DOON SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME 2018
On the morning of 4th October 2018, six eager students of grade 7 and their teacher, Ms. Kunjan Patel set out on a remarkable journey to participate in the LEADERSHIP programme hosted by the Doon School.
They were accommodated at a Hotel on the evening of their arrival. They attended the Headmaster’s Dinner at the Doon School campus - its massive gates, antique gazebos, verdant fields and infrastructure was impressive! They mingled with many students from across India who all came from different walks of life but shared similar goals and aspirations.
The next day, after a breakfast at the hotel followed by a visit to the Doon School the students boarded their buses and headed to Maldevta Farms a scenic campsite in Maldevta village, nestled in the foothills of the Himalaya. All the participant delegates were allotted tents and divided into teams through classic ‘camp energizers’. Their team skills were put into practice as they decided on their group names and war cries. The adrenaline rush within the kids sparked up as they undertook the tranquil trek through the village into the crags of the Sulphur caves infested with bats and frog.
In the evening, the Sambhav Manch Parivaar, a group of talented actors, performed to highlight the various social issues like – ‘BETI BACHAO, BETI PADHAO’ and ‘CLEANING UP THE HOLY GANGES’. The performance being very emotional made an impact on the delegates and set them thinking.
The following day, the delegates geared up for Rock climbing, Rappelling and ‘Slithering’ (bungee jumping). Every one of them stepped out of their comfort zones and were very anxious while ascending the mountain. Once they reached the top and witnessed the panoramic view from the vantage point, they were completely mesmerized with the sound of the stream bubbling, the icy sedimentary rocks and the exotic flora and fauna. they didn’t want to descend! Subsequent to the adventure activities, they engaged in meaningful discussions understanding how every person in a group is a leader and must get themselves actively involved. Activities like making a perfect square with a piece of rope while being blindfolded engaged everyone in the role of a leader!
Next they were taken on a night trek where they hiked up a small rolling hill and saw various species of insects like spiders and earthworms. The guide told them about the spooky village folklore and a mysterious story about a man who sat under a tree infested with bats! The treasure hunt around the entire village was a thriller! The students waded through streams, climbed over rusty bridges, learnt to read a compass and ensured that the team bonded together!
The highlight of the day was the cultural evening with each school performed a skit, song or a dance that depicted the quality of leadership. The DAIS delegation performed a skit to portray the lives of two people who became leaders through their thoughts and actions - Lakshmi Sehgal (Freedom fighter- Azad Hind Fauj) and Afroze Shah (Environmentalist – Clean the Beach drive). Everyone thoroughly enjoyed grooving to old and new music with their newfound friends!
This entire trip was an eye opener, for the delegates who came back enriched with new ideas and perspectives towards life. They made many close companions and cherished the irreplaceable memories made in the land of the mighty mountains! Their learning for life.
‘A LEADER IS ONE WHO KNOWS THE WAY, GOES THE WAY AND SHOWS THE WAY!’
Reflections:
“I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT I GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STEP OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND NOW I AM SO AWARE OF THE WORLD AROUND ME. I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THE MEMORIES I MADE AND THE LESSONS I LEARNT WILL REMAIN ETCHED IN MY HEART FOREVER.”
- PRANAAYA JHAVERI
“LIFE IS LIKE A FERRIS WHEEL, PEOPLE KEEP GETTING ON AND OFF, BUT IT IS ONLY THE MEMORIES THAT MATTER.’ I MADE SO MANY FRIENDS AND SO MANY MOMENTS INTO PRECIOUS MEMORIES WHICH I WILL NEVER FORGET”
- AANYA KHANCHANDANI
“WE WERE TAUGHT VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS THROUGH ACTIVITIES, GAMES AND DISCUSSIONS. THESE LESSONS, MEMORIES AND NEW FRIENDS WILL STAY WITH ME FOREVER AND I WILL ALWAYS FEEL HONOURED THAT I WAS CHOSEN TO EXPERIENCE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY.”
- NIKITA PARERA
“ALL MEMORIES WITH MY NEW FRIENDS AND THE WAY I CHALLENGED MYSELF DURING THIS TRIP WILL ALWAYS STAY AT THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART”
- VANSH BHATIA
“I LEARNT HOW TO LIVE OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE, RESPECT ALL AND THAT OUTDOORS ARE AS MUCH FUN AS LEARNING INDOORS”
- ARHAAN DESAI
“I LEARNT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A LEADER AND THE QUALITIES ESSENTIAL TO A LEADER. I FACED MANY CHALLENGING EXPERIENCES DURING THE ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES WHICH MADE THE PROGRAMME MORE ENJOYABLE”
- RUHAAN MAHINDRU
Student Delegates : Pranaaya Jhaveri, Aanya Khanchandani, Nikita Parera, Ruhaan Mahindru, Vansh Bhatia and Arhaan Desai.
Teacher Delegate : Ms. Kunjan Patel
- Compiled by Pranaaya Jhaveri