Theme : Celebrating Youth
Location : Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, New Delhi
Participants : 35 schools across India
Supported by : United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Ministry of Human Resource Development, GoI
Dates : 27th -29th December, 2009.
Website : www.umang2009.com |
Background
Umang focused on experiential learning with the objectives of encouraging active youth participation in the competitions, evaluating Adolescence Education Programme from youth perspectives, documenting the impact of the program based on the felt needs of the youth and creating a platform for sharing ideas, learning and identifying the best practices followed in different schools as part of AEP. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is the coordinating agency and AEP is implemented through the three national school systems- under Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).
Participation
The festival was first organized at regional levels and thereafter, the winning teams participated at the national level. 321 students of classes VIII-XII and 66 teachers from schools of CBSE, KVS and NVS participated in the national level, representing 35 schools from 14 regions.
Approach
The festival provided an insight into the perceptions of school children on issues of adolescence concerns including healthy living, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, gender issues, the importance of self esteem and handling peer pressure. Activities were designed to induce the development of important faculties such as, the capacity for self-expression, creativity, imagination, effective communication skills and confidence.
Perceptions
Umang was regarded as a very rewarding experience by most students, affording them an opportunity to build thinking, interpersonal, and presentation skills Students appreciated the general sense of parity among everyone and were encouraged by the relaxed and liberating atmosphere wherein they could freely and openly express their opinions. Most of the participants said that more fun-oriented learning programs such as Umang should be organized in the future.
Highlights
Cultural Extravaganza
- Dakini Mangal - a Chau adaptation of Macbeth
- Performing the Empty: in Hason Raja's footsteps – solo performance by Parnab Mukherjee
- Musical evening by Tanmoy Bose’s Taal Tantra.
Arundhati Ghosh, IFA’s Deputy Director, the key note speaker, held an interactive session on adolescence: its strengths and beauty, concerns and individual life choices.
Resources
• Guidelines for life skills festival
• Judge’s kit
