Australian students complete internship with ‘Bhavishya-Yaan’ at G.K. Marg School

As the Bhavishya-Yaan classes reopened on June 15, the Rotary Club of Bombay welcomed Mackenzie Edgington and Chanel Hayes, two students from the University of Western Sydney, Australia. The girls interned with the Bhavishya-Yaan programme at the G.K. Marg Municipal School. Their keen interest in teaching and easy interaction with students resulted in an invaluable cross-cultural exchange. They were committed to the task at hand and their friendly disposition put the children at ease from the first day. Hosting them was a pleasure for the Bhavishya- Yaan Committee. Included below is a comprehensive report by the interns.

The Interns’ Report SINCE June 22 this year, the Rotary Club of Bombay has provided us with the opportunity to teach students at the G.K. Marg School in both computers and English classes. This is part of the Australian government’s Colombo Plan, an initiative to strengthen economic and social ties between Australia and countries in the Asia- Pacific region through exchange and internship.

The partnership between the Rotary Club and the University of Western Sydney has allowed us to experience India like nothing else. With our experience coming to an end, it’s hard to believe that we will be leaving the teachers and children who have been a major part of our lives for the past month. In this rapidly globalising world, children have to be equipped with the skills, confidence and desire to manage their future. The classroom activities we arranged catered to their age group and allowed the children to have fun with the English language. By building their confidence, we introduced a tangible and kinaesthetic mode of learning.

In our initial days at the school we worked with the students of Class V to IX and showed them videos from home that illustrated our lifestyle. We explored Australian wildlife, the native Aboriginals, sports, landmarks, food, beaches and coral reefs. We also discussed and examined the value of the Australian and Indian currencies; the students were encouraged to ask questions about their use. We helped the younger ones, who were just learning the basics of English, by sounding out two and threeletter words and constructing simple sentences. As part of their monthly project, we did an in-depth study of water, teaching the children about the water cycle, the uses of water and waterborne diseases.

The Rotary volunteers and the “Vidya” teachers were vital to our connection with them. In our second week, we taught students the lyrics of two iconic Australian songs and explained their historical and cultural significance. We also played spelling and speaking games, allowing the children to recite as many English words as they knew and use them in comprehensive sentences. The teachers helped us to facilitate competitive team games where the students were challenged to use their English within a time frame and under pressure. In the third week we created lessons for the students to adopt the traditional, indigenous Australian style of “dot painting”. After introducing them to boomerangs, which they thoroughly enjoyed, they painted their own boomerangs in the “dot painting” style, creating a significant crosscultural understanding of Australian history.

We explored western ideas of cuisine and etiquette when it came to eating food, allowing the children a hands-on experience of how to use a knife and a fork. In computers, we helped the children create email IDs, providing them with a vital connection platform for the Australian students complete internship with ‘Bhavishya-Yaan’ at G.K. Marg School future. The children were eager to connect with one another. The computer teachers at the school explained the importance of online safety and confidentiality. The Rotary Club of Bombay invited us to one of their weekly meetings at the Taj Mahal Hotel. This provided a great opportunity to connect with the Rotarians and discuss the work we have been doing. It was a great opportunity to listen to the guest speaker and meet with the President, the Bhavishya-Yaan Committee and other members. None of this could have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Rotary volunteer Rotaryann Asha Shah, the “Vidya” teachers (Vinanti, Jigna and Batul) and the Infotrooper teachers (Dipali and Bhushan).

We must also mention the hard work put in by Rotaryann Ekta Shah, the school coordinator who was travelling but monitored our progress and activities from overseas. Working with them, we had the most incredible experience with the students and the culture of India. We have loved every minute working here and hope that we have assisted the learning of these students in a meaningful way. This initiative is incredible and we feel honoured to have been given this opportunity.

– Mackenzie Edgington and Chanel Hayes