Archive for category Party !!!
The Jovial Santa and the Smiling Cherubs…Yes! It’s Christmas Time!
Posted by Rakhi in Party !!!, The Things That Happen..., Volunteer Files... on January 23rd, 2010
“Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents.” Espousing this opening line of Little Women, we the maddies of Divine Home, Trivandrum decided to celebrate Christmas with the kids inculcating all its nuances; be it the presents or the Santa Claus. To our surprise and joy, the children of playschool “Friends” brought a lot of goodies as Christmas presents for our kids. (Thanks to fellow maddie Anoosha whose aunty owns the playschool.) The gifts varied from a brand-new frock (which went to the cutie pie Kesiya) to coloring books, sketch pens and what not!
After a mad scramble to get the costume of Santa Claus and the cake, we reached Divine Home to be welcomed by the beaming faces of our cherubs:) The excitement and elation that oozed from their faces on seeing us heightened, when we started playing musical chair .With all the spirits of a game they went around the chairs, some of them even dancing to the tune of latest hit song “daddy mummy”! Since it was taking aeons for the Santa Claus to get ready and most of the volunteers were busy helping him, the rest of us had the hectic task of controlling the naughtiest bunch of kids. Most of our kids are very small, K.G. to second standard kids forming the majority and to quote our VP HR Keerthi who’s teaching in another shelter home, “Kids shouldn’t be this small!!!” 
The children scurrying to make it to the musical chair.
YIPEE!! I got my chair! 
Arjun desperately trying to control the kids while Robin cheekily retorts
It was time for the grant entry of the Santa Claus bagged with all the goodies. Our jovial Christmas papa aka Ganesh came hopping in sans the sleigh. The exuberant happiness of the kids on seeing the Christmas father was palpable from the way they all swarmed near him, tugging at his robe, trying to get a handshake and pulling at hisbeard to take the mask off. And yes! He was welcomed with a chorus of jingle bells . But to our dismay Kesiya and Diana, two of the little ones we have there were so scared on seeing Santa that they started crying. Nothing we said pacified them. So finally, our dear Santa Claus had to take the mask off. Pronto! We got their smiling faces back again. The already brightened up faces became even more lit on seeing the yummy cake. Even we the volunteers had a hard time keeping our hands off it and the rest of us had to practically cajole Arjun and Shasta to prevent them from attacking the cake! Luckily, the cake was big enough to feed all and the kids got at least two pieces.
Yummy yummy cake!
The picture speaks for itself
If you thought getting gifts from Santa was easy, then you are wrong! You have to ask Santa a question before you get the gifts. But our kids are way too smart.They all had something to ask Santa, even the unusually quiet ones in class. To actually witness the true joy in the heart of a kid reflected on his face, observe them while he opens his gift-the one face of his that you will never find fading in oblivion. The kids who got puzzles started doing it then and there. Ranjith and Kesiya adorned themselves in their new dresses. The rest of them were excitedly showing their gifts to us. It was certainly a moment to cherish.
The jovial papa
… and his alter-ego!
Christmas celebrations are never complete without the Carole songs and our kids are not far behind in this also. “I like to be a Christmas tree…” they sang in unison along with actions, with a little help from us volunteers (they couldn’t contain the excitement which in turn made them forget the lines in between).
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…
The mad scramble for making this day perfect for the kids finally paid off! Yes! We celebrated Christmas with all its spirits and the kids thoroughly enjoyed it. Usually the kids are extremely sad and at times the younger ones cry when we leave from their home. But it was different that day. They were so happy that day and so contained with excitement that they were busy admiring their gifts when we left them; some of them even didn’t realize that we had left. That day added to those myriad memories that we have spent with our kids.
Our kids – all happy-happy!
P.S.:
The primary colours of joy!!
Posted by Ajanta in Party !!!, Volunteer Files... on November 21st, 2009
Content contribution by: Arushi, Sakshi, Sonam, Vrinda
In keeping with our zealous tendencies, Delhi decided to have the longest Children’s Day celebrations this year, with back to back events on 14th as well as 15th!! (Yes, no less than a double party for us!!)
The marathon session of revelry started on the 14th at Bal Sehyog:
Party Station I:
First on the agenda was a drawing competition where we distributed drawing sheets and crayons to sixty kids (yes we had a full house!!)…The topics given to them were either ‘Chacha Nehru’ {it was, after all, his birthday } or ‘Your future profession’. The kids took to the activity with great enthusiasm and it was an absolute delight to see all of them enjoying themselves, submerged in colourful thoughts….The treasure-trove of talent and creativity that lay hidden in these little angels was quite a revelation
After a couple of hours of the fun-filled drawing competition, the first, second and third positions were announced!!
Refreshments were served shortly after which boosted the kids for the next surprise: a movie screening and post-screening photo-session!!! The kids went wild getting clicked in different poses and with their favourite didi or bhaiya!!!
But the celebrations were still not over for the MAD volunteers… We had another day to follow at Arya Anathalaya on the 15th:
Party Station II:
The MAD team at Arya Anathalaya witnessed the most amazing of all times when they celebrated Children’s Day on Sunday in what we call a typically MAD Delhi style. Smiles, eager eyes were all over the place as the kids waited in anticipation of our grand plans and did we live up to it! It began with the screening of the film Dil Bole Hadippa in the morning for the boys. The boys connected instantly with the cricket, the actors, the comedy and the fun of the film as we soon saw them jumping, laughing, joking and enacting the actors. But the best moment was when the music came on! And the film had plenty to offer in that department. We saw all the barriers of hesitation and shyness break the instant songs started and the rest was a sight to behold!
The girls were no less. As morning shaded into the afternoon and the boys all left smiling, the girls came to paint the town red! We got to see some of the coolest dance moves, the grooviest sing-along and all in all a happy mood as the movie rolled on and the excitement of the kids refused to dwindle! The amazing exuberance of the girls and the endearing shyness of the boys plus a pukka Bollywood film and we lived the most fun day of our lives!
And it wasn’t just the kids who had the time of their lives..Take a look at this:
Testimonial from Vrinda (one of our oldest and most dedicated volunteers!!):
“On 14th November i tried to bake a cake for my students but I guess last minute plans don’t work for me as my cake got overcooked (actually the right word is burnt 
) I was quite disappointed, but the next day, I took fudge for them instead and they all relished it!!! My happiness knew no bounds….cooking for family and friends is normal (plus they hardly appreciate it!) but this was the first Children’s Day when i cooked for my students and i was on the adult side for a change!! We played games and chatted like there was no tomorrow!! I guess, somewhere in the process, I transformed from just their teacher to their teacher and friend!! I am really close to my students and doing anything for them gives me immense happiness!!”
So here’s to the kid in all of you, HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY! Because, as the kids taught us, it’s never too late 
NMIMS SRFs JOYFest – MAD
Posted by Tanmay Arora in Media Coverage, Party !!!, The Things That Happen..., Volunteer Files... on October 24th, 2009
Originally written by Anusha Thakur
On the occasion of “Joy of giving week” at NMIMS campus being celebrated from 27th September to 3rd October ’09, we thought of doing something different and make a difference. It is a festival where every person can ‘give’ as much, or as little, as he or she wishes to. What they are sure to get in the bargain is pure, simple joy!
It aims at educating the youth about different social causes, and encouraging them to indulge in acts of giving during this week- in time, money, skills or kindness- the same morales we have in MAD. So the “JOYFEST” & NMIMS Social Responsibility Forum has collaborated with MAD and all the funds raised through the events held will be donated to ‘Make-A-Difference’. Renowned celebrities like Nandita Das, Sachin Tendulkar and Imitiaz Ali have supported this cause.
On 29th September 09, the 3rd day of this week, we enacted a street play to raise awareness about MAD and the joy of teaching kids. The response was pretty good making people come to our MAD desk, at the premises, and register themselves for being volunteers. After that there was a craft workshop “crat-o-rama” for the Make A Difference kids from St.Catherines centre in which each kid along with a participant had to decorate a paper bag by making newpapers’ collage. The judge for the day was the Indian Idol & Iss Jungle Se Mujhe bachao host Mini Mathur who chose the best bag and these bags were later auctioned. All the money raised from the auction will also be donated to “Make A Difference”.The media coverage of this event was by MTV. VJ BANI and VINEET came n interacted with the kids and volunteers which was later featured on MTV WASSUP!
Lights, camera….awesomeness !!
Posted by Karthik in Party !!!, The Things That Happen..., Volunteer Files... on October 17th, 2009
Current Emotion- Yet another year; and yet another Diwali in Cochin (Sigh!)
But then, the clouds struck, and in the background of lightning and thunder somebody spoke –
Hey, Chotu Diwali on friday and your class on friday too….
Current Emotion – ahan
Rapid thinking and a few phone calls = Diwali celebrations at YMCA Boys Home, Thrikkakara.
Jazim (the latest noobie aka tingu no. 2) and I arrived earlier and had a chat with the warden and the kids. We planned a greeting card making competition; Gautam and Harsha got the chart papers and sketch pens. We also got Ladoos, Chocolates and Candles to light up the occasion. After a brief description of What, How and Why Diwali and after the most enchanting mythological story about Diwali by me –
Current Emotion: Thank you…thank you..
Negative Creep(Harsha & Jazim): Ya RITE !!
- we started off with the competition by around 545. Blesson, Elizabeth, Saina and Sumit joined us well ahead before it started. Controlling a bunch of hyper-excited kids is not so easy but it is my baae haath ka khel
Negative Creep – OOOoo…pinne !! (that’s mallu for yea rite)
We viewed some really amazing drawings and messages on the cards. They made three fold cards. Some kids actually tried to present the story of Diwali while the others expressed joy, lights and happiness in the greetings. The competition was just a spoof and in the end, everyone deserved the yum yum sweets for the efforts they put in. Afterwards, we distributed chocolates, candles and ladoos. Soon, YMCA would be lit up with diyas and candles. (Awesomeness 1.0)
A few other people also planned to celebrate Diwali with the kids at YMCA. They got some pedas and crackers like phool jhadi, chakri and anaar.
Current Emotion- Ah, once upon a time, a boy named Karthik used to light up his neighbour’s cat’s tail as part of his Diwali rituals….(drifting to Mexico 
) 
This point, we had a hard time with the kids, but again thanks to me –
Current Emotion – Buhahaha
Negative Creep – And blesson and gautam and everyone else !!
- everything was safe and sound.
Personally, I always regret not being able to be with my family during Diwali. But this year, everything has been different with MAD.
Happy Diwali people !! Cheers and stay safe
PS: We have a lot other pictures uploaded on facebook !!
MAD Cochin Farewell :)
Posted by Jr. in Party !!!, Volunteer Files... on March 23rd, 2009
Sunday April 22nd, Loungevity Avenue Regent..
8:00 am : Jr.is supposed to arrive.
8:10 am : Jr. arrives… And, invariably, waits….
8:45 am : Prez and Sanju arrive.. And after, shamelessly arriving late, they make the poor volunteers, tired from waiting do all the work..
9:30 am : The preperations are done.. And the volunteers start trickling in slowly..
I was’nt looking at my watch after that, so let’s forget the timelines for now.. As is custom, the Mad video is unrolled first.. We take a look back at one of the greatest years ever.. For Mad, as well as most volunteers.. ( I speak for myself anyhow ! )
Farewell time.. We bid adieu to some of the greatest volunteers ever !!
Eight are leaving this time around, including the legendary Holy Ghost Trio and the Diving Wierd Photographer Man(who expressly forbid me from putting these unedited version of the pics on the blog)…
But, as Jithin likes to say.. “You might leave, but MAD never leaves you..”
Time to move on to the annual tradition of the Make A Difference Youth Leader Awards… Every year, six people are nominated from within the ranks, for the potential and leadership that they highlighted during the year.. (I’m tired of uploading pics, so you’ll have to do with just a couple.. ) The first one is given to the orphanage head of the orphanage that won this years MadComps.. And the HG girls ran away with it.. (will get you next year)
Time for the day’s entertainment.. Jonva and his fellow Jonvans take the stage..
Session 4 : Who the President?? Who the President??
Answer : Sanju the President !
The Handing Over – Taking Over Ceremony looked like this :
Question : What does the new Mad Cochin Core team look like??
Answer : Like this :
Wait… Where is the VP Fundraising?? Vivek !! Vivek??
Where is he?? Eating Chocolate??
Volunteer : Sanjana, where is Vivek??
Sanju : He had other engagements..
Volunteer : Oh ok…Went to play tennis, huh??
Sanju : Actually, he had only one engagement.. After all, he’s getting married only once..
(Inference for all volunteers : Yes, please go ahead and ask for treats if you see Mr. Vingman around)
Though, the BEST MOMENT of the day was the standing ovation that Sr., the outgoing President, got..
The best President and mentor any of us could’ve ever asked for…. As he’d have put it : “Great job, bro.. Good repository… ”
Ok, that was senti enough.. (sigh)
Final note :
I had a college farewell, where, inexplicably i felt a tinge of sadness… Seemed there were too many good memories that I was leaving behind… But the Mad Farewell was different.. Yes, we’re bidding this year goodbye.. But, the next year already beckons..
At Mad, the year never ends.. It just merges into the next one.. Looking forward to all that 09-10 promises to bring to all our doorsteps..
- Signing off on 08-09 and signing into 09-10
(proud to be the) Jr.
I WAS NOT THE DJ..!!GRRRRR!!
Posted by Jonva in Party !!!, Volunteer Files... on November 24th, 2008
F Y I: I was NOT the DJ for the day!!I was just in front of the comp trying to salvage SOMETHING out of our president’s ridiculously DULL collection of songs when the pics were taken!!now,Certain TALL PEOPLE seem to be spreading the impression that I WAS IN CHARGE!I WAS NOTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is probably gonna be labelled irrelevant and taken off taken off the blog, but I SHALL BE HEARD AS LONG AS I LIVE!!
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