students and 30,000 teachers have so far attended the orientation programmes organised by the animators of the Movement in different Indian languages.

:: Seminars ::

The growth of the Movement in the initial years was slow. In the first year it could hardly reach to a dozen schools. But as the years went by there was a positive response from different institutions all over the country.

By March 31st 2008, the Movement has reached 600 schools and colleges in 20 states of the large country. Over 3,00,000 students and 40,000 teachers have so far attended the orientation programs organized by the animators of the Movement in different Indian languages. Several seminars were also organized for parents in different schools.

160 seminars were organized exclusively for the heads of the educational institutions in different parts of the country. During this short span 39 Knit-India gatherings were organized in different states. However where institutions did not take up the follow up seriously, the Movement is not very active.

a) Orientation for Teachers

Teachers play an important role in building up the society, because they are entrusted with the responsibility of forming the future citizens. Quality education is possible only when there are quality teachers. In earlier times teachers in India were called ‘Acharya’ because he taught the students by his ‘acharan’, example. Hence ‘every teacher has to be a teacher of values’.

Realizing the power of teachers to motivate young students, orientation to teachers in schools is made an integral part of the program of Value Education for Peace, promoted by USM.A team of animators from USM gives a one-day orientation to all the teachers of the particular school, prior to conducting the training for the students. The aim of the orientation is to sensitize the teachers to the importance of their role as proactive animators who can enable students  and draw out their positive energy  to develop  a vision  for the world.

Teachers get a clear message that they have to ‘Practice what they preach’ because values are caught, not taught. Once they themselves practice the Five Paths, they realize the benefit of the Movement and will promote it enthusiastically.

b) Orientation for Students

The peace and prosperity of a nation depends on the young students in schools and universities. If they are helped to use their energy constructively, they can work miracles. The education and motivation the students receive at home and at school are not adequate to prevent them from being manipulated by vested interests to commit crimes and indulge in violence. The purpose of the USM is to motivate young students to start a process of making choices based on personal conviction. Convictions are to be formed from deep experience of life. The orientation program is designed to make students aware of the realities in the country and help them from a vision of life.

After the awareness sessions, those students who are convinced that the Movement can help them grow in their convictions are invited to opt to join the Movement. Those who do so are formed into a core-group which will practice the Five Paths for Personal Transformation and thus make a difference in the society, by living a value-based and motivated life as they grow to maturity.

The group meets regularly and undertakes activities for the transformation of their society. The group activity is monitored by a teacher-animator and the students experience the group dynamics of planning and executing programs. Thus they get an experience in holding responsibility, planning and executing programs and being accountable. This process is beneficial as they grow to maturity.

c)   Orientation for Parents

Many parents and teachers blame the media and information technology for the deteriorating values among to-day’s youth. Though children are influenced by the media, the internet and peer-groups, parents still have great influence on their children, especially in their early years. Youth, on the other hand, does not accept preaching from their elders. They look for role models. Unfortunately, many parents and teachers fail as role models and can be the cause of great disillusionment in their children. This can result in deviant behavior, aggression and even delinquency.

To develop parent partnership in education, the USM conducts several seminars for parents in schools on request from the management. To supplement this education, several booklets are also published to provide useful tips and practical guidelines for parents and teachers. Every seminar conducted for parents in various schools receives a tremendous positive response.

d)  Orientation for Principals

The active participation and whole-hearted support of the principal is essential for the success of any activity in the school; more so the program of the Universal Solidarity Movement which is geared to character building in the young students. Several meetings and seminars are conducted for the heads of educational institutions throughout the country, during the year. These seminars and meetings are meant to clarify the vision and spirituality of the Movement, so that the Principals can readily form a partnership with the organization to introduce the new paradigm in education of youth in their schools.

There are some outstanding Principals who have made radical changes in the functioning of their schools after participating in these orientation programs. They have made the functioning of their whole education program value-based and holistic. The students and their parents have been highly appreciative...

e). Training Teacher-Animators

The core groups of students, who make a personal choice to practice the Five Paths for Personal Transformation as the first step to transforming the society, are animated by a teacher who also volunteers to undertake this task. It should be the personal choice of the teacher, encouraged by the Principal. This commitment demands extra time to attend the core groups meetings of the students, animate them and join their activities. By joining the national meetings organized by the USM, they get motivated, encouraged and supported.  This becomes a growth process for them from which they can profit personally and for their family as well. From time to time, the USM organizes special teacher programs which will help them develop the skills for animating the students.

f) . Enlightened leadership training for school cabinet

The members of school cabinet (student council) have much influence on the life of the entire student body of a school. Either they are directly elected by the students or nominated by the principal and staff after assessing their qualities of leadership and integrity. The seven day course aims at giving orientation and motivation to the young students to develop their leadership qualities and influence their fellow students and teachers for creative ventures.

The course consists of sessions to develop their leadership qualities. The one week long course provides many inputs on vision formulation, awareness about the socio–political context of the country, develops the skills of public speaking, creative writing, journalism, team work and other qualities of effective leadership and practical tips of character building and self discipline. Audio visual aids and films will be used to teach lessons of social commitment and sensitivity to the marginalized in the society. The cabinet members together with their principal and teacher animators will formulate a vision and action plan to be implemented in the school during the year. The group will have an exposure to schools in the slums and to the super market to have first hand experience of the two faces of India.

g). One day seminar on education for social change

In the past Universal Solidarity Movement used to organize National Seminars on Holistic Education every year in different cities of India. A large number of principals of schools and colleges used to participate in these well organized seminars. After evaluating the impact of these seminars it was decided to hold several one day seminars on education in different parts of the country every year. The principals and teachers of many schools in the neighborhood were able to benefit from them.

The content of these one day seminars consists in creating awareness of the socio-political context of the country and providing value based education to create leaders with lasting vision and integrity. The seminar also proposes concrete action plans for follow up in the respective schools. The practical modules of value education promoted by USM also constitute an integral part of the seminar.

h).  Knit India – A live together of students and teachers

A live together of students, teachers and Principals is organized annually in different zones and regions of the country. This meeting is known as ‘Knit India’ .gathering. The participants come from the various member schools of the region. They share their stories of personal transformation as a result of their living the Five Paths and participating in the Action programs they organized in their schools. These gathering serve to build unity among the students, a feeling of brotherhood, and learning from others, building bonds of friendship and widening their horizons of experience. It is a heart- warming experience to see teachers and students belonging to different regions, languages and religions come together and build bonds of friendship, share their experiences and work together for a cause. One sees a united India here and gives promise of a future India where people will live a value-based, responsible life.

39 such Knit India gathers have been held up to December 2007