March 17, 2014

Playing with our Stammer

Meeting at Nehru Park, after a long time was nostalgic- the place where we first started our SHG meets. Vikas, Dnyanesh and I met in the park, and on this hot and humid afternoon, we took shelter on the benches under the shade of a tree.

To start with, briefed Vikas and Dnyanesh about discussion with Dhruv and our attempt to make SHG meetings structural, taking a few tips from Toastmasters. I explained the various roles and the mentor-mentee culture to be started.

And then, we got started with the agenda. The theme was “In the nature’s lap”. I (Harish) was the meeting coordinator, Vikas was the real-life master and Dnyanesh was the activity master.

The first session was the real-life session. In this, the real-life master (Vikas) had to throw a scenario, which would be enacted by all members. First scenario was of a tough interview, wherein the interview panel decides to corner the interviewee, and the interviewee should handle the situation. I played the interviewee, and Vikas and Dnyanesh played the interview panel. It was a real tough interview to face, I must say, as Dnyanesh and Vikas planned a set of real tough questions.

Second scenario was a court case, where in, Harish was accused of being the most corrupt bureaucrat. Dnyanesh defended the bureaucrat and Vikas was the public prosecutor. We had real fun enacting this, and at times, it felt like a very healthy debate.

Then, it was the time for the activity session. Dnyanesh explained us the activity. He explained one activity which was practiced in the Pune workshop- we take a sentence, and say it five times, each time we raise the pitch of the stammer. In the final attempt, we had to practice stammering with ease by bouncing.

In meetings to come, we also plan to have a third session, in which we will do “projects” which are taken from AHJ (Apna Hath Jagannath – the self help manual), and it will be evaluated by another member, giving constructive feedback.

SHG meeting in the nature’s lap was indeed fun. Among many other kids playing different games in the park, here were three kids having a nice time playing with their stammer.


(We got so much engrossed in our discussions, that we missed taking a photo) 

3 comments:

Satyendra said...

Wow - your post reminded me of a poetry from Tagore - children meet and play on tne beach of the world.. something like that..

Yes, having fun is the ,most imporyant thing.. photographs can wait.. My SHG {Vikas, Vineet and many more} have moved out among so many SHGs around the country.. Feels nice..

Satyendra said...

Wow - your post reminded me of a poetry from Tagore - children meet and play on tne beach of the world.. something like that..

Yes, having fun is the ,most imporyant thing.. photographs can wait.. My SHG {Vikas, Vineet and many more} have moved out among so many SHGs around the country.. Feels nice..

Manimaran said...

Great role plays!
Congratulations to all.