Two years running Shishukunj and still going strong!
On the 15th September 2005 Shishukunj opened it’s south London Kendra. Two years on and the group have just celebrated their two year anniversary and are still going strong.
Shishukunj is a children’s charity who’s aim is the cultural development of children. What this means is they aim to teach children not subjects (geography) or just skills (musical talents etc.) though they do cultivate these things, but underlying everything they do they try and grow the moral fibre of the children they work with. One of the ways they do this is through charity. For example, they have many connections with charities in India and Africa and are active in their support of the feeding and education of children abroad. What they do however is encourage the charity work to be child led.
They believe by allowing the children to be the leaders in the charity work, it helps to cultivate charity and generosity in the minds and hearts of the children doing it – and I have seen this in action. Like a muscle that is un-exercised, not being generous withers the generosity in your nature. I know this sounds all a little ‘hug a tree hippy’ – but it is actually true.
On a charity trip to India, a group of parents realized the powerful effect that instilling these idea’s to the young could have, and so they decided that Shishukunj should be available to not just children living in north London, but those living in the south as well. Hansa and Kaushik Shelat with Shantibhai and Pravinbhai Shah led the setting up of the Sunday group, dealing with the many difficulties that come with that – paper work, insurance, finding a venue – finding the children!
Chirag Gorasia said he was ‘honored’ to be the first “Kendra Knight” or group leader. Still a student at the time of his appointment, he gained as much from being leader and working to organize as the children did from attending. This is one of the key things about Shishukunj, they believe that the workers learn and grow as much as the children do. Having attended the 2nd year celebrations, I think that they may well be right.
What I saw was a group of excited, enthusiastic children who instead of sitting at home alone in front of the television were outside playing physical games. They were interacting, learning social skills, working their minds and their bodies… and more than all off these things – they were having FUN! I have never seen a group that was so caring of each other whilst playing. In amongst the group was a special needs child who spent his time wondering between them in his own world. In most cases I would have thought having someone do this would be disruptive. Far from it! The children all kept focus on tasks and central games and when he would come over they would look after him and even try and help him join in as best they could!
This is a very special group of children, and they will grow up to be uniquely positive in their attitude towards the world.
SHISHUKNJ CHILDREN CELEBRATE 2 YEARS OF RUNNING
Programs for the rest of the year include a multitude of activities and games including drama, improvisation, music and musical games are going to be a big part of the first term, stories and languages.
