NES NPS Blog
Reflection corner for the students of NESNPS to share their experiences of their ISA journey 2019-20.
Class X B
It won’t be very far-fetched to say that rivers are the soul of our country. Being the cradles of civilization, the rivers have quenched our thirst for stability and made agriculture possible. This month’s ISA topic, revitalized our interest in our lifelines, the rivers, and this was done through several presentations on the pitiable and pathetic state of the rivers on our planet and the various ways in which different countries are dealing with this problem . I was also part of the street play, my first one, and it was a lively affair. The street play was conducted as a public outreach program, to educate people and inform them of the methods they could implement in their own lives to save rivers. Honestly, the idea of working with 50 others made me nervous at first, but with time I became more receptive of others’ ideas and ideals and discovered avenues which previously did not seem to exist. The month-long program has awakened me to my responsibility towards the society and the world at large and has made me realize that unless, we ourselves are willing to take a stand and save our rivers, no one else will.
Class X D
I am so glad our school gave us the opportunity to stage the street play. This is the very thing I like about my school. I am always looking for opportunities for public speaking and I knew this was my chance. The street play like many of our activities was a huge success, and we just loved the practice sessions. Initially we looked at it as just a break from the academics, in fact many of my friends participated with that intention but as we got more and more involved with it, we understood the gravity of the problem and how we are all adding to it by being so ignorant about it. On Day 1 we didn’t even know the difference between a skit and a street play but by the last day we were all aware of the impact we created by using it as a medium to bring about a change.
The problem about rivers is very serious and the way we presented and addressed the problem was in line with the mind-set of the current generation. Tuning our lyrics to famous Bollywood songs helped us get more attention to the cause and one such change was the song “Save this Cauvery di”. I have actually forgotten the original lyrics of the song.
The icing on the cake was that our play got a mention in the times NIE newspaper (and many others) with a picture of me performing. I feel a lot more confident today and what’s more I think I look at things differently now….
Class X B
The ISA activities were a wonderful experience. It was for the first time we were involved in something like this. It was a difficult task for us, but I think we did a fantastic job. The theme being so important from the point of view of social, environmental and economic importance, we were initially hesitant and nervous. It was also the first time we did a street play and what a great experience it was! To think that we actually contributed in bringing about a change makes us feel great. The presentations we viewed made us actually take this activity seriously as we understood the extent of this problem and how this callous nature of man has to change. We performed our roles with greater conviction. Performing before a huge crowd at Tara Singh Garden and then at Runwal Greens for a social cause has surely made the last year of schooling a memorable one.
Class X B
Out of all the things man has an access to, water is undoubtedly the most important, the basic necessity, we surely cannot survive without. Surely, there is air also, but water sustains life. Air can be polluted, never exhausted. Unfortunately, water does not follow the same pattern. Water once used up, cannot be brought back. Rivers are drying up at an alarming rate and the water in it is becoming unfit for drinking and also for any other purpose. This is something we realized after viewing the presentations by our younger friends. We had never thought about it before and genuinely felt the urge to do something about it. And then we were told about the street play. We were so excited about the whole thing !
Through the play, we tried to depict the state of the rivers and get them to hear the cries of our holy yet dirty rivers. What better way to do so than having the rivers talk for themselves? I played one of the rivers drawing attention of the people to my pathetic state. We also drew attention to the initiative of Cauvery Calling, the campaign undertaken by Sadhguru to save our depleting rivers. We all pledged to contribute Rs.42/- each, to plant a tree alongside Cauvery. Before the play, I personally wasn’t aware of the Cauvery Calling campaign and the extent of depletion of our rivers. I was shocked to know about the amount of plastic found in rivers and since then, I have stopped the use of one-time plastic and have also reduced the use of plastic in general.
Class X C
Our ISA activity this month filled the month of August with gusto and enthusiasm. We were given a golden opportunity to spread awareness and save our “blue jewels”- our rivers. We had to perform a street play, a genre we had never attempted before. We started with working hard on our voice modulation as we had to be loud enough to be audible on a busy street, and yet not shout. We saw the challenge that lay ahead of us, having to directly connect with the masses to spread a social message. And it feels very good to know that we were able to make the desired impact. We have become a lot more responsible ourselves in the way we look at and use water. The rivers of the world should never go dry. Let’s all pledge to do our bit…
Class X D
When the students of Classes VII, VIII and IX made presentations before us on the ISA topic for this month, we kept wondering on how we would be involved or whether or not we would be involved considering it’s boards for us this year, just then we were told about the street play.
The practice for this activity started in full and were excited about addressing the problems faced by rivers in a fun way interspersed with Bollywood and folk songs modified to suit the purpose. I quickly adapted to my role in the grand scheme of things and soon started enjoying. The songs were practically earworms and satisfying to sing along, lodging their message right into the mind permanently. We were finding it difficult project our voices well in the open as there were no mics and we were all accustomed to speaking in closed spaces. The voice modulation sessions helped us. We performed in Sardar Tara Singh Garden and Runwal Greens. The play was well received by the audience in both the venues, with a thunderous applause greeting us. We were glad to be able to get the point across. Another initiative I learnt about was to donate Rs 42 for a tree to be planted along the banks of Cauvery river. With ‘Cauvery Calling’ how could I refuse! Prior to the play, I had been indifferent to the issue but now I feel I could be the voice to help this initiative. This activity has helped me realize my latent public speaking skills that will definitely help me in the future. The knowledge about the extent of river pollution has left me wanting to do more for this activity. I have developed an attitude to counter any adversity with optimism and a resolution to conquer it. I thank my school for this wonderful opportunity.
Class X A
I was a participant of the street play performed by the students of class X. We performed at two different venues and both times we had a huge crowd around us. It was an amazing experience and I feel very proud to have been a part of this great cause.
I had never done something like this before. The river formations, the combination of folk and Bollywood songs to convey a serious message, the voice modulation sessions, the presentations we viewed, the realizations that happened have all made my last year at NESNPS truly memorable.
Class IX C
The ISA activity on rivers was an amazing experience. It was really informative and enriching. Learning about the different techniques used by different countries to tackle the same problem was fun, especially learning from each other, instead of the teachers. We had to do extensive research because we had to make those presentations even before our seniors and were really scared of the questions they might throw at us. But it was all worth it. I feel so confident and knowledgeable having taught my seniors too. The best part is I think I have subconsciously become a little responsible, when it comes to conserving water.
Class IX B
Our ISA activity was an interesting one and helped us acquire a lot of knowledge. I am dismayed about the extent of pollution and depletion of rivers globally, however in the process of researching the measures taken and techniques and ways to conserve rivers, I also discovered there is definitely hope!!!! The different techniques adopted by various countries can do wonders to solve this grave problem faced by the earth. I was amazed to see the most lethargic students showing some energy shouting slogans on the streets and the street play helped bring some realizations in even the most careless ones around. And the activity definitely helped change the outlook of one person – ME!!!
Class IX C
One of the most awaited activities of the year was the ISA activity. We were excited about it ever since our Principal made the announcement that we had enrolled for it and so for the next few months we will be participating in a variety of activities. This one was a month long activity in which we made and viewed a lot of presentations and got to know various things from it. The PowerPoint Presentations gave us out of the book knowledge about the various rivers and the measures taken to clean them. I now really understand the depth of the problem and our dependence on rivers. My outlook has already changed drastically and I have started taking small steps to prevent wastage of water. Not only that I often find myself invariably correcting my family members and even friends if I see them wasting water. This activity has taught us how we can truly revitalize our lifelines.
Class IX A
In this increasingly advanced age of technology, why are we not able to save our rivers from pollution and depletion? It is nothing but our ignorance that has created this serious problem on earth. This activity has surely helped us look beyond the mere boundaries of our school or our country and focus on the worldwide problem of depletion of rivers. And seriously I didn’t know that it was a global problem and there are other countries facing this grave problem arising mainly because of ignorance of people. The presentations made us more aware of the ways in which different countries are trying to tackle this problem . The government, the NGOs and even people at individual level are trying to overcome this problem. The rally gave us a chance to be a part of this social cause by creating awareness of the problems now faced by our country and other countries too. The performances of the class X students in the street play were quite captivating. The group discussions led to the emergence of various ideas on the ways to save rivers. Our rivers can be saved only if we all join hands and solve this problem together.
Class IX C
With this month coming to an end I actually feel sad because this entire month has been so exciting ; making presentations, having discussions, being a part of the Quiz, watching the street play has all been so much fun. This year and particularly this month of my schooling is something I will cherish for life. I also participated in the ISA activities in 2016, but being in class VI then, I don’t think I understood things as well as I do now. We have researched about so many countries and have learnt so much about them, that I already feel connected to them. The people there are no different from us and their problems are no different from ours and the solutions to this grave problem are also no different because this is a global issue and not pertinent to a particular country. Awareness amongst the general public, Effective Government policies, adequate funding and timely action can make the world a much better place. Let’s all do our bit. Let’s do everything we can to save our rivers.
Class IX A
It was really a great experience for all of us to enjoy and learn in such a way. This activity has actually made me understand the need for replenishing our lifelines, that is, rivers. We watched a street play based on the same and we also had a rally where we shouted slogans for spreading public awareness. We did a lot of research work and came across new facts about different rivers in different countries. This activity has made me more confident and more responsible towards the problems faced by the country. I hope that more of such activities will come up which will help to make us truly educated in the true sense of the word.
Class IX B
I have never been so actively involved in any school activity before this. After the in depth research we have conducted which is actually still on as everyday some new fact is revealed to us by some or the other schoolmate and we are back on the internet trying to find more and more…We have made presentations before students right from Class V to Class X. We have had a group discussion on our research findings , but the discussions are just on and on… I feel like I know so much about rivers now. And I know so much more about the countries we studied about. Borders really don’t matter. Water is the same everywhere and the natural resources need to be valued everywhere. And there is so much to learn from every country ….
Class IV B
I am very thankful to all my lovely teachers who made the month of September so memorable for me. They showed us videos, presentations and stories and we had a gala time. Earlier I did not know so many folktales, just a few of my own country but now I know so many and of different countries. We also did some activities like the theme board activity, map marking and skits of 9 countries. Some students also spoke with Bangladesh school students on skype. These all things were really amazing. I really want to thank my hardworking teachers.
Class IV C
September was fun! We were shown videos on different countries. We learnt so much about the culture and tourist places of different countries. The presentations had even more details. We saw many folktales around the world. We were given to colour pictures of different folktales. Many students participated in the dramatization. I also participated in it. I was in Bangladesh skit. We performed it through a puppet show. We even enjoyed the map marking group activity. My friends from class III and IV interacted with Bangladeshi children on Skype. We had a lot of fun the whole month.
Class IV B
Our school is doing ISA and we had to do folktales for the entire month but we had so many different activities. We were learning so much about different countries and I loved all the folktales I read and saw the dramas of some of them. We did not know folktales can be so interesting. The map marking was also fun. We did it in groups. We even read some Bangladeshi stories suggested by the children of some school in Bangladesh. I liked this activity a lot.
Class IV B
The ISA topic for the month of September was folktales. Our teachers had conducted different activities related to this topic. It was great fun doing these activities. We studied folktales of nine countries. We had an interesting program of dramatizing these folktales. I did the introduction for the Indian folktale. We also saw some travel videos and learnt so many things about foreign countries. It was fun!
Class IV C
I, Miss Dhruvi Jasani, am very thankful to all my teachers. I didn’t know much about folktales and that too of so many countries. I was the Grandmother in the Bangladesh folktale. I even spoke to Bangladeshi students and greeted them in Bengali. I picked up the language because I had some lines in Bengali in the drama. We also compared folktales of different countries and came to know that they are all made to teach morals, only there are slight differences. We told all this to our teachers and they wrote a script based on what we told them. I was very happy to take part in this skit also. It was called -Character Speaks. My teachers were very impressed by my performance in the Bangladesh skit. They liked the way I said my dialogues and so they took me for Character speaks also. I was very happy. My parents are also very happy.
Class X B
Our school hosted its first Model United Nations Conference on 18th and 19th of October, 2019. It was a grand experience for all us none of us knew the concept of MUN before. A mountain of research was there ahead of us to climb, with new challenges ahead of us, especially for me, as I was asked to chair the WHO committee in my first ever MUN conference. At first I was very sceptical of myself, I wasn’t sure if I could manage such a big thing. But in the weeks that followed, we were trained in various aspects, from the parliamentary procedures to even public speaking, which really boosted my confidence. In the meantime, I also learned a lot about the different countries and their policies which quite interesting. When the day of conference arrived, I wasn’t sure how all this would go, I was very nervous. However, as the conference went on the tension just sort of ebbed out. In the end, it went really well. The conference turned out to be a more self-discovery than informative for me, as it made me realize that I could handle such tasks really well. Overall, I would say the MUN conference was successful in making me a more confident person and I would totally look forward in participating in many more Model United Nation conferences.
Delegate: Russia
The most beautiful thing about a model united nations is that although it is called ‘model’, one never feels like that; it always gives you that feeling of an actual conference. The Model United Nations has certainly enhanced my view about the world and provided me with an insight into the functioning of the topmost organisations of the world, in planning for a better present and future for the citizens of the world.
Delegate Of Germany
This activity was an exciting journey all way through. I learnt many new skills and also gained knowledge about the MUN. It helped me gain confidence and also improved public speaking. The MUN conference also taught me a very important skill: diplomacy. This has helped me negotiate better at conferences and lead groups with many other delegates. These diplomacy skills have led me to winning awards at the conference.
Before attending the conference, I did not expect that this experience would greatly improve my writing as well as speaking skills. I got a better understanding of how to construct position papers for conference. I was able to use my research for the debates that we had during the conference. Writing is essential in Model UN to prepare for conference and to draft resolutions. This experience also taught me that working in a team is fun and we get to learn so many new things while we share our knowledge.
Lastly, I learnt that MUN is all about friendship. It helps individual with research, negotiation, public speaking, conflict resolution. The atmosphere was filled with happiness with a tinge of competition in it. It was surely an exciting journey and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am glad that I was a part of this conference and I got this opportunity to be a part of it.
Thank you!
Class 10 B
Well, many people over the course of years have told me, that I have the right qualities for a leader but I'm unable to use them. The MUN Conference, where I was a chairperson, provided a perfect platform for me to capitalise and understand my abilities and helped in moulding my perspective into a more global one. The solutions offered to the biggest problems faced by the world today, were not only innovative, but also sensible. The Conference, expanded my knowledge and experience, and helped me become a more global person.
Regards,
Class X D
Being a part of the two-day MUN conference was indeed an incredible learning opportunity for me. Our school did a wonderful job in familiarising us with the MUN procedures. I was a part of the UNFAO. We addressed the topics of world food hunger and crisis and realised that it was high time for us to solve these problems. The skills you learn through an MUN experience - such as research, self-confidence, public speaking, and adapting your ideas to changing information when you do not have a lot of time - are all incredibly valuable to any future career. I realised that diplomacy is a very interesting area to work on and that it instils a sense of leadership in you. MUN required a lot of research and it was tiring but it is all worth in the end. I was terrible at public speaking but after this conference, my fear has vanished and I am really proud of who I have become. I look forward in participating in more MUN conference.