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About Me

I am an Indian citizen ,fiercely democratic and love my country warts and all!I am a Masters in History and currently doing Masters Program by Correspondence in Social Work.I am heading a registered philanthropic trust which is committed to helping children and women steeped in povertyand find ways to lay a foundation of education,health,livelihood skills and a gainful life.

At the core of our program is the marginalised child who is forced to work –such kids are at the very bottom of the poverty heap because together with severe deficits of health, habitation, nutrition, protection they face exploitation, violence, coercion and risky behavior patterns. We provide flexible options for these children to access school and help them bridge the many gaps they have in learning, hygiene, health, nutrition, social and emotional skills.

We collaborate with the government to share underused school buildings ,join ,expand and augment ongoing programs so that outcomes for children are more effective.

We lay strong emphasis on supporting women because it helps bring progress and stability to the whole family. When women who are ignorant, illiterate, unable to exercise their rights and disempowered are given skills and support they become powerful instruments of social change.

We use a combination of approaches in both focus areas, non formal education, drop-in center, shelter home, transit or short stay home, livelihood skill training, counseling, self help or micro finance training and support.
I have been working with urban deprived women and children in my region for the last 5 years.Through my non-profit Trust we are now in 2012 enabling over 580 children and 92 women to access education and livelihood skills. I am personally providing shelter and family like sustenance to 12 children in difficult circumstances like child marriage,child beggary and gender bias .I am married with two beloved daughters and a husband who is a bureaucrat but writes Sufi Haikus!I love painting, reading ,writing ,creating things out of waste am learning how to sing ,learning how to balance life,work ,family ,friends,fields of interest,learning how much there is to yet to learn and learning how to keep it simple and joyful.

Location:
India, Chandigarh(Ut)
Current organization:
Founder/Chairperson of The Vatsal Chaya Trust
Current role:
Chair - Board of Trustees
Gender:
Female
Areas of expertise:
teacher and trainer, teacher and trainer social activist
I am:
Activist, Artist, Blogger, Change Agent, Educator/Teacher, Environmentalist, Foodie, Idea generator, Parent, Writer/Editor
Associations:
Social Initiative Partnership Program U.T.Chandigarh Government, Indian National Theater, Chandigarh, Executive Member
Languages:
English, Hindi
My website links:
www.vatsalchaya.org
Universities:
University of Lucknow - India, University of Lucknow - India, IGNOU India
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More About Me

I'm passionate about

life...people i love...my beliefs.. a common humanity,child rights..gender equality.. an authentic life as much as possible on my own terms ,mindfulness, democracy, food,snuggling on Sundays

An idea worth spreading

You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play." --Warren Beatty ---- it doesnt matter if what you love to do doesnt fit the world's templates of success., do it anyway...To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.
Mohandas Gandhi- when people entrapped by the most fierce poverty are given a way out which is respectful of their dignity and gives them a chance to particiapte in their own capacity enhanciing and skill -building it brings transformative change which is lasting and life changing. Literacy should be only a third of the curriculum and values ,democratic principles,community spirit,creatvity,integrity,shared humanity and innovative problem solving should be firmly be equally important.

Talk to me about

child rights ,gender bias ,enabling urban poor ,building community ,human rights everywhere,teaching children,music,poetry,empathy,environment, cats,dogs,horses,movies,food, ...

People don't know that I'm good at

fashion!! interiors,Bollywood singing and dancing!! being pigheaded but stubbornly resilient,laughing at myself,

My TED Story

newbie but find it very inspiring ,extremely interesting and expanding my understanding..The talks as well as the conversations are very interesting ,stimulating thought,humor and debate. will take this up in a more focused way after my post grad is over. It is hugely inspiriational motivating and intellectually revelatory but sadly vast ...I have so many talks already pending and new ones keep adding up!

Comments

  • TEDCred score: +2.30 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

  • A reply on Conversation: How might teachers implement sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube to engage students in their education?

    Mar 30 2012: Christopher I agree with your point about the younger generation..but technology is already so entwined in our lives dont you think?so classrooms will have to align themselves with the times and ignite students' interest and meet the challenge of digi-things which vy for attention. And yes the teacher will have to know more ,teacher training will have to factor tech savvines using digital learning with imagination,humour and innovation. Technology it is being used in many schools,on TED as you say but is still avant garde at least not in India and most teachers are not clued in.

  • A comment on Conversation: How might teachers implement sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube to engage students in their education?

    Mar 29 2012: u r so right abt d classroom not keepring pace wid d wrld outside an hw digitised r personal spaces hv become ..v r alwys connectd an cant wait 2 post /share/tweet ,real experiences r less an less riveting bcs d web is addicting,infrmativ,entertaining an yr vry own place in d sun no mattr if its tweeple or fb frendsfere,trending u tube hits ..i c dis at hm wid my girls an at school wid my students..nthing pins interest as easily as a dash of tech smthing new,u hv 2 cmpete wid all dis BUZZ in childrens' heads an v hv 2 cut a swathe thru all that ...teaching has 2 be transacted in a way dat students wnt 2 buy in..yr choice of words' insert school' is excellent...an continuing in d same vein i hv been visualising smthing similar...each topic is presented as a common thematic unit after which options to customise subsequent lessons, wrksheets can be done by smaller groups who inject/insert their likes an choices into d learning landscape. The teacher will have to cleverly steer content and not let it be diluted...successful lessons can go viral wid dat group getting hits an creds
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    A reply on Conversation: How might teachers implement sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube to engage students in their education?

    Mar 24 2012: I agree with you Stuart Woods ,the centrality of the teacher is undoubtedly the most important link between students and learning. No matter what the level of tecnical, trendy or new tools we may have they will be ineffective without a teacher who can capture the attention as well as hold the class together.
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    A comment on Conversation: How might teachers implement sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube to engage students in their education?

    Mar 23 2012: Yes I see your point and agree with the danger of wayward behavior undermining both gains and methodology,thank you for clarifying the point and taking it further

  • A reply on Conversation: How might teachers implement sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube to engage students in their education?

    Mar 23 2012: Its a moot point that we have to make education interesting ...and there is a confusing number of teaching and learning tools ,methods,approaches..but how to choose and which ones will yield most effective outcomes

  • A reply on Conversation: How might teachers implement sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube to engage students in their education?

    Mar 23 2012: Dear Vivek I do not agree with all due respect .IMO if we can use tools which will capture their attention and sync with what is trending around them without diluting content and quality of curriculum I would think it would make the laggards sit up and spike flagging interest.
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    A reply on Conversation: How might teachers implement sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube to engage students in their education?

    Mar 23 2012: Dear Scott I find your comments and the conversation very much of value and interest but with an added twist..I work with over age out of school illiterate children and prepare them to come to par with age appropriate classroom levels so have been using/devising different ways of audio visual learning adapted to students who cannot read and write but are otherwise intelligent and street smart.It is a challenge i am thoughly enjoying because finding better ways to teach children is a passion for me and im middle aged an not very techie I love the way social media has reshaped the way we communicate and c so much promise in the way learning can be made stronger and enjoyable
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    A reply on Conversation: How do you find out what your passion is ?

    Mar 21 2012: Happy that you found some answers in my post ..but im not equipped (being a humanities person) to suggest any subject,wouldnt even if I could because thats a a path you have to choose. Your conflicting choices IMO seem unnecessary ..you dont have to have it all in one Big Easy customised field which will cover all your interests...life is never that way carefully optimised for maximum returns ..you over analyse..life is more like a bird which wheels and dips ,soars in the open sky or coasts down and alights on a green bough..you will have to prioritise what works best for you...what is worth losing sleep over and time flies when you are doing it...its that simple ...maybe choose neuro cognition and read philo in your spare time...but all d best in your search
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    A reply on Conversation: How do you find out what your passion is ?

    Mar 21 2012: My apologies Colleen and Sina Elli for posting again but felt must share 2 things..one ,that it should not be a dliemma if many things vy for your attention..you can enjoy delving into all ,i am beseiged by a number of things i love to do ,my work,my family ,painting ,singing ,cooking,writing,reading ,theres always a pile of stuff left an sometimes i am overwhelmed and ready to collapse but the resurgence is sure ,steady..2nd thing is constantly learning how fortunate we are to have the great gift of choosing how we can live..I work amidst so many women and children for whom survival comes first and who have scant hope and extreme deprivation..the inequity is disturbing and harsh..a hot meal everyday brings happiness ...
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    A reply on Conversation: How do you find out what your passion is ?

    Mar 21 2012: Dear Sylvia most of us are on that boat sometime or the other ,,it is only rare geniuses who know what ignites their passion...but thats part of the great journey life is ,you keep discovering and finding answers or more questions !! Sina Elli no will ever have unlimited resources ,as you said smwhere above how will there be contrasts so the challenges are given and juggling choices ,allocating ,choosing between scarce resources goes with the territory.
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