New Year Celebration at Anand Mission

Most of us like the idea of being socially responsible.  Most of us respect our neighbors.  Most of us care about the other guy.  The reality is that this is much easier to do in good times than it is in tough times.  How can those of us in project and program management be highly socially responsible in these tough times? 

Our projects affect many stakeholders.  We typically focus on the immediate stakeholders, such as those that will benefit from an application, those that will use a building, those that are financing a project, and the like.  Being socially responsible usually involves extending the range of our identified stakeholders to include the public at large, and perhaps the less fortunate in society.  These extended stakeholder communities are important whether we are in the midst of good times or bad times. How do we cater to them?

With all these challenge is mind we arrived at a conclusion to take up supporting an Orphanage. Swami Vivekananda has said “Give me 40 young men; I can change the face of the world”. Children have the power to make or break the future of the society. Their well-being directly reflects upon the society’s well being at large. We decided to do what best we can in their healthy up bringing for them to act as strong pillars of our society.

Apart from a considerate heart one also needs the money to help the orphanage. Moreover a socially responsible project apart from the beneficiaries should strive to involve the community at large. Hence we came up with the idea of a paper collection drive to collect funds and use them to support the orphanage on an ongoing basis. 

A happy kid is a healthy kid. In addition to the significant material contribution we also decided to spread smiles on the eve of the New Year 2012. We celebrated the New Year day with the kids with various competitions and sweets. Changing the face of the orphanage entirely may not be possible at this stage, yet we have made a significant positive impact not just on their lives but also made the XIMB community sensitive to the needs of the needy children.

Leia Mais…

Institute Day Celebration

Any institute or organization has mainly three levels of management i.e. top-level management, middle-level management and lower-level management. Each level forming an important and integral part of the organisation but as it has been rightly said that people at the bottom are the wheels of the organization who toil day in day out for smooth functioning of an organization. So we came up with a novel idea of celebrating our 24^th Institute day with all the people who forms the foundation of our institute.

We had organised a talent hunt competition for mess workers, maintenance workers and security personals. Faculties were also invited to be a part of such a novel initiative. We experienced active participation and gave a platform to them to showcase their talent. The enthusiasm was high among the audience and cheering from them helped the participants to overcome their stage fear and perform to their utmost capabilities.

Our Chief Guest for the event was Sri Balukrushna. Balukrushna sir lost the power of sight but was gifted the power of music and vocals. Sir performed for us with harmonium and mesmerised us with his melodious voice. He just didn’t came and mesmerised us with his melodious voice but also inspired us that goals can be achieved irrespective of what obstacles and difficulties came to your way, it’s just you need to be determined by heart and relentlessly work towards achieving your set goals. He left but there are four lines which we would like to dedicate him and thank him for teaching us how to value things in life.

Nigaho mein manzil thi,
gire aur gir kar sambhalte rahe,
hawao ne bahut koshish ki,
magar chirag aandhiyo mein bhi jalte rahe.

            
The event was not just about celebrating institute day but it was a vote of thanks to all the people who have been a part of XIMB and helped it to grow to the heights where it is right now. We hope to continue this in the coming years and see to it that each and every stakeholder of XIMB is equally important and see to it that we all grow together to achieve our and institute’s desired goals.

Leia Mais…

World's AIDS Day Mini Marathon, "Getting down to zero": 1st Dec 2011

December 1 is observed as Worlds AIDS Day. On this day we reaffirm our stand as a global community to do away with the pandemic of AIDS that is caused by the HIV virus. A team of SRC members made their way to Ekamra Haat where Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) was conducting a Mini Marathon to raise awareness about the pandemic AIDS and the 2011 theme of "Getting to Zero". 

Donning pristine white T-shirts and caps provided by OSACS, we were joined by students from various educational institutions, men, women and kids affected by AIDS, bisexuals and other curious onlookers. Armed with placards and banners, we took the winding route from Ram Mandir to Jaydev Vihar. The fervent enthusiasm of all those who were part of the Mini Marathon was palpable. 

Our friends suited up in ballooned condom outfits drew quite a few snickers from the onlookers, but they were truly successful in breaking the taboo of all talk related to sex was a social no-no. In all we can call the Mini Marathon to be a major success in terms of the turnout of masses and being able to communicate effectively the fact that AIDS is one hydra-headed monster that calls for our joint effort to decapitate it once and for all!

Leia Mais…

World's AIDS Day: 1st Dec 2011, "Getting down to zero"

AIDS, being such a dreadful disease which has taken the lives of 25 million people in the world, has to be fought against tooth and nail collectively by the human race. The year 2011 marked the vision of "Getting down to zero" which means zero discrimination towards AIDS affected patients and bringing down newly infected HIV patients to zero. SRC in collaboration with GFATM and Concern Worldwide successfully organised AIDS day in XIMB. As our part, SRC made its contribution by conducting an event to spread awareness  in the adjacent slum area. 

                                                                                                                                      

A poster competition was conducted on the theme "Getting to Zero" in XIMB. It was open to all XIMB and NISWAS (NGO) students. The  response from the students alongwith their creative designs was extremely heartening. In the competition,the team comprising of 'Praptasha and Purbasha' clinched the  first place and the team of 'Deepti Panwar & Jayita Das' came second. 

First Prize 

As a new initiative, on AIDS day we  decided to conduct the event in a slum area  so as to reach out to a segment most vulnerable to the disease. This time we zeroed in on a place nearby XIMB, i.e 'Salia-sahi'. The event was kickstarted with a wonderful skit by NISWAS. Their theme was on ‘How to deal with an AIDS patient and how to get zero discrimination for AIDS patients’. 

After that we had a small briefing session by some counselors from OSACS and some volunteers from NISWAS. Next, the team from XIMB performed  a skit with the help of X-stage on the theme ‘Women empowerment to fight against AIDS’. Following that, there was a small video in Oriya on AIDS awareness played on a projector to make the audience perceive and understand better about AIDS and its after effects.

Finally the event drew to a close with the thanks giving vote and distribution of mementos to NISWAS and XIMB representatives by Nithin Gopinadh. The event turned out to be a huge success as was evident in the large turn up from the localities, NISWAS students and XIMB students. We  hope that our event has made an impact in the minds of those people, cleared their notions about AIDS and will definitely play a defining role in the achievement of "Getting down to zero".

Leia Mais…

Children's Day at Harsha Memorial

"The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children"

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

(German Protestant theologian & anti-Nazi activist (1906 - 1945))

The reasons for happiness are not in the great deeds accomplished but in the little joys shared; and the joys are doubled if shared with children those are special. The trip to Harsha Memorial School on the children’s day narrates one such event.

It was the time to bring smiles, to bring something new and most importantly a change in the life of the little hearts that could not express, that could not ask for and could not demand, yet beautifully portray the various strands of life in  their exceptionally striking art and crafts. The creative instincts in the kids were brought down in various forms of collages, abstract paintings, paintings depicting emotions, and leadership qualities.

The time spent with the kids was much more than painting and collage competition. We laughed, talked, shared and cared for each other and the time spent showed the true essence of life. It indeed was an amazing time!

On a personal note, cannot stop thinking to visit HARSHA MEMORIAL again!

Leia Mais…

Diwali Celebration @ Sneh (26th Nov 2011)

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most symbolic festivals of India. It symbolizes the glory of light and the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated with pomp and show over the length and breadth of the country. Candles, Diyas and crackers ,all light up the atmosphere on this day. In a more contemporary context, the festival helps in promoting warmth, brotherhood and a sense of unity in the lives of the people.

The Social Responsibility Cell (SRC) of XIMB, took up the initiative to celebrate this joyous occasion with the not so privileged sections of the society. The entire team celebrated Diwali with the children at Sneh, an orphanage in Salia Sahi.We had a wonderful time with the kids there, who were overwhelmed with joy and happiness while celebrating with all of us. The smile and glow which we saw on their faces was of the purest form.

The team also distributed sweets and crackers among them. The kids sang melodious and beautiful songs for all of us. They danced on some popular numbers with our entire team. The hidden talent the kids possessed was a revelation of sorts. We also sang and danced with them and experienced true joy and happiness.

Despite their impoverished conditions, the innocence in their faces, the contentment and happiness was a lesson in itself for all of us. In a world driven by greed, anger, hatred, selfishness and corruption, these kids represented the dying human virtues of love, kindness, respect, sharing, camaraderie and goodwill.

It’s high time we all realise that the true triumph of “Good” over “Evil” is complete eradication of poverty, child labour and illiteracy so that these little underprivileged children can make merry and enjoy the festivities with childhood joys.The youth of India is bubbling with energy and we all should work towards channelizing our resources that facilitate economic growth, so that the festive spirit of Diwali is able to enlighten and bring happiness into the lives of all these people.

Leia Mais…