Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2012

The Grace of Non-Violence Young Called to be Value Gurus for Todays

October 2, 2012

Want to remember the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi on his 143rd birth anniversary?... ReadthearticleAWeaponcalledGracebySantoshDesaiintheTimesofIndia,October1, 2012.(http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Citycitybangbang/entry/aweaponcalled grace)aboutayoungSikhgirlcalledBalpreetKaur.Hewrites,BalpreetKaur'sresponseis a lesson to many others, and is exceedingly timely for we have seen an outbreak of touchiness erupt in recent times, where a more mature and generous response to apparentprovocationwouldhavemadeallthedifference...Bybreakingtheimplicitcycleof angerdecisively,anewbeginningwasmadepossible.Byrecognizingthelegitimacyofthe other side's right to hold an opinion, and by acknowledging that anyone can make mistakes, it is possible to dismantle the reciprocal exchange of distrust that feeds on itself. Gracehasalwaysbeenbeautiful,butbeneathitsdelicatecharmslurksasteelypower.Kaurs responseinspiresus. SpeakingtooverfourhundredyoungstudentsattherecentlyorganizedSalesianYouthMovement (SYM)YouthPeaceForum,atDonBoscoPrimarySchoolhall,MatungaMumbai,onSeptember 30,2012,Mrs.KiaScherrchallengedtheyouthtorejecttheinnerterroristthatlurksintheheartofeveryperson. Insideeachoneofusdwellstwopersonalitiestheloving,compassionate,honestandhumaneself,andtheviolent, cruel,falseandangryself.Theonewenurture,matures!ThegreatMahatmachosethefirst.Mrs.KiaScheerisa moderndayexamplewhochoseForgiveness,Love,PeaceandCompassionoverhatred,violenceandrevenge.She stunnedtheworldwhensheforgavetheterroristswhokilledherhusbandAllan,and13yearolddaughter,Naomiin MumbaionNovember26,2008. FortheMahatma,Ahimsawasavalueworthfightingfor.TheGospelofJesushasbeen lived by millions of followers and it is worth striving for. When Ahimsa becomes our compass,thenhumanityisontherightdirection. Withoutit,weonlyleadourselvesto selfdestruction.TheValueCoordinatorsEducationForum2012isamovetojoinhands withKiatobeinstrumentsofPeaceandforgiveness. The Values for the Yatra focuses on the Diamond Value of NonViolence. Peace is the pathweallwanttotread.InthismonthofOctober,canweasaneducativecommunitynurtureaNonviolentlife style?Whenourinnerterroristiswaitingtostrikeablowinrevenge,orfollowtheeyeforaneyephilosophy,can theinnerpeaceloverriseupandtakecontrol?Indoingso,ourclassrooms,schools,streets,homes,cities,nation andworldwillbecomeabetterplacetolive.ThereisaDivineGracethattakesusthere.Letusnotwalkawayfor suchalifechangingopportunity! Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb

Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2012

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE... The Person you can become!

Nonviolenceisapowerfulandjustweaponwhichcutswithout woundingandennoblesthemanwhowieldsit.Itisaswordthat heals.Thereisnolongerachoicebetweenviolenceandnonvio lencethereisonlyachoicebetweennonviolenceand nonexistence.MartinLutherKing,Jr. On the Value of NonViolence there is no definitive word for it. Theconcepthasbeenpraisedbyallmajorreligions,yetwhileevery language has a word for violence, no word expresses the idea of nonviolence except to describing it by what it isn't: not violence. But when nonviolence becomes a reality, it is a powerful force. Violence, anywhere, in any form, is reprehensible especially at home and in the workplace, because this means we are committing violence against people we are expectedtolove,honor,andrespect.Ifwedonothesitatetoviolatethepeopleweareclosestto,whywouldwehesi tate to harm those we don't know? Salvation lies in changing the self before we attempt to change the society. To quotetheFatheroftheNationWemustbethechangewewishtosee." Modernsocietyisplaguedbyviolenceathome,atwork,inthestreets,inschools.Infact,anywherethereisanassem blyofmorethantwopeoplethereis,unfortunately,thedistinctlikelihoodofviolencebreakingout.Somuchviolence is an indication of our deteriorating human relationships, as well as the stress under which we live and work. 2ndOctoberthebirthanniversaryofMahatmaGandhihasbeendeclaredas'InternationalDayofNonViolence'!This isinrecognitionofhismajorroleinpromotingpeaceandnonviolencearoundtheworld.Nonviolenceinitsdynamic conditionmeansconscioussuffering.Itdoesnotmeanmeeksubmissiontothewilloftheevildoer,butitmeansthe pittingofone'swholeshouldagainstthewillofthetyrant.Nonviolencehasthepotentialtoempowercitizens,thwart coups,overthrowdictatorsanddefendnations. Everyone knows the central ontological question: Why is there being, being rather than nothing? But there is an othercentralphilosophicalquestionwhich thehumanracehas been unable toanswer:Whyisthereviolence,vio lence rather than nonviolence? When once asked if nonviolent resistance was a form of direct action, Gandhi replied:...Itistheonlyform.Hesaiditwasthegreatestforce...morepositivethanelectricity,andmorepowerful thanevenether.Gandhibelievednonviolencecouldbeputintopracticeateverylevelofhumanexperience.Nonvio lenceforhimwasnotjustapoliticaltacticbutspiritualityandawayoflife.Wearelivingtodayinanerawheresocial, culturalandpoliticalspheresarevoidofspirituality. ValuesfortheYatrainvitesitsreaderstomakenonviolencearealitytoday.Itcallsustorenew ourcommitmentandmakenonviolencethatpowerfulforcethatGandhiandMandelawanted ittobe.However,thischangehastocomefromwitheachofourbeingswhichcannotbelearnt bystayingathomeorwithouthumility.Gandhisaid,Thereisnohopefortheachingworldex ceptthroughthenarrowandstraightpathofnonviolence.Ifwewanttoreaptheharvestof coexistence in the future, we will have to sow seeds of nonviolence. Years after Gandhis death,wefaceachoice.

Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2012

Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter December2012 Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009

Value Coordinators Forum

OnThursday,October4,2012 From8.30am4.00pm
TheProgram:

2012

VALUEEDUCATIONCOORDINATORSOFSCHOOLS AtDonBoscoPrimarySchoolAuditorium,MatungaMUMBAI

Ms.KiaScherr, 08.30am:Registration(DonBoscoPrimarySchoolHall,2ndFloor) Founder:OneLifeAlliance 09.00am:WordsofWelcome:Mr.RochwynFernandes,AVECProgram Coordinator Inauguration:Fr.GregoryLobo,SecretaryABE PrayerService:Sr.VeraAlmeida,AVECResourcePerson 09.30am10.45am:SessionIMrs.KiaScherr:OneLifeAllianceProjectHonourtheSacrednessofLife. 10.45am11.15am:CoffeeBreak 11.15am12.30am:SessionIIMs.SherlyPaul:Principal,PilotSchoolProjectATestimonyofHope 12.30pm01.00pm:SessionIIIConnectingwithValueBasedResources/Personnel 01.00pm01.45pm:LUNCH 01.45pm02.15pm:SessionIVMr.SanjaySrinivas:FounderIloveMyMotherEarth Foundation 0215pm02.45pm:SessionVFr.SavioSilveirasdb:DirectorGreenLine:GreenSchoolsCampaign 02.45pm03.30pm:WayForwardFr.GlenfordLowesdb:DirectorAVEC 03.30pm04.00pm:TeaDeparture RegistrationfeeperparticipantisRs300/(includesRefreshments,Lunch,Posters,handouts). Allpaymentswillbedonethroughchequesinfavourof:ArchdiocesanValueEducationCentre.

Make A Difference

Together to the Valued Path: Make a Difference in Valued Ways

Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2012

TEACHER: CARING GURU

20 points to Care-about the Adolescent Student
1. AVOIDDISCOURAGEMENT:thefeelingsofinferioritywhichallhumanbeingsexperienceinoneformoranother, mustbeovercomeifwearetofunctionwell. 2. WORKFORIMPROVEMENT,notperfection! 3. COMMENDEFFORT.Oneseffortsaremoresignificantthanonesresults! 4. SEPARATETHEDEEDFROMTHEDOER:Onemayrejecttheyoungster'sactionwithoutrejectingtheperson. 5. BUILDONSTRENGTHS,notweakness.Amisbehavingyouthhasthepowertodefeatanadult.Givetheyoungster thecredithe/shedeserves. 6. SHOWYOURFAITHINTHEYOUNGSTER.Thismustbesincere,soonemustfirstlearntotrusthim/her. 7. MISTAKESSHOULDNOTBEVIEWEDASFAILURES:Weneedtotakeawaythestigmaoffailure.Failureusually indicateslackofskill.Onesworthisnotdependentononessuccess! 8. STIMULATEANDLEADTHEYOUNG,butdonttrytopushthemahead.Allowthemtomoveattheirownspeed. 9. REMEMBER,GENUINEHAPPINESSCOMESFROMSELFSUFFICIENCY:Letthemcareforthemselves. 10. TRIGGERTHEHOPEFOREVENTUALSUCCESSweknowthatfailureisabigsteppingstonetosuccess. 11. INTEGRATETHEYOUNGSTERINTOTHEGROUP:Treatthemassomeonespecial.Anoverambitiousyoungster whocannotsucceedusuallyswitchestotheuselesssideoflifewiththeprivatelogic:ifIcannotbethebest,let mebetheworst.Evenworse,theymaygiveupalltogether. 12. STIMULATINGTOOMUCHCOMPETITIONISDANGEROUS:FocusmoreofCooperationandContributionthanon Competition. 13. PRAISEISNOTTHESAMEASENCOURAGEMENT:SomewillworkonlyforPraiseandworkforrecognition. Encouragementstimulatesonetogivehis/herbest. 14. SUCCESSISABYPRODUCT.CooperationandContribution,ifencouraged,leadstofruitfulnessandsuccess. 15. DEVELOPTHECOURAGETOBEIMPERFECT:Helpyoungstudentstolearnfromtheirmistakesandtogrowfrom them. 16. GIVEOPPORTUNITIESTOBERESPONSIBLEtoall.Everyoneisapotential leader.Giveallachance. 17. SYNERGIZEEFFORTStoempowertheweakerstudents. 18. REMEMBER,DISCOURAGEMENTISCONTAGEOUS.Spreadhope! 19. LIVEFORTHEOTHER,NOTFORYOUROWNEGO.Dontbeselfish. 20. DEVELOPANOPTSMISTICATTITUDEtowardsLifeandPrayer...andkeepa Prayerfulheartbeateachmomentfortheonesyoueducate.Itisthebig gestsecrettobuildingaCaringattitudetowardsthem.

Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2012

AVEC:

Activities for SEPT

St. Xaviers School Vile Parle: Teachers Value Orientation 7/9

Don Bosco High SchoolMatunga , STD IX B-C Value Ed. 10/9

Don Bosco High SchoolMatunga , STD IX A-D Value Ed. 11/9

Don Bosco Institute of Learning. Kurla: Outbound Prog 14-15/9

Don Bosco High SchoolMatunga , STD IX E-F Value Ed. 17/9

Don Bosco High SchoolMatunga , STD X A-C Value Ed. 18/9

Don Bosco Institute of Learning. Kurla: Leadership Prog 21-22/9

Don Bosco High SchoolMatunga , STD X B-E Value Ed. 24/9

St. Josephs School, AgripadaSTD X Value Orientation. 26/9

Don Bosco High SchoolMatunga , STD X D-F Value Ed. 28/9

Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2012

Youth For Peace Forum-Sept 30

AVEC COMPETITION
ART COMPETITION: A POTRAIT of SELF I AM WONDERFUL & VALUED

Please send the best

three entries in each category (Juniors/Inters/ Seniors) to AVEC by the October 27, 2012.

To qualify, all entries must be signed by the Value Coordinator and sealed with a school stamp. Thank you!

Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2012

Diamond Values: Education to Becoming FREEDOM: OUR BIRTHRGHT Essay Competition

SCHOOL Seniors St.Anne'sHighSchool,Fort CampionSchoolFort St.Andrew'sHighSchool,Bandra CampionSchoolFort Inters St.Anne'sHighSchoolOrlem,Malad DonBoscoSeniorSecondary,Nerul St.BlaiseHighSchool,AmboliAndheri Juinors MaryImmaculateHighSchool,Borivili CampionSchoolFort HolyFamilyPestomSagar CanossaHighSchool,Mahim Name ArunimaKumar DevvarshSaraf SaadNaik MananVaswani CarolDias AakanshaPinto ZaidShaikh BakitaPereira KushIdnani PoorvaG.Kelekar JenniferD.Pillai Place First Second Third Third First Second Third First Second Third Third

Congratulations to the Winners

AVEC E-Letter Values for the Yatra is an initiative to provide Animation Resources for Teachers involved in Value Education in the ABE schools/ Jr. Colleges .Values for the Yatra will be published every month and is for Private Circulation. Your valuable suggestions are most welcome to assist us in making Values for the Yatra a useful tool of animation and bonding among the teachers and students of the ABE schools in Mumbai. CONTACT: Fr. Glenford Lowe, SDB / Rochwyn Fernandes / Sr. Vera / Veronica Dlima AVECDon Bosco Youth Services, Matunga 400019 , MUMBAI Ph: 24154477 e-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com Blog: avecmumabidbys.blogspot.com Facebook: avec mumbai