Yuva Ekta Summer Program, 2007- Student Participants' Experiences

Srishti Gandhi- Bluebells International
“This was the first time that I participated in a workshop of this kind. On my first day, I was really skeptical about where this would take me, but as the days progressed I started enjoying myself a lot and made a lot of new friends. It was loads of fun.”


Pallavi Arora- Bluebells International
“This workshop was a great learning experience for me. Friends I made here are more caring and supportive than the ones I have known for so long. I would definitely like to participate in such workshops repeatedly. But the one change I would like to see is that the participants value each other’s time and arrive punctually. Further, once a student has volunteered for such a thing, he/she must be committed to it and must not shy away from his/her responsibility towards the other participants of the workshop.”


Mohd Danish- Salaam Baalak Trust
“Mujhe is workshop se bahut kuch seekhne ko mila, jaisi ki sabke saath mil jul ke naatak taiyaar karna. In sab logon se milke, mere andar bhi aage padhne ki aur padhai mein accha karne ki uksukta jaagi. Yahaan aane ke baad mera self confidence bhi bahut badha, jo mere andar bilkul hi nahin tha. Main yahan se bahut si meethi yaadein lekar jaa raha hoon aur main mere sab doston ko bahut miss karoonga.”


Greeshum Panesar- Bluebells International
“Being a part of this workshop has helped me become more independent and confident. I was never good at interacting with people before, but now that has changed and I can express myself much better. The 'City Walk' which is a walk around the New Delhi Railway Station organized by Salaam Baalak Trust with kids recounting their harrowing experiences at the station, was a real eye opener for me.I became aware of the magnitude of problems that so many children in our country face everyday.”


Shahadutt- Salaam Baalak Trust
“Is workshop mein mere kai naye dost bane, jinhe main kabhi nahin bhoolonga. Mujhe pehle lagta tha ki apni umar ka main ek hi hoon jo apne desh ke liye bahut kuch karne ka sochta hoon, par is workshop mein mujhe kai aise log mile jo Bharat ke liye kaam karna chahte hain aur duniya badalna chahte hain. Yeh dekhke mujhe bahut accha laga. Aise logon ke saath humaara desh bahut tarakki karega.”


Luqman S. Hasan- St Columbas School
“I remember being very nervous on the first day because there were new faces everywhere and I didn’t know what to expect. However, the various fun exercises that we did in the Self Empowerment workshop really helped me to unwind and also to get to know the others well. I also learnt many tricks of the theatre.
When I visited the shelter home at the New Delhi Railway Station, I was shattered by the stories of the children who come there. I sat with them and taught them to draw Superman. The kids were happy and started calling me Superman. This brought tears to my eyes. The experience gave me an adrenaline boost to work for and with children in the future.”


Swati Mehta- Amity University
“This workshop provided all of us with the opportunity to get out of our shells, meet new and different people and expand our social circles. We had a lot of fun, played a lot of games but there were some misunderstandings and tensions as well. However, I feel that these were necessary so that we could get to know each other better. Some friction did develop between some of us, there were some instances of ‘groupisms’ too, but our coordinators did their best to get us to talk to each other, so that we could all work together as a team.
Another tremendous learning experience was our visits to children’s shelter homes. I felt that the one very noticeable thing about these children was their insecurity, which was explicit in their need for love from others.
I really wish this workshop didn't have to end. I want us to take our message all over the city, the country, the world.”


Brajesh Pandey- Salaam Baalak Trust
“Zindagi ke chote- bade anubhav hamesha humein kuch naya sikha jaate hai. Kuch anubhav humein kathin paristhitiyon mein bhi dhairya na khone aur saahas banaaye rakhne ki seekh de jaate hain, to kuch khushi ke shanno ko yaadon mein banaaye rakhte hai aur unhe yaad karke hum kabhi bhi has dete hai. Aise hi yaadon se bhara raha mera anubhav. Yahan par apne doston ke saath bitaaya hua har ek pal humesha meri yaadon mein rahega. Sabse aham baat jo maine isse seekha, wo hai teamwork, sabke saath milkar kaam karna. Humare is group mein sabhi bahut acche hain, milansaar hain. Is mahine mein har din humne kuch na kuch naya seekha, har din picchle din ke mukable khulta gaya. Beshak mein is experience ko zindagi bhar yaad rakhoonga.”


Shivani Mehta- Bluebells International
“This workshop was definitely a most wonderful experience. I was very apprehensive on the first day because I didn’t think I would get along with anybody. But thankfully I was proved wrong! I met loads of different kinds of people and made many new friends. Visiting the shelter homes was also a very educational part of the workshop. But the most fun was working together on our play. Brainstorming, testing various ideas around with the others made me more familiar with them and I also got to know myself a bit better. The most important I learnt in this workshop is teamwork. We must learn to work with everyone and also face everything, good and bad.”


Vijay Nath- Salaam Baalak Trust
“Being a part of this group was fantastic. I loved spending time with my new friends and would be really happy if we could continue with this program of spreading awareness of various socially relevant issues among the youth of our country.”


Bushra- Convent of Jesus and Mary
“This workshop was really cool. I met some people who think like me and it was great getting to know them better and spending time with them. Next time though, I would love to be part of a bigger group.”


Manju- Salaam Baalak Trust
“Jab main pehle din aayi, toh mujhe bahut darr lag raha tha ki kya karna hai aur kya hoga. Par dheere dheere mera confidence badha aur maine sabke saath milke bahut mazaa kiya. Yahaan par maine jo bhi kiya, jo bhi seekha usko sirf karne ke liye hi nahin kiya. Uspe main zaroor gaur karoongi. Mujhe play main jo role mila, use karne mein mujhe kaafi mazaa aaya.”