Greetings from Jhamtse Gatsal! I hope you are well. As for me, how could I be anything but well when my heart, mind, and body are finally in the same place and a smile never leaves my face :)
I am reintegrated into the Community after my quarantine and a year of being away. Besides receiving countless hugs from bright and bubbly young ones as well as many of the older children who have overshot me (much to my dismay), I have seen the Community grow in its day-to-day responsibilities and operations! Today, there are many collaborations being nurtured to give our remotely-located children exposure and opportunities to connect with their peers nationally or internationally—be it creative arts, sports, waste management, social-emotional learning, or coding to enhance learning.
The outcomes from the weeklong Action Learning workshop with Art Sparks that two of our Elementary School teachers, Minoti S. and Padmini M., participated in is one such story. Seeing the children explore their creative side, build their vocabulary, and become comfortable sharing their work with their peers while experiencing pure joy are some of the valuable upshots from the workshop. We hope you enjoy the children's artwork and Minoti's reflection on her experience of applying her learning with the children.
As I enjoy these moments of joy at Jhamtse Gatsal, my heart fills with a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for you and for all that your generosity enables at the Garden of Love and Compassion. Today, thanks to your unwavering support, Jhamtse Gatsal is not only preparing children in its care to create the future they deserve, but it is also becoming a beacon of hope and inspiration at the regional and state level. This is what YOU make possible. Please be safe and well. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.
Vasudha Wanchoo
Managing Director
Jhamtse Gatsal Children's Community
Two of our Elementary School school teachers, Minoti S. And Padmini M., took part in a 6-day training to integrate art into the learning curriculum conducted by Art Sparks. The workshop focused on teaching problem solving, observational skills, and collaboration through art. They are now implementing these action-based lesson plans with their children.
Integrating art with the curriculum and getting children interested in science through art is challenging but equally rewarding. One particular module I explored with the kids is learning about animals and storytelling through art. At the beginning of the class, I found it challenging to manage the class as primary school children are sometimes reluctant to share their work, especially when it is creative work. But as the children got used to creating art pieces as a part of the class and sharing that with the rest of their classmates, I found the children becoming more engaged and enthusiastic about it.
