BVB Narmada Vidhyalaya

1. BVB’s Narmada Vidyalaya. Bharuch.
IND-ENG-36046751-2014 Story Title : miles and miles of smiles

2. FEEL :
A General buzz in the class…the usually quite children stir..the faces light
up….
“Mam has come”..she says ,”A Project has to be done.”….excitement
subsides…”aare jaane do…must be something for some boring science
fair or quiz or debate or some such usual stuff”….
We explained the concept, idea , mission and vision of the DFC
Project..we share the WORK done by students in the last five years of
the DFC journey….
AND THEN suddenly…..the faces light up again..children are all
ears..the excitement “to start”…. is measurable…
FEEL…IMAGINE …DO…SHARE is explained and understood.
And we get ready to start….
brain storming..

3. Feel..
The students gave VOICE…to their CONCERNS…regarding
SCHOOL and COMMUNITY..
These are some of the points raised by our young CHANGE
MAKERS…possible areas where they visualised CHANGE is
NEEDED…….
• Heavy Bags – design & content.
•Improving school furniture design.
•Rampant practices which are harming environment.
•Helping the slow learners
•Improving reading habits of young children.
•Designing better school uniforms
•Bringing joy on the sad faces which they see everyday..but which
all of us DIPLOMATICALLY IGNORE..
AND THEN STARTED……
discussing…sharing..arguing…agreeing…disagreeing…leading…fo
llowing..planning..implementing…failures..successes…challenges
…IN SHORT the journey TOWARDS TRANSFORMATION…a
transformation…possible due to two words…I CAN….

4. discussing…sharing..arguing…agreeing…disagreeing
…leading…
following..planning..implementing…failures..successes
…challenges…

5. Feel:
ALL OF US SELECTED THE LAST ONE .. Bringing joy on the sad faces which
they see everyday
During our visits , with our teachers and class mates to Orphanage , Old Age Homes
, Juvenile Delinquent Homes, rural schools, schools for the differently abled , we
have seen the sad conditions of their inhabitants . We saw even when they are given
material gifts , they remain ‘blank’…no expression…than what do they
need??????????what should we do to bring a smile on their faces..even though for a
little while…..
ALL WERE UNANIMOUS ON TAKING UP THIS ISSUE..as
We REALLY wanted to make these children smile , sing, dance ….as we do.
…….NOW CAME THE DIFFICULT PART…….HOW ?????
“Embrace each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-transformation”

6. Imagine :
SHOULD WE???????
Take food for them.
Call them to our School.
Give them books…..none of us were satisfied with this line of thought …
T HEN WE THOUGHT …what makes US REALLY HAPPY….and everybody
shouted
OUR OWN BIRTHDAY…..&….attending our FRIEND’s BIRTHDAY PARTY.
And it was..EUREKA…after some heated discussions..we concluded…
Every month a huge number of our school mates celebrate
their birthday in school by distributing chocolates ..and a party in the evening..but
if at the end of each month , we make groups of all the children whose birthday falls in
that month…then each group goes to selected organizations covering all
categories where help is needed …..
Celebrate our birthday there with our friends….it would make the SAD FACES
SMILE …we could carry gifts for them…INSTANT IMPACT…SOOOO MANY
CHILDREN SMILING AT A TIME..every month…. This would go on forever…and
may catch up…
The students could share this and MAY BE….their friends..their parents
friends..relatives could also follow this practice…..
THERE WOULD BE MILES & MILES OF SMILES….and they would get things they
need as GIFTS…. not CHARITY…BECAUSE IT IS A BIRTHDAY PARTY…where
EVERYBODY GETS GIFTS.

7. Do
When mission is same…the journey is FUN.
We first decided to implement this CHANGE IDEA..only for CLASS VIII,
(Both Mediums ).Total Strength – 209 .
Our Mam and Principal Mam agreed spontaneously.
The Class Teachers provided us with the birthdates. We quickly arranged them
month wise. WE DECIDED TO DO THE PILOT PROJECT WITH CHILDREN
WHOSE BIRTHDAY FALLS IN SEPTEMBER…..Total Number 23.
Time Table was made as to every month , where would we arrange THE PARTY.
Holidays etc. taken into consideration.
Our Transport Incharge readily agreed to provide School Buses to reach the decided
Venue, as and when required.
Our Team Leader & Mentor met the in charge of organisations , which we planned
to visit through out the year. Permissions taken in writing.
We also discussed as to what is the immediate need of each GROUP so that GIFTS
could be arranged accordingly.

8. Challenges:
MONEY for the GIFTS to be given in different organisations……HOW ??? From
WHERE ??????
Scratching heads….Pacing UP & DOWN….FROWNS on faces…
Take from Parents ? NO
Take from School ? NO…..WE OURSELVES WANTED TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM….
AND THEN…
The BIRTHDAY students agreed WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE
CHOCOLATES IN THE SCHOOL…….this money would be sufficient to
ARRANGE FOR THE PARTY & GIFTS……
The persons who were giving were feeling HAPPY…(surprised ?)!!!!!!
Total strength of the primary section is about 1800. Every month atleast
100-120 students celebrate their birthdays. They have decided that they
won’t buy chocolates, instead they will contribute same amount to
procure various gifts to be distributed in different organizations.
The amount collected will be about Rs. 9000-10000 (a minimal
contribution of Rs. 75 X 120 students)

9. Do..
We visited SATYAMBA SCHOOL, a very small school with just 55 students,
The students of Class VIII ( Both Mediums ), whose birthday falls in September,
together with team leaders arranged for the entire BIRTHDAY PARTY>>>
Chocolates, Biscuits, Games and as a return gift …a beautiful pouch full of pen,
pencil, eraser, sharpener ,colours, etc….very useful for the children.
One team member smartly suggested that the gift articles could be procured at a
lower price from wholesale shop……IDEA.
Schedules were revised…and we went to visit the School.
We enjoyed immensely…
This was the PILOT PROJECT….a huge SUCCESS…
NOW WE WILL FOLLOW THE WHOLE TIME TABLE….for all the classes
throughout the year…….and
There will be miles and miles of SMILES……..

11. We reached the school…
Mingled with the children…
Played ‘passing the parcel’..
Sang songs..
Gave birthday “return gifts ‘..
The whole atmosphere was sooo
Positive..so joyful…we will
cherish
The smiling faces for a long time…

12. Students have made a time table for celebrating Birthdays and distributing
gifts to various organization for the entire academic year. About 180 children
from std 1 to 4 and Std 5 to 8 would visit designated organizations as per the
schedule attached as APPENDIX.
For implementing entire project, we made three student co-ordinators for
each section (Std 1 to 4 and Std 5 to 8). Students with their teacher mentor
have selected organizations covering all categories where help is needed …..
For example rural schools, orphanages, old age homes, Jail, school for
differently abled , Juvenile homes etc. Students were so careful to choose gifts
which would really worthy and useful for particular group in their daily
life. ….. For example, chairs, blankets, educational toys, sports kits etc.

13. Share :
Learnings :
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior
motives: Be kind anyway.
If you are successful you will win some false friends and true
enemies: Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank people will try to cheat you: Be
honest anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy
overnight: Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous of
you: Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten by tomorrow:
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be
enough: Give your best anyway.”…Mother Teresa

14. Share :
Students: “A Unique experience “…”We can also solve problems, only
a strong will is needed.”…”A great lesson in Leadership and teamwork.”….”We
may be small, but not helpless.”..We learnt ..to believe in
ourselves…communication..collaboration…planning…WE CAN DESIGN OUR
DREAMS.” “So thankful for having parents, house, good school, teachers, health…..
Thank God… Thank……U”
TEACHERS :”The children have tremendous potential…it has to be
channelized.”…”They became sensitized to the realities of the world around them.”.
“The joy of working as a team.”
COMMUNITY :’A great effort to creatively and positively use the energies of
children.”…”The DFC programme is so well planned…that without realising…one
gets involved in the process of making a CHANGE…a real project where all are
transformed……for the better.”

15. “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The
troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones
who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And
they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them,
disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only
thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change
things. They push the human race forward. And while some
may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the
people who are crazy enough to think they can change the
world, are the ones who do.”