RAVICHANDRAN RANGASAMY
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Name: RAVICHANDRAN RANGASAMY
Organization: SHANTI ASHRAM
Location: INDIA
Please explain how you have implemented the Learning to Live Together Programme, including the adaptation of its conceptual framework, approach, learning process, methodologies and activities. (600 words)
In 2009 I attended ethics education for youth. Then participated in training of trainers workshop at Shanti Ashram, India in 2010. After that am co-facilitating with my facilitators on various workshop for children from various schools around Coimbatore. After that attended capacity building workshop for facilitators during 2011 and advanced course on the use of LTLT manual for ethics education for children during 2012.
I have started to implement LTLT manual since 2010 onwards on many workshops for children and youth. Initially first I started to implement in workshops for school children from various schools, religious backgrounds in and around Coimbatore city. Later that I used LTLT Manual on workshops for school and college students from various society, families, NGO staffs, teachers from Bala Shanti Kendra, government & private school s, and from colleges.
The framework we set to build capacities through ethics education by using LTLT Manual. Initially we have inter religious prayer and getting to know each other with the help of activities in LTLT manual. Then we focus on the ethical values; respect, empathy, responsibility and reconciliation in following modules Understanding self and others, transforming the world together. Then we provide opportunities for them to learn more about child rights and responsibilities, identification keys needs of challenges that met through ethics education.
We approach by setting framework to build relationship between everyone on positive relationship in all possible ways, to reach goals, to input activities, to know the outcomes and impacts or results. Children and youth involved learning on life based ethics and values and practiced. Initially many children and youth motivated and they explore their feelings, information and ideas. Then shared their experience from various points of view and understand the important cause and discussed in their group. This is the main resource to use with the children and youth for delivering and provide all important needed information to understand different cultural, religious, and social contexts.
Later on facilitated to 50 children from various places around Coimbatore for monitoring and evaluation process in long term process . Concentrated on utilizing time in a good manner to motivate and to bring everyone together . Step by step I get experience by the learning process. Children get time for discussion and share their feelings and information, having dialogues between them on the subject and to understand and getting ideas on challenges facing by them. Then we provide time for reflection to assess their values and to find the results.
I used all five learning modules according to the group to bring up their experiences on sharing, ability to work with others, to understand problem and brings creativity, discuss and find various root maps for solutions, to identify and respect other feelings and inner thoughts. According to the module we set setup the activity for the workshop. My Life Tree and reach for the stars activity is mostly used one and liked by participants for acknowledge myself in relation to others on understanding self and others. Personal experience sharing, storytelling, your silhouette is mine, diminishing islands, field visits, Silent journey, ball in air and role plays are the most frequently used activities where participants actively involved.
Explain how the implemented program has been sensitive to the local context. (400 words)
The diversity in India is unique. Here we have varieties of culture patterns , speaking various language belongs to living place and community, mixing of religious and economical backgrounds living in one city. Hence almost more ever in every workshops the participants are mixed from various backgrounds.
We Created safe learning environment to the participants, way to understand self and others through activities. Initially some of the participants had shy on communicating with others and after the workshop we saw the changes on them towards positive relation with one and another.
Children and youth learn about the ethical values as to respect other and by putting another’s shoes, listen on others shares and ideas with full empathy , brings responsibility and leads to reconciliation. Participants shows positive attitude towards respecting other religious beliefs and cultures. Then reflect on spirituality and ethical dimensions of poverty and violence against them, got opportunity to discuss and identify the practical solutions for the problems and challenges facing by them.
Participants involved with enjoyment on ice breaking activities for refreshing and interested on sharing their own experience and understanding self and others. Then have dialogues among them regarding the subject and discussed about various problems facing by them and others. All activities in manual is made easy and free tool for the workshops. Children and youth known their rights and responsibilities , learn how to increase their physical, mental, social, spiritual and moral development. Participants involved and front over on ice breakers with full enthusiasm.
How has the implemented program fostered interfaith and/or intercultural learning among participating children and young people? (400 words)
The Children and young people participated in interfaith visit and intercultural learning through journey for unity, Peace festivals, Covai Vizha. Participants went to various worship places such as Temples, Churches, mosques, Basadi or Jain temples, Gurdwara and they are involved with full enthusiasm. During the interfaith visit participants had time for clarify their doubts and discuss with religious leaders about their tradition they follow regarding Culture and religion. There they got opportunity to know about other religious beliefs and contexts and identified the uniqueness of each religion and culture.
Always we start with the interfaith prayer during LTLT sessions, Peace festival and on other various programs. Here the children and young people stands for religious prayer and some children got opportunity to present various religious worship songs on the stage. From the stage performance we came to know that some of the children and young people practicing worship in 5 and above different religious prayers.
Participants exchange/shared their religious thoughts and contexts on their religious and cultural practices. During the workshop some the participants came to know that spirituality and religion are not the same and they differ. The traditional changes and own personality behaviour are the barriers for family and social environment problems.
The children and young people shows their interest on intercultural programs, interfaith visits, to meet various religious group of families near the cities and they had meal with families. Children and youth shared/exchanged their lunch boxes to one another called as interfaith lunch during workshops , this experienced new learning for them.
How has the Learning to Live Together Programme influenced a positive transformation in you, in a personal and professional level. (400 words)
After attending the basic facilitator training I knew that there was some changes in my inner feelings to know more on ethical decision making, how to listen and communicate with others. Whenever there was meeting or program/ event regarding LTLT Programme, I tried to attend without fail and support as co-facilitator for the workshops. Later that attending the advanced training course brings motivation to facilitate and work together with facilitators in many workshops.
I strengthen my capacity to relationship between individuals and with others , tried to understand and respect peoples from other religions and cultures , this positive attitude on me is to bring peace in myself. After attending LTLT Programme I came to understand that Spirituality and religion are not the same. LTLT outcomes my spiritual thoughts to love , respect, control over feelings and emotions for universal brotherhood. I understood that we can be part of solution rather than be part of the problem.
Monitoring and evaluation session helps me to asses basic needs, analyse situation, to react and solve the problem according to the situation . During the workshops with the Children and youth induced Self-Motivation, adaptability to work with others, developed my knowledge on decision making and manage conflicts. When I facilitated to workshop on various places which develops my flexibility to work with others and organize my commitments. Developed my creativity, Situational thinking and think on various dimensions to make ethical decisions.
Please explain how you exemplify a strong role-model of the principles of Learning to Live Together. (400 words)
Initially I thought why we have work with children and youth regarding ethics. After some period I learned by Monitoring and evaluation process with the children during Solution exchange lab. I learned and strengthen my capacity on ethical values, teaching and facilitation skills. I came to know when and where want to utilize my our opportunity, how to execute our opportunity. I got opportunity to work with children and facilitated Solution exchange lab for a year continuously with my team. Which brings positive relationship between the children and me, we exchanged ideas and thoughts, had practices on living together with the people from different thoughts,religions and cultures
I gave training on ethical values to the children and young people by respect and responsibility. I showed my commitment during workshop without fail of presentation. Where we work with clear sense of what is important to children and youth and implemented by putting forth the effort to improve. This created new things which makes new differences among facilitators and participants.
We the part of monitoring on how young people develop the skills, abilities, and motivation to bring live together in an peaceful way. These inspired by the children to achieve their potential in life and built capacity to develop something in the future.
Please provide further information on how you initiated, implemented and sustained the programs based on the LTLT, and how you have mobilized necessary support from stakeholders. (600 words)
ince 2010 onwards, came to work with children and youth on regarding learning to live together. Initially I work with Shanti Ashram team in and around Coimbatore. Then facilitated in many workshops for Children and youth group from Government and private schools, universities, colleges and in other NGO’s from Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring states. Since 2010, during the Coimbatore Peace festival we have ethics education workshop for children. On Every child matters (DPAC) 2009-10 and in 2011 we organized every child has right to life and hope.
For me the most initiative project is Solution Exchange Lab for children 2014-15. There are 50 children between the age group 12 to 17 and each one from various schools visited regularly once in every month. Learned about ethics and values, trained on intercultural and interfaith activities. Then monitoring and evaluation Session brings various Solutions for the children facing problem, the solutions were by the children as solution exchange lab members. Children involved in Learning Log, here children from government schools learn English and got opportunity asses their values and attitudes. In 2016 I facilitated ethics education workshop to teachers and families in and around my city.
Myself Pre-planned and managed time lag between the programs in all possible ways and facilitated more than 30 LTLT workshops. We engaged institutions and stake holders with positive attitude and friendly approach. We Communicate on regular basis and call upon on major events for appreciation. Children and youth shows their talent and leadership qualities in programs and brings trust on them. Learning to Live Together brings trust on Self identification, how we have positive relationship between others and to learn about interfaith and intercultural activities.
