Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement - SVYM

12/06/2024

UNSHACKLE THEIR DREAMS

It isn’t unusual to see a child wearing a school’s sports jersey and busy running an errand, taking an elephant for a bath, or working in the field in a village near Viveka Tribal Centre For Learning (VTCL) - SVYM’s tribal school. It is unusual to see them doing it during school time. Take the incident where a student had gone to work in the fields when our school staff visited his house. It was found that his father had met with an accident keeping him from going to work. Taking over, his son found it as his responsibility to look after the farm, thereby missing school for many days. Such cases are a reminder of the privileges many rural families don’t have, where the necessity of today often overshadows the promise of tomorrow. Sadly, this tug-of-war between labour and learning continues to be part of our widespread reality.

Amidst this backdrop, VTCL along with its students, parents and the tribal communities from where our students come, have worked together in ensuring a nearly 0% school dropout rate. This combined effort is to make sure that education is not a privilege but a right of every child.

Student dropouts often reflect the socio-economic challenges the indigenous people face. In tribal communities, many students as they come of age start working in the fields with their families, tending to lean towards work over education. We had seen this trend rise during the COVID-19. Engaging in farming or assisting in family businesses is crucial for their family's survival.

The school has worked out an approach to reduce dropout cases and it takes going beyond the four walls of the classroom. VTCL teachers visit the houses of students who are absent for over a week or have not returned after school vacation. Home visits help understand and address the reasons behind their absence. This proactive approach has kept VTCL’s dropout rate at bay, ensuring that given the circumstances children get enough support to continue and finish their schooling.

Over the years, our focus has also been to ensure our students continue their education after VTCL. Our partners like Nettur Technical Training Foundation NTTF, various Govt. Colleges and Titan Company Limited have supported this through admission into the colleges and financial support.
We must remember that with proper dedication and support, every child saved from child labour is a future preserved, a dream nurtured, and a step towards a better world.

As we observe World Day Against Child Labour, let’s all pledge not to shackle the future of the country in a cage called Child labour but to give them the means to fly and watch them soar high up in the sky!

05/06/2024

This World Environment Day, a young nature's child, a student from our tribal school, reminds us of what's at stake. Fashioning sunglasses he made using leaves, he reminds us of our innate connection with nature. This year's World Environment Day theme of “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience" focuses on the alarming rate at which we are losing our natural wealth. Let's join hands to revive our forests, safeguard our wetlands, protect the diversity of our flora and fauna, and ascertain that by restoring our natural wealth, tomorrow our children can cherish a connection with nature and not end up hearing about it in fairytales. Let's leave a positive impact of restoration, resilience, and hope for our future generations.

29/05/2024

Together for Palliative Care for all

SVYM’s Palliative Care Program and Mysore Medical College & Research Institute (MMCRI) held their 11th Steering Committee Meeting at MMCRI campus yesterday.

Members from the District Health & Family Welfare Office, Mysuru, MMCRI, PKTB Hospital, KR and Cheluvamba Hospital and SVYM Palliative Care Team participated in the meeting.

Also present at the meeting was a patient representative and our Palliative Care Program volunteers.

With the key agenda to collaborate further in making palliative care accessible and to expand the ecosystem of care for families in need of palliative care, members representing various departments extended their ideas and support. We hope to work together in support services like the family adoption program, more engagement of medical faculty and students though internship and certification programs and awareness & training of palliative care.

Our collaboration with MMCRI and PKTB Hospital began in August 2017. It was with their support, we could add a much needed component of institution based care to our existing home based Palliative Care Program.

In about 8 years this partnership has grown in strength and spirit and we are now serving families coming from neighbouring districts too. We have been successful in replicating this unique model of NGO, Govt. and community coming together in Hassan with Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences(HIMS) and in Dharwad with Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences(DIMHANS). In Bengaluru and Madikari, we’re in the process of collaborating with like minded institutions to reach more and more.

Presently, about 1800 families are being supported through our Palliative Care Program in all the locations and the program has touched the lives of over 6000 individuals ever since it started.

This has been possible due to the enormous support that we have received and continue to recieve from our partners, donors and well wishes. We are inspired by their spirit of Seva and we thank you all.

12/05/2024

Happy Mother's and Nurses Day. It isn't a coincidence that both days fell on the same day this year. You two can play both roles beautifully.

11/05/2024

A school without boundaries

Earlier this year, SVYM’s School Education Program (SEP) with Qualcomm commissioned a Skilling Lab for students in one of the Govt Schools engaged by the program in a small village Ugginakere in Dharwad.

Other than drawing the interest of students by introducing them to basic technology, this move aimed at challenging the norm that learning happens only within the walls of a school, strictly by the teachers and solely for the students.

With a majority of students coming from families that engage in farming activities, their parents have a practical knowledge of working with tools, electrical, plumbing and carpentry.

Engaging them as the teachers (resource person) to conduct classes at the Skilling Lab for their children is a paradigm shift. It changes the way the students, school and the community see learning, making education go beyond the school walls.

After the initial giggles and shy moments at a session conducted by one of the parents who was teaching carpentry,, the students engaged completely, taking turns to know the right technique to cut wood. The parent said “ I didn’t know how to use the safety gear, which glove goes for electrical and which one while working with the saw and I’m using them for the first time.” Teaching children, he learned a bit about the importance of safety too.

Interestingly, the same person contributed his skill and time to make the workshop tables placed at the Skilling Lab. This isn’t a first at Ugginakere Govt. School, the community has come forward putting the education of their children first by contributing in building school infrastructure, one gentleman has promised to sponsor the air travel of a student who tops the SSLC (10th exam).

During the inauguration of the Skilling Lab, the Head Master acknowledged the contribution of all the community members in front of Qualcomm leadership visiting the school, gesturing that the community is with them as equal partners in making rural education a reality.

This year, the theme for National Technology Day – School to Startups-Igniting Young Minds to Innovate. At Ugginakere School, we are happy to see that this theme manifests itself in its own unique way.

We thank Qualcomm India and all our partners in supporting education of students in rural govt schools.
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07/05/2024

Our track, our turf!

Students from our Viveka Tribal Centre for Learning (VTCL) come from indigenous tribal communities that live on the fringes of Bandipur Forest in Southern Karnataka. These tribes comprising Jenukuruba, Bettakuruba, Yarava, Soliga and Iruliga tribes have sustained on forest provides for generations, their everyday life involving climbing trees, enduring harsh weather and traversing long distances through hilly terrain, that on a track or turf, translate into exceptional abilities in sports like long distance running, high jump, long jump and discus throw. This is true for many tribal communities across India and there’s more and more attention towards identifying and nurturing talented tribal athletes early in their lives.

At VTCL, the effort towards nurturing these natural athletes to their potential aligns with our conviction in education being contextually relevant. Having an affinity towards sports and arts at the school comes from the tribal culture that deeply values physical and artistic abilities crucial for sustenance. Jenukuruba have had the reputation of being deft hunters and Bettakuruba excel in using bamboo for making baskets and tribal art.

Over the last 3 years, the school has built the infrastructure and ecosystem to support talented athletes at VTCL. Building an athletic track, gymnasium and an obstacle course at the school, bringing together a team of sports teachers with international exposure, conducting sports events that invite students from other rural schools are steps in this direction. Prathibha Anveshane, a unique sporting event organised at VTCL every year also offers admission to talented students who participate in it from other rural schools, creating an opportunity to nurture them into future athletes.

In 2023-24, VTCL students performed well at District and Taluk level sports events. 14 students qualified for district Level, 9 from high School and 5 from high primary school in discus throw, triple jump and long distance running. Sandhya J B, the school’s star athlete bagged first place in discus throw at district level in 2022-23.

It is a fact that development of tribal communities is more of a marathon than a sprint and we thank all our partners and well wishers who stride along with VTCL students, boosting their confidence and making the dream of being the first to cross the finish line tangible.

With your support, we hope VTCL becomes a springboard for tribal aspirations.
We thank our partners Titan Company Limited NGO, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, The Timken Company & CanFin Homes Ltd

Happy World Athletics Day.

30/04/2024

Humanly Possible: Immunization for All
World Immunisation Week saw our health facilitators, ASHA Workers, the mobile health units and our medical staff join hands to reach further than what's humanly possible, if it wasn't a team effort. Immunisation, awarness about vaccinations and focus on the health of pregnant women, infants and young children made the week a significant one.
Congratulations to all the staff members for making it a success.
We thank our partner Ashraya Hastha Trust for supporting us in taking care to the last mile.

25/04/2024

On 24th April 2024, a committee headed by Cmde R K Sharma, Inspecting Officer, Sainik School Society, Ministry of Defence, visited SVYM's VSOE Sainik School for annual inspection.

On arrival, the Inspecting Officer was received by Air Cmde R N Jayasimha, the Chairperson of the School Management Committee (SMC) of VSOE, Mr Praveen Kumar, Deputy CEO & Head - Education, SVYM, Mr Kumar, Director, VSOE and the Sainik School Staff. Col Amar Jeet Singh, Principal of Sainik School, Kodagu accompanied the Inspecting Officer.

The Annual Inspection Team reviewed the school facilities and visited the classrooms, labs, students dormitories, canteen and the toilets. They also visited the sports ground and the new infrastructure being constructed. Cmde Sharma said that the school is taking effort to build the requisite infrastructure towards better provision of facilities.

He addressed the cadets and appreciated them for their achievements. He shared anecdotes from his nearly three decade long illustrious career in the armed forces and engaged in a rapid fire round of questions from a curious lot of young cadets.

Earlier in February, VSOE Sainik School was ranked #1 among the New Sainik Schools for the month. The ranking is done monthly by the Sainik School Society, Ministry of Defence.

Thank you to the teachers, parents, the school management and our partners and well wishers supporting us in building the of our younger generation to become tomorrow's leaders.

15/04/2024

The mid-day meal adventure of Appiraj

Exams are over & holidays begin at our tribal school VTCL. Carrying trunk cases on their head, the children head home looking forward to delicious meals cooked by their mothers. Fish curry with rice tops the list for many and rightfully so, many of them come from fishing communities living on the bank of the vast Kabini Reservoir. Joining their father on a coracle (small round boats) to catch fish for lunch has been a ritual since childhood.

Here at VTCL, it’s a vegetarian menu throughout.
Nourishment through a balanced diet is vital for the overall physical development of children at VTCL. Including eggs, milk, millet and a variety of local produce some of which is grown at the school ensures the children get the right nourishment they need from a vegetarian diet.

The students do yearn for meat and the kitchen staff add condiments used by tribal communities to replicate mom flavours (now in sambar), hoping they are innovative enough to interest them.

But this was not always the case. This incident about a little boy Appiraj by Dr R Balasubramaniam captures a profound lesson in human development served as a story.

(Excerpt from Dr R Balu’s article)
Appiraj was a Jenukuruba child from Alanahalli, a distant tribal colony whom I first met more than 10 years ago at Hosahalli. Malathi had pointed this shy child to me and explained that he was proving to be a challenge to keep engaged in the classroom and outside. On one of my visits to Hosahalli, I found Malathi and all the other teachers flustered. It was just after lunch-time & they found Appiraj missing. The whole school went into a tizzy. Being situated on the fringes of the Bandipur National Park, one had to be anxious, as this was tiger & leopard territory. The whole campus was searched and one could still not find little Appiraj. As we were contemplating reaching out to the tribal colony that he came from, one of the cooks found him sleeping soundly in the room that housed the steam generator. Cooking in the school was done by using steam that was generated in a room just outside the kitchen complex. Appiraj was woken from his slumber and given a scolding for scaring all the teachers. As he was being sent to the classroom, I asked Malathi to find out what the child was doing in that room.

Appiraj narrated an extraordinary story. He told Malathi that he was tired of the ‘vegetarian’ fare that was dished out to him three times daily. He longed for some meat and knew that the school could not provide him with any. He only had himself and his Jenukuruba instincts to help him get some.
Full article at - https://lnkd.in/gy_nJAtG

We thank our partner Feeding India for supporting us in nourishing the ambitions of VTCL students. 278 VTCL students, out of which nearly half are girls, are supported by our partner Feeding India.
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11/04/2024

We wish you Eid Mubarak

09/04/2024

We wish you Happy Ugadi

25/03/2024

More ROOM for equitable education

Back in her middle school days, Deepika said she was interested in Mathematics and dancing. Now, pursuing B Sc in Mathematics at the Azim premji University, Bengaluru, she looks back to see what an amazing journey it has been.

Deepika happens to be the first in her family to go to a college to follow her interest in Mathematics. She says though her parents don’t exactly know what she’s studying, they feel proud. She says she wishes to try and explain it to them hoping they’ll be able to tell in case anyone asks.

Coming from Chhakodanahalli, a small village in H D Kote taluk of Mysore District, Deepika left her village for the first time for higher education. She took admission in SVYM’s Viveka Pre University College (VPUC) batch 2021-23. First time in a hostel and away from her family, Deepika said it was tough in the beginning, but making new friends, attending lectures and experiencing a new life in the campus made it the best and the most wonderful time of her life. She said “I found the environment safe, I could spend more quality time studying. I liked the teachers because they’d spend their full time with us like our family members and moreover like friends to us. It was during the festival times when I missed my family.”

Speaking about her future plan, Deepika’s next ambition is to do her M. Sc from an IIT. She looks up to other VSP alumni who have made it to IIT making her dream more tangible.

Like Deepika, many students aspiring to pursue science come to VPUC from small villages and towns from over 10 different districts of Karnataka. A majority of students are selected through SVYM’s Viveka Scholar Program, a scholarship program for meritorious students coming from economically humble families. In the last three years, 700+ students have received scholarships for pursuing higher education out of which 624 are girls.

It has been possible to reach deserving students from the farthest corners of the state to come and study at VPUC because of the hostel facility. The hostel can accommodate 240 students and is built with the contribution of many like minded partners - together creating more ROOM for equitable education.

We thank our partner Fanuc India Private Limited for supporting the construction of 2 dormitories with a capacity to accommodate 24 students and furthering our common vision of equitable quality education for all.

21/03/2024

From plate to slate - A page from our tribal school’s story

(An extract from Dr R Balu’s article on rbalu.com )
“Our school in the small, rehabilitated cowshed at Brahmagiri would see little tribal children coming from nearby tribal hamlets. This adventure with the 28 children started looking more like a school after we got a black board and some books. To make things complete, Lalitha also acquired a cane to hold onto. I wasn’t sure whether she held it to demonstrate authority (these children did need taming, though) or kept it more as a matter of practice. She was herding goats in Kodagu before she came to Brahmagiri. I never found out and thankfully, it seemed as though the whole place did have an academic flavour to it.
And then the monsoons arrived. It rained so heavily that the school could not function for days at a stretch. The small cowshed did not have the wherewithal to provide adequate protection. After about 10 days of the school being closed, a delegation of parents and children came up to me. I was thrilled on seeing them. For once, I thought the theorists had been proved wrong! Even the poor do value education and schooling! They came to me and demanded an explanation for shutting down the school. Selli (mother of Ramesh, who now works as a Ophthalmic Assistant in our Saragur Hospital) was the leader and the most vocal. I tried telling her that the roof did not provide any protection and we could not teach in such an environment. She spontaneously asked if the kitchen in my small living quarters was closed because it rained. For a moment I could not figure out what she meant. I asked her what the connection between the rain and the kitchen was. After some time, it occurred to me that these children had got used to the regular afternoon meals in the school and had started demanding food from their mothers after the school got closed. The parents had now come to protest. It dawned on me that our school was not about the ‘slate’, but it was still about the ‘plate’. This harsh realization of poverty was indeed an eye opener to me and served to sustain my motivation in making sure that the school never really shut down after that. It is a matter of pride that we have never stopped serving meals since that day, irrespective of our financial situation.”
(for full story visit - https://rbalu.com/32-and-vtcl-got-its-first-building/)
To date, it is a matter of pride for us at SVYM to have partners who continue to extend their support in nourishing a dream and playing the motherly role of being ‘annapoorna’ to 560+ children studying at Viveka Tribal Centre for Learning. We salute each one of them.
Nutrition through balanced diets is vital for building the of children studying at VTCL. We thank our partner for supporting us in nourishing the ambitions of VTCL students.
278 VTCL students, out of which nearly half are girls, are supported by our partner FFeeding India

14/03/2024

The bell rings loud....

The tolling of the bell at today to celebrate the first five listings on the Social Stock Exchange has a melodious ring that reaches far. For us, it resonates with the clarion call Swami Vivekananda made to every citizen to focus their collective energies towards Nation Building. In this case, participate as pioneers on a new platform - the Social Stock Exchange.

There’s a lot that makes this moment special for us. Like the fact that we achieved 100% of our funding target within 3 days of the issue opening date, made possible by 43 investors (we like to call them partners) who subscribed to our ZPZC to support equitable education of 75 students at our tribal school - Viveka Tribal Center for Learning. Almost all of them went out of their way to learn the nitty gritties, the new process and the fine font instructions. A big thank you to all.

We feel inspired that our conviction in building the of our younger generation by investing in them is not ours alone. It is share by many.

We thank NSE, BSE, SEBI and our partners Galactico(Book Running Lead Manager), Bigshare Services Pvt Ltd (RTA), HDFC Bank (Banker), MSSV & Co (Statutory Auditor) and CS Shruti Setty (Company Secretary) for their support.

Thank you to Zerodha A.T.E. Chandra Foundation NSE India BSEIndia SEBI

(in the pic - Smt Savitha Sulugodu, SVYM's CEO along with Dr R Balasubramaniam, Founder SVYM and Chairman SSE Advisory Committee, Smt Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairman, SEBI and several distinguished dignitaries.)

09/03/2024

We're listed on Social Stock Exchange

It is upon all of us to come together and make Social Stock Exchange a success and see its potential as an instrument for national development. Smt Savitha Sulugodu, SVYM's CEO speaks about SSE and about our first ZCZP Bond for our tribal school - Viveka Tribal Centre for Learning.

To learn more and subscribe visit - https://svym.org/sse

07/02/2024

A step towards achieving our vision of ethical, rational and cost effective health care, SVYM signed an MoU with the Dept of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Karnataka to pilot the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in the state in three districts in a launch event held in Mysuru on 6th Feb 2024.

Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare, GoK launched the microsites in the presence of other esteemed dignitaries.

Initially, Mysuru, Belagavi and Udupi have been chosen as the microsites where the program is going to be implemented. Our joint efforts with private medical establishments across these districts will pave the way for implementing ABDM.

Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) has been chosen as the Field Interface Agency (FIA) for the program. SVYM's existing presence in all districts of the state through EMTCT (Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV) and its strong rapport with the health care systems at the grassroots will play a part in achieving the project's objectives. SVYM will deploy people on-ground to visit every private clinic, lab, pharmacy, and small hospital, working one-on-one with these health facilities.

We are happy to partner with the Govt. of Karnataka and National Health Authority in implementing Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

Government of Karnataka

20/01/2024

An opportunity for passionate teachers to join our Sainik School

If you passionate about teaching and shaping the future of our nation, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

We are looking for qualified and dedicated teachers to join the Sainik School section of our Viveka School of Excellence in Saragur, Mysuru District, Karnataka State. This is a residential school that provides quality education and holistic development to rural children.

VSOE Sainik School is recognised by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India and is the only the Sainik School run by a NGO in the state of Karnataka.

To apply for this position, please visit our website page -

https://svym.org/program/vivekasainikschool/

To register for the recruitment process, please fill out this Google form

https://forms.gle/JgvK7nYGKpEyJSD16

Don’t miss this chance to make a difference in the lives of young learners. Apply today and spread the word! 🙏🏼

19/01/2024

Nurturing Youth

Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) started the Viveka School of Excellence (VSOE) in 2002, to provide quality education to underprivileged and rural communities at an affordable cost.

From being the first and the only CBSE school in that region (a radius of about 50 km), VSOE evolved into a demo site for holistic education and the alumni of the school are studying in reputable institutions across the country like AIIMS, IISC, IITs, etc. and are now entering their professional careers in diverse fields.

Always striving to take the aspirations of the community further, from seeking recognition from NIOS, to State Board, to CBSE to a Sainik School in 2022, VSOE was recognised by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It is one of the 18 schools in India and the only such school in Karnataka that is run by an NGO.

We aspire to demonstrate a model of a rural, community-driven Sainik School. The option to reserve up to 60% of seats for the local communities is an opportunity to achieve this goal. Currently, 100 students (6th & 7th std) are studying at the Sainik School. These students come from 9 states of India in addition to the local community.

A Sainik School is aimed at creating future leaders who will contribute to society in all walks of life in addition to a few of them aspiring to serve in the armed forces.

The curriculum of the Sainik School is in alignment with the development paradigm of the organization i.e. developing human and social capital to build a resurgent India. The holistic approach to education focuses on the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of the
Students.

The short video captures the spirit of VSOE Sainik School aspirong to nurture youth that Swami Vivekananda spoke of needed to build a resurgent India

https://youtu.be/vvuO-Uc_LTE?si=vzpusDW_gCUPGAgm

Viveka School of Excellence (VSOE), Saragur, Mysuru DistrictSwami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) started the Viveka School of Excellence (VSOE) in 2002, t...

12/01/2024

Join us today at 4 pm for the final session of Viveka Manthan - a series on Swami Vivekananda with Dr. (Ft Lt) M A Balasubramanya, one of the founding members and pillars of SVYM since its birth. Dr MAB will speak about Swami Vivekananda as an eternal source of inspiration.
Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/99569560959?pwd=MEVjZHBxTjZIV2Z3bndXa3RrT3JRZz09

Meeting ID: 995 6956 0959
Passcode: viveka

08/01/2024

Join us for an insightful and inspiring Online Series - Viveka Manthan on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda's 161st Birth Anniversary. The topics of this lecture series are wieved on the "3H" philosophy of Swami Vivekananda - Head to think, Hands to work and Heart to feel. Our esteemed speakers would shed light on different aspects of Swami Vivekananda's life and his teachings and how they interpret his message in their own way in today's context.

Today's Topic: Viveka Manthana
Time: Jan 8 to Jan 12 2024 04:00 PM India

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99569560959?pwd=MEVjZHBxTjZIV2Z3bndXa3RrT3JRZz09

Meeting ID: 995 6956 0959
Passcode: viveka