As cliché as it sounds, live every second at Rising Star Outreach like it's your last.

When I read part of that quote by Gandhi, "Be the change," I like to take out the word "the." 

BE CHANGED

Let India change you. Let Rising Star Outreach change you. Let it change your life.

I promise you won't regret it.

School is in full swing now, and all of the standards are taking midterms this week.  The students have been studying very hard, and with some new changes in the education program, volunteers are able to better assist the children in their studies. Although, the team teaching approach is very fun and interactive, The Peery School Administration asked that one-on-one time with volunteers be incorporated into the daily routine as well. We still have some team teach activities included into the schedule--UKG morning fundaments, computer class, and art class--but now most of our time is dedicated to personalized academic help for each child.

 

The group-teach activities are still some of the volunteer’s favorite times during the education rotation. During computer time volunteers feel needed, especially when students are working in IXL, an interactive math practice program. All of the students enjoy the Imagine Learning program too. Right now they are studying nouns, pronouns, verbs, and reading comprehension. (Big shout out to those who donated the headphones-the students love them and treat them with care!) Volunteers also love Morning Fundaments time with UKG, where they get to sing songs and do dances and get to know one another. UKG’s favorites are the banana song, and Old McDonald. On Old McDonald’s Indian farm there is a tiger, a peacock, and elephant, a snake, a frog, and a lion- it is a pretty exotic and intense farm.

 

Individual tutoring has also been implemented into the school day. This helps not only with specific subjects, but also allows volunteers to develop an emotional connection with kids. During this time, if a student needs help with a certain subject they are struggling in, the volunteer can give them their attention directly. This direct attention simultaneously helps with social and emotional development. Other interactive activities have made this time very enjoyable for volunteers and students. The older standards really enjoy playing chess. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between chess playing and math skills development. Chess is a great way to teach logic and problem solving. Moreover, The students actually end up teaching the volunteers the game of chess; this is a big confidence boost for them, because the best way to learn is to teach somebody else.

 

In art class this week, 8^th standard got to paint their wings, this was been an ongoing project for the past 3 weeks and they are almost complete. They look amazing and the kids love them. Second standard made finger puppets out of toilet paper rolls. They loved using their creativity minds to act out skits when finished.

“I really like the education day because you get a lot of one-on-one time, and get to know the kids. You are always doing something different with all the different age groups, and you get to experience the different culture. It made me glad that there were so many kids that had a bright future because they were able to go to school. Because of the volunteer program the students we able to excel and we can literally see so many kids that were doing well in school while we were there”. --Sarah

 

“My favorite part was one-on-one time. Liked playing chess with the students; it showed us how smart they are. Art class was interesting because I liked seeing how their minds work with creativity… we could see their thought process when given an artistic outlet. At the end of the day it made me feel enlightened. It was cool comparing their education to my education. Their classroom, compared to my classroom, seems like it would have more fun. It made me realize how much Rising Star and the volunteers mean to these kids. If we weren’t here would they have any of this education or learn these valuable skills?” –Aaron

 

“On Friday, while working one-on-one with 2^nd standard Sangeeta, I asked her ‘What is your favorite class?’ ‘This class’ is what she replied. It brightened my heart to know that students look forward to the individual time they get to have during the school day. Their different learning styles are able to be catered to, and therefore they can better excel in all areas of their education” -- Rosie

 

--Rosie Tempka

2013 Education Coordinator

 

“One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.” - G.K. Chesterton

  

My first day on campus was a medical day.  That meant that we packed up the van and drove to nearby colonies to wash wounds and change bandages.  While driving to the colony we split up the tasks and I was put on washing duty.  I was terrified to say the least.  I hate to admit it, but I wanted to say no.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, and despite my inner insecure dialogue, I stammered out an “okay.”  I’m sure my face was screaming no, but thankfully I said yes.  After learning my responsibilities at the washing station, it was only seconds before the first eager person sat down,

ready to have their wounds cleaned.  Slightly apprehensive, I began doing the best I could. The faces that radiated gratitude and love for what I was doing, quickly put me at ease.  I soon realized I had been standing on a metaphorical peak, allowing fear to inhibit me from seeing the great things I could be seeing from the valley.  That became my favorite job and I was truly sad when I had to switch to another job. The wonderful members of that colony I was trying to serve that day helped me see that we can’t all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love, Mother Theresa once said. 

 

Coming into my volunteer experience, I wanted to help these people in India and do something that would be beneficial. I assumed that my great contribution would be some large, extensive project. Just like before, I was wrong. Later on that week, the kids on campus were putting together various acts to perform in a school talent show.  They needed different talents to showcase, and with experience in dance, my little sister and I decided to help the girls learn a dance that they could perform.  We started rounding up the girls and had a blast putting our performance together.  As we practiced, not every step was perfect, and the girls often relied on the person in front of them to remember many of the steps. That didn’t matter though, not to them, not to me, and especially not to the audience.  The girls performed with confidence.  It was fun to watch these girls participate in something and be truly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the talent show.  I realized again, that small things can be done with great love and can make a huge difference. These little girls and this opportunity was one of the many highlights of my India experience.  My experience on the Rising Star campus was life-changing.  I grew to love everything about it and especially the kids.  They are the sweetest, happiest, and most loving children you will ever know and because of them, I am better.  I was lucky enough to have this experience in India, but if there is one thing I hope you can see from a couple of my stories, it’s that you can do great things where ever you are, as long as you are willing to do them.  Let’s all do small things with great love!

 

--Ali Reilley Read

2013 Summer Volunteer