Dear friends,
The New Year is just around the corner, but at Shanti Bhavan there are still plenty of exciting things going on! Here are two stories, written by our very our own children, about their trip to Mercedes Benz and the celebrations for Diwali. We hope you enjoy.
In this Newsletter:
Diwali Celebration in Shanti Bhavan
A Visit to Mercedes-Benz
Diwali Celebration in Shanti Bhavan
“Boom! Bam!” I thought I was going to turn deaf. Who cared? It was Diwali after all!
Everyone was so excited from the moment we woke up. It was a holiday and we slept in. For breakfast we had idlis and…I’d rather skip the day’s events and head straight to the celebrations at night!
We were all ready for the evening’s show. Unfortunately it started drizzling so we had the cultural program, organized by the children, in the assembly hall instead of having it outside in the dining hall like last year. There was so much fun watching children of different ages dancing to music from Tamil folk dance to Chris Brown’s ‘Kiss Kiss.’
After the program was over, we had a quick dinner of vegetable pulav and got ready for the most awaited part of the day. Everyone gathered on the lawn outside the dining hall as the grown-ups distributed the different kinds of sparklers and crackers.
Screams of excitement filled the air! The smaller kids lighted their sparklers, while the older ones preferred the crackers and missiles. Night turned into day, as darkness was replaced by the light from all the crackers. It was such a joy to watch the kindergartners who are new to the school light their first Diwali sparklers and scream with delight as they whirled it before them. Seeing their excitement reminded me of my first Diwali night long ago in Shanti Bhavan when the loud sounds and lights scared me.As I stood next to my friends, turning a sparkler, I realized that this was going to be my last Diwali at school before graduation, and my classmates and I were ready to make the most of it.Unlike me, those who were adventurous lit crackers and sent rockets into the sky. I stepped back to see them fly into the distance and burst into different colors. We had so much fun!I wished the night would last forever. It was a very special day for me because this festival of lights had brought teachers, aunties, children, the graduates, volunteers, and the support staff together. It was a day I will always cherish in my heart.
“Whatever you do in life, do it with passion”
A Visit to Mercedes-Benz Research and Development Center India
The 11th and 12th graders experienced a memorable visit to Mercedes-Benz Research and Development Center, India (MBRDI) in Bangalore on the 7th of November 2011, along with our Vice-Principal, Miss. Beena, and our On-Site Administrator, Miss. Rahil.
The two-hour drive from Shanti Bhavan early in the morning didn’t bother us as we sang along to the music, often yelling with excitement and waving to people randomly on the streets. Upon reaching MBRDI we were immediately greeted by two representatives, Miss. Sarika, the Executive Assistant, and Mr. Ravi, Data Protection Coordinator for Information Security, who led us to their offices on the fifth floor. All 24 of us were required to check in and wear our visitor badges which made us feel important.
We hurriedly ate our sandwiches for breakfast and read the agenda planned for the day which looked like we were going to have a fantastic time.
Dr. Reinhold Klass conducted our first session of the day, briefly introducing the company and its objectives, followed by several other sessions on topics ranging from the ethics of hacking to application of electronics in today’s business. During lunch break, some of the boys engaged in a conversation with Mr. Ravi about hacking and information security for Mercedes, while the rest of us interacted with other employees about their experiences at the company.
Throughout the course of the day, many other representatives from Mercedes presented several topics of great interest. At 11:30 am, we moved to Pine Valley, a corporate hub for other large companies like Yahoo, Microsoft and McAfee, where Mr. Anshuman Awasthi used a PowerPoint presentation on the craft of simulation in the field of automobile industry. We were impressed to learn how important simulation is in order to prevent accidents and defects even before the making of the final product. We listened attentively and did not want to miss a word. We couldn’t help but notice the expression on our Vice-Principal’s face that read, “Only if they were this attentive in their classes!”
Time passed quickly. The sessions ended and the most awaited part of the day arrived — a ride in a Mercedes car! From the moment we had seen it mentioned on the agenda, it had been a challenge to control our excitement. We packed ourselves in batches in a great car and the driver was instructed to take us for a ride within the beautiful campus. During the ride, he showed us the different features of the car.
It was the smoothest ride ever in a vehicle! It felt like we were in a busy world and somebody had just pressed the mute button. The features exhibited in the car were unforgettable, especially the quietness inside the car. It was truly an opportunity to reflect on this moment and be thankful for the experience of a lifetime!
After the ride, we had a final presentation by Mr. Satish Sundaresan who spoke from his personal experience about a day in the life of an electrical engineer. His message, “Whatever you do in life, do it with passion,” stuck with us as we entered the gates of Shanti Bhavan and immersed ourselves in sharing our experience with the younger children who were longing to one day visit the world of cars.
– written by the 11th and 12th Grade
Help Our Mission Succeed:
These stories are only possible through your continued support. Each dollar makes a difference. Each dollar changes a child’s life. Its through donations like your own that the children of Shanti Bhavan are provided a home, clothing, medical care, food and a great education. Join us now and be part of something amazing. Donate now and help a child break the cycle of poverty.
Thank you,
The Shanti Bhavan Team
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