Throw it right.

Zero Waste University is the new buzz in campus. Parivartan, the waste management club, part of the Department of Botany, in association with Centre for Social Action has initiated a waste management project in the campus aiming to make Christites aware of the importance of the three Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. Different coloured dustbins have been placed in the various food joints on campus. The whole programme aims to reduce waste by segregating recyclable, non-recyclable waste, and reusing the former. The recyclable waste is further segragated into organic and in-organic waste. The organic waste will be composted whereas the other waste, like plastic, pet bottles, and metal are sold for further process. The money obtained from these sales are utilised in the CSA project area of Rajendranagar where the waste management programme was introduced. Paper which is collected through this process is recycled at the paper recycling unit in the campus itself.

The success of this programme depends entirely on the sense of responsibility taken and the awareness shown by Christites in segregating waste themselves by throwing it in the right dustbins. Labels have been placed on these bins explaning what goes where.

Waste less, and if you have to throw something, then, throw it in the right bin

Another year begins..

Another academic year begins tomorrow (5th of June), and Centre for Social Action will be back in action.

Meanwhile, our ‘Norwegian’ friends – Vineet, Sharat, Afreen, and Vandana – are back, and are excitedly waiting for the year to start.

All the best

Congratulations to our Best Volunteers!

Hello The CSA Best Volunteers for the year 2008-2009 were announced on March 4th, University Day.

We would like to congratulate Swathi A S (II EPS) and  Bharat Natarajan (III EPS) for being recepients of this prestigious honour.

CONGRATS GUYS! KEEP UP THE AWESOME WORK!

Gracias ‘09

A thanksgiving performance by the children of Rajendranagar who are sponsored by Christ University students, staff, and other individuals. Featuring dances, a play, and songs, all brought to you with hearts full of gratitude, in a moment of warm happiness.

Please make it, if you can. Its from 12 PM to 1 PM on Friday, 6th March 2009, in the Christ University Main Auditorium. Feel free to bring along guests, or anyone you would want to watch the programme.

Your presence would be very much appreciated, and would be an awesome encouragement for these budding talents, and future leaders of our nation.

Gracias '09 Poster

Gracias '09 Invite

 

If you are a social networking fan, please show up at the Gracias ‘09 Facebook event : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=67765577641

As talents took the stage…

Standing next to the pandal erected on the Dharmaram Grounds (adjacent to Christ University campus), we heard a whirring of a bus, and a much cheerful shout. The shout was magnified by the seventy voices that echoed it. “Happy New Year!!!!” it said. It was one of the most cheering and motivating sounds that we heard on that beautiful morning. It lent an finality to the last minute preparations we were making. It also gave us a short sence of achievemet, and anticipation. It had begun…

 

:)

The kids from Rajendranagar were here. It was January the 11th, Sunday. It was the Activity Centre Talent Show day.

As they walked from the bus to the pandal, they kept shouting cheerful “Happy New Year”s to everyone they happened to meet. Along with an often stated “Hello aunty” or “Hello didi” or “Hello uncle” or “Hello sir” when they met a familiar face, whom they recognised from the daily tuitions. Their faces were lit with joy, confidence, and anticipation, as they walked into the pandal and occupied the seats, smiling in that heavenly way only kids can!

:)

Talent Show is an annual even of CSA Activity Centre, through which the sponsored children from Rajendranagar could express their talent, creativity, and eagerness to participate, encouraging confidence, and the development of a healthy competition spirit.

Pretty soon, the second trip of kids arrived. And then the competitions began! It started off with the Just a Minute competitions, where the kids had to deliver a one minute extempore on a given topic. The children were divided into senior and junior sections. Pretty soon, drawing and story writing competitions started off. With art being blended into the arena where confidently delivered speeches were commanding applauses, the event jumped into main gear, with all the kids occupied with some activity or the other.

 

Drawing competition

It was amazing to yet again break out of a lot of preconcieved stereotypes. Seeing these kids perform, hearing their ambitions, and listening to their thoughts profound, makes one wonder about the reservoirs of talent, which was left relatively neglected due to circumstance, fate, and stigma.

The Quiz competition proved to be quite a handful, both for the kids, as well as the organisers, as the students started competing fiercly to conquer every question thrown to them by the volunteers. Pretty soon, it was lunch time, and we had a pretty good lunch together. Meanwhile, preparations for the Fancy Dress and Group Dance competitions were going on. After many a discussion, small games, and casual talk, we returned to the next event – Fancy Dress. Doctor, teacher, nurse, and many many more roles were adorned by the kids, while the rest of us applauded and encouraged them on.

 

Fancy Dress

After the Fancy Dress, Group Song competitions were held. And finally came the much awaited Group Dance event. Nine teams put up admirable, attractive and colourful performances, enthralling even a few among the audience to dance along at the back of the venue. In between the dances, the MCs for the day, Suresh and Pandu, did a brilliant job of keeping the kids occupied, and making sure that they had a wonderful time. And soon, it was time for the prize distribution.

 

Dance

Sadly, in accord with the oft quoted cliched, yet meaningful words, every good thing must come to an end, the 2009 edition of Activity Centre Talent Show also came to conclude. As we waved goodbye to the kids in the bus, and as many a them called out and traded handshakes with someone they’d gotten close with, our minds and hearts were filled with joy, that we were able to make an awesome day for a hundred and thirty kids, that we had a great day, that we had succeeded in what we had set out to do. That joy was, of course, mingled with a wee bit sadness, that it had come to an end so soon.

A big pat on the back and thanks to all the CSA volunteers, staff, and Christ University staff who made things happen the way it did. A huge sense of gratitude for our prayers well answered.

“A really great talent finds its happiness in execution.” 

                        - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

PICTURE GALLERY

:)

:)

Drawing competition

Fancy Dress

Dance

JAM

Viva La Human Rights Defenders!!!

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience, and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.“

                                   — Article 1 of the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights,1948.

The above quote marked what can be called the first official confirmation, or rather confession, by the then leaders of our world that yes, things were indeed going wrong with this world of ours and yes, something would have to be done about it. 

December 3rd to December 10th, is officially celebrated as the Human Rights Week by individuals, organizations,and institutions all over the world, and we, the folks at the Center for Social Action (CSA), Christ University endeavored to be a part of this stupendous global effort in our own small way.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, CSA organized a day long seminar on Human Rights Defenders, on December 15th 2008. The seminar was attended by a number of students and human rights activists (defenders!) . The speakers at the seminar were social activists working in different parts of India,every single one of them veterans in the fight for human rights.

They touched on a wide variety of issues, ranging from the atrocities committed in the North East, to the obstacles faced by human rights defenders. For example, Ms Rosemary Dsuvichu, a senior lecturer of English at Nagaland University and is also a member of the National Commission for Women,spoke on the deteriorating situation in the North east. She highlighted the blatant manner in which the army was using the Armed Forces Act to violate human rights in The Land of Seven Sisters .

Another tour-de-force speaker was Mr Henri Tiphagne from Peoples Watch, Madurai, who gave an highly insightful talk on the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, highlighting the primary points of the Declaration.

The words of the speakers opened whole new vistas for their listeners, as they were led through reams of enriching words and experiences. It was clear that all the speakers were speaking with considerable feeling, because when it came to protecting human rights , all of them were right in the thick of things.

All in all, the seminar was a really enriching and eye-opening experience for the attendees. It was amply clear that the task of protecting human rights is no joke, and is to undertaken only by those with a spine of steel. To clarify, let me cite the example of Mr Vittal Hegde,who works to better the lot of the rural community of Karnataka. He stated at the seminar that at any given moment, he is shadowed by over fifty plainclothes policemen. Phew ! Talk about having a tough job!

After listening to the experiences of the Human Rights Defenders, I feel it prudent to raise a toast to them and their wonderful work. Hence….

VIVA LA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS!!!!

 

Written by Vivek Kuruvilla Thomas

The Magic of TRANCE

With a flourish, and a rising disco ball, he appeared out of thin air in a glass case. Passing through clouds of white smoke, he tranced out of the glass case, and voila, the magic began! Gopinath Muthukad and his crew delved through the realms of magic, art, dance and drama, to enthrall the audience thronging the Christ University Main Auditorium on December 3rd, 2008, marking the first event of the Trance as a grand success. The magician performed several awe inducing tricks and feats, hypnotising the crowd with his illusions.

 

Muthukad at Christ University

 

 

From disappearing acts, to cine magic, Muthukad and team had the audience’s complete attention for the duration of two whole hours. Trance had also organised a free performance of same show earlier during the day for the sponsored children of Rajendranagar, a few children from nearby orphanages, and Christ Pre University College students. It was quite a joy to see our sponsored children departing the venue with huge smiles on their faces!

 

Muthukad with his amazing body partition stunt

 

 

And the feedback we’ve been receiving could not be better! Most of the people who saw the show are full of appreciation for Muthukad, and the cause of CSA.

And it doesnt just end there… Yet another event awaits as part of  TRANCE – dance and illusions for a cause. On December 13th again at Christ University Auditorium, at 6:30PM, we present before you Maya Ravan - an enthralling dance drama performance of the epic Ramayana, retold from Ravana’s perspective, starring Padmashree Shobana and ensemble.

 

Tickets for the second event are selling like hot cakes, and looks like we can very well expect a full house! Get your tickets NOW! Enquire with Mr Bino (988666 0734). Only balcony tickets are available, priced at Rs 100/-.

Meanwhile, on a much more serious note, we at CSA request you to join us for a minute’s silence as an expression of solidarity, against the recent Mumbai terror attacks. Let us unite. Thank you.

More Details on ‘Trance’

Well here are the finer details for Trance – as mentioned in the previous post, ‘World of Illusions’ is on December 3rd and ‘Maya Ravan’ is on the  13th. Both shows start at 6:30 PM and will be held at the Christ University auditorium.

The tickets are priced at Rs. 600, admit two for both performances; Rs. 300, admit one for both performances; Rs. 150, admit one for one show and Rs. 100, the balcony pass which will admit one for one performance.

For tickets or more information on anything else, feel free to contact us at Centre for Social Action, Christ University or give us a call at 080 40129116 or 080 40129117 anytime between 9.30am and 8.00pm. If you’re a Christite, you can approach any CSA volunteer. You can even mail us at csa@christuniversity.in.

Trance!!!

Holidays boring the pants off you? Well heres something to look forward to – ‘Trance’, a fund-raising event that promises to be really good.

December 3rd and 13th are red letter days for Christ University and the CSA. Two prominent artistes are giving their best performances just for us. Gopinath Muthukad, the world renowned magician and Padmashri Shobana will be performing in the Christ University auditorium in two seperate shows. While magician Muthukad takes you through his ‘World of Illusions’ on the 3rd of December, Shobana will capture your hearts with her stunning musical ‘Maya ravan’ on the 13th.

Gopinath Muthukad is widely acclaimed for his magic shows that more often than not support a worthy cause. His show- World of illusions- is a blend of magic, music, dance, drama and cinema. And this is not just any regular magic show. Oh no, as a first hand witness of his magic, I have got to say that he is exceptionally skilled. These aren’t just your regular card tricks and gambles with luck. Muthukad has alwas stood out for his deft and daring stunts, classy performances and breathtaking magic shows. He has performed internationally and his shows have been received with the same enthusiasm everywhere. His fans include former president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Shobana is no stranger to royalty either. She has performed in front of the King and Queen of Malaysia. Her breathtaking beauty and stunning dance compositions have earned her name and fame internationally. Today, Shobana and dance have become synonymous. She has enthralled people world over with her grace and spirit. Hailing from a family of dancers, she has made her mark in Indian cinema and dance. For ‘Trance’, Shobana is performing ‘Maya Ravan’, a musical that takes on a new view of the epic, with Ravana as the protagonist. Her show on the 13th of December is a definite to-die-for event.

There is no question of anyone missing out on these two fabulous shows. So get your tickets early on (its just one ticket for both performances) and help out a good cause all the while preparing yourself for a ‘magical’ ride with two internationally celebrated artistes!

So whats happening?

So whats happening? Its been a long time since the CSA blog has been updated. So we thought we would put in a small “Whats up!”.

A quick review on the events that occured in the past couple of weeks -

• Street Theatre finished composing their new play on Global Warming, and put up around 10 shows, in college, Raheja Arcade, and National Games Village.
• Activity Centre held their semester Health Camp last Saturday.
• Samveditha has been planning on activities for the next semester.
• Publications has been working for the We Care magazine… You can still write in <csa.wecare@gmail.com> We’re offering a cash prize of Rs 750 for the best 2 articles to come in!
• We visited an NGO called Concerned for Working Children (http://www.workingchild.org) which turned out to be a huge place. We’re planning more visits to there. We had a very good discussion on street children, and how children themselves could be the answer to children’s problems, and how Right to Participation was taken up by NGOs.
• New volunteers from the MSW Dept have joined CSA, and are proving to be very useful inputs to CSA!
• Our friends in Norway are doing great =) Experiencing the wonderful cold Norwegian climate and thriving on bread
• The staff is busy charting out upcoming events for the next semester.

Today was officially the last student activities day in CSA for the semester. The last working day for the college is tomorrow.

We had a short general meeting today to evaluate our progress during this semester. Everyone is looking forward to the next semester, when we have a few programmes, including a small fundraiser, and a couple of workshops/seminars, planned We’ve also got a lot of new ideas coming in!

So looking forward to a very active even semester, this is the CSA Publications team signing off

Peace!