Social Capital

Motivation Camp for Aspiration Project Staff

By

Vivekananda Kendra - Nardep

Aspiration project

From August 16 – 18, 2019 Motivation camp for Aspiration project staff from Rameswaram

was held at Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari.

25 staff members from

Gandhigram Trust, Hand in

Hand, Karuna Trust

participated.

Following aspects were covered

in the training

1) Traditional Physical

exercises which aim at inner

sustainability and outer

physical health

2) Breathing exercises to

streamline and maintain inner

equilibrium

3) Group entertainment

activities designed to

foster team spirit

4) Lectures, self-

analysis that tune the

intellect to sharpen the

inner self- evaluation

5) Deep and healthy

Relaxation through light

exercises, games etc at

very deep level.

Participants receiving the training kit

Inauguration by lighting the lamps

Specialities of the Venue:

Technical Resource Centre,

Anjaneyapuram,

Vivekananda Kendra

NARDEP, Kanyakumari

was a perfect place for

Development Exposure of

Vivekananda Kendra

NARDEP Activities. Rain

water harvesting structure

cum lotus pond with

Anjaneya at the front. The

entire camp was built up of Low cost building structures, different types of Bio gas plant

production centre, Ferro cement technology and Azolla Cultivation demo inside the venue.

Venue is filled up with full of plantations. It was like we are in a lush green forest area.

Participants loved spending time in front of the pond after the class. There were number of

horticultural trees and artefacts all adding up to the forest pilgrimage effect and boosts the inner

sustainability.

1. Yoga Composes the blissfulness of body and mind

If a mind is to be motivated both our body and mind has to be in tune. Vivekananda Kendra is

known for its expertise in yoga and Shri.Ramakrishnan, Director, Vivekananda Kendra

NARDEP conducted the yoga session on all the three days. It contained four parts

• Loosening Exercises – To make the body ready for yoga

• Simple Asanas – To make the body fit

• Pranayama – To correct the breathing pattern

• Shavasana – To reenergize your body and mind

2. Inspiring Lectures

2.1 Vivekananda Story

Shri.Hanumantha Rao, Treasurer,

Vivekananda Kendra shared the inspiring

story of Swami Vivekananda on both August

16 and August 17, 2019. The compilation and

narration was from the heart and everybody

felt that they lived the life of Swami

Vivekananda. Especially the turbulence of

Swami vivekananda during the bharat yatra

and his achievement of consciousness when he

did the tapas in Kanyakumari and later on his

successful Europe trip was a true inspiration to all the participants

2.2 Development Worker

Shri.Krishnamoorthy, fondly called as

Annaji delivered a lecture on Development

Worker tamil titled as Thondan. His

narration of the characteristics of

Development Worker, interface with worker

and supervisor and leader, do’s and don’ts

during the interaction with the people for

whom we serve, Purpose of living etc. It is

related to what the participants do as work

hence relating to this session is a real joy. With Annaji’s lucid language adding up the

attraction.

2.3 Development - the concept

Dr.Madhankumar, DHAN Foundation took a session on Development – The Concept. It’s more

of an interactive session and he made every participant to speak on their visualization on

Development. Then he submerged the participants with his experience on making people move

out of poverty.

2.4 Vivekananda Kendra’s model of development

Shri.Ramakrishnan, Director, Vivekananda Kendra NARDEP did a presentation on the various

development activities taken by Vivekananda Kendra NARDEP ie. Low cost construction,

Azolla cultivation, Bio gas plant, Vermi wash, Ferro cement technology, Home based organic

pesticides and plant boosters’ production, NPK technology, Terrace Garden, Kitchen Garden

and Herbal Garden

2.5 Health in Day to day Life

Dr.Ganapathi Velu, Siddha Doctor took

a session on the final day about how to

maintain our health in day to day life.

Simple tips on maintaining our health

were shared. Participants have thrown a

lot of questions on the topic and he

patiently answered.

3.Group Entertainment activities

3.1 Group Games

Several mind refreshing group games were played on all three days. Everybody was longing

for this session to come. Mostly this session was handled by Shri.Ramakrishna, Director,

Vivekananda Kendra NARDEP. This was prominently done during the night assembly

3.2 Singing Songs

Development songs with lot of exotic

tunes were taught to the participants

during the day time. Participants were also

given a book on these songs for reference

along with the kit. Songs were taught by

Shri.Ramakrishnan, Director,

Vivekananda Kendra NARDEP and Sister

Saraswathy, Vivekananda Kendra

NARDEP.

3.3 Inspiring Dramas

Participants were divided into four groups and

they were given stories for enactment the next day.

They have done the drama enactment in the stage

with the contributions from each participants. Its

one of the group exercise the participants enjoyed

it lot.

4.Exposure visits

J.C.Bose Nursery – 16th August, 2019

Various agricultural technologies

Beautiful terrace garden – visit on 16th August, 2019

Visit to land’s end – Kanyakumari – 18th August, 2019

A memorable visit to Vivekananda Rock Memorial – 18th August, 2019

A unique Ramayan Darshan – 18th August, 2019

In the concluding session

Shri.A.Balakrishnan, Vice president,

Vivekananda Kendra advised the

participants about the spirituality in

work, life and culture and he further

welcomed all the participants to

Kanyakumari at any time to rejuvenate

yourself in the Vivekananda Kendra

Culture. Experience sharing by the

participants complimented the efforts of

Vivekananda Kendra NARDEP team.

Participants returned back with

1. Loads of Inspiration

2. Fine-tuned

3. Memories of rejuvenating night assembly

4. Learning from the Lectures of experienced and dedicated workers

5. Rejoicing venue

6. Soothing exposure visits

Group photo with Shri.A.Balakrishnan, Vice President, Vivekananda Kendra

Launch of Hello Rameswaram

Green Rameswaram project has started a help line initiative to support pilgrims on the occasion

of Universal Brotherhood day – 11th September (1893) the day Swami Vivekananda addressed

the Parliament of Religions at Chicago.

Please contact 18001020623 for any details related to Rameswaram such as (i) Lodging and

board (ii) Pilgrim places (iii) Tarpanam services (iv) Transport services (v) Special Pooja

facilities etc.