Mission 1000 is 2016 semi-finalist at Project Inspire

Mission 1000 is 2016 semi-finalist at Project Inspire the multi-award-winning initiative presents 18-35-year-olds worldwide with an opportunity to win a US$25,000 grant to assist an existing organisation which supports women and girls in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East or Africa.

Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World is a joint initiative from the Singapore Committee for UN Women and MasterCard, to help young change-makers create a better world for women and girls in Asia and the Pacific.

Launched in 2011, to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day and the 25th anniversary of MasterCard Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, Project Inspire presents 18-35 year olds with a five-minute platform to pitch their inspired idea, for the chance to win a US$25,000 grant. Today, Project Inspire is a multi-award winning initiative, and one of the most high profile CSR programs in the Asia Pacific region.

Project Inspire 2016 will take on the theme of ‘Empowering Women Through Safety and Security’. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate how their ideas harness safety and security concepts to empower women throughout Asia and the Pacific.

Up to 20 top problem solvers will be picked to progress to a crowdfunding stage of the competition as semi-finalists, where they stand the chance to secure additional funding and a wild-card ticket to Singapore as a finalist.

Mission 1000 is 2016 semi-finalist at Project Inspire. Our project is among the 20 top problem solvers.

Established in 2014, Mission 1000 is a project that empowers women by aiming to teach self-defense skills to 1000 young girls, at no cost to them, every financial year. We are now holding workshops, which are led by the founder Anand Koti. Every workshop is now able to teach 50 young girls. Koti, who has a 2 black dan belt in Karate and a green belt in Kobudo, trains these girls to kick, punch and block assaults from sexual attackers. He also teaches them to meditate and how to develop a calmer and more focused disposition.

Learning self-defense skills at a young age gives these girls the confidence they need to interact in India’s society at a later age. Self-defense skills will open up avenues of self-development by providing India’s women with a safety net to make crucial life decisions.

Equipped with the knowledge to protect themselves, young girls will be more likely to consider studying independently in India’s cities or to set up a business that requires them to venture beyond their comfort zone. Girls that have attended these workshops immediately demonstrate greater self-confidence and have also been found to spread this knowledge to their own female network of family and friends. By teaching a young girl how to defend herself, Mission 1000 will be protecting her larger female network.

By equipping each child with self-defense skills, Mission 1000 hopes to tackle the sexual abuse, which include harassment, assault and rape, against women in India. As Mission 1000 believes in providing free-of-charge self-defense workshops, this programme largely relies on donated funds. 

Mission 1000 is focusing its efforts on Mahadji Shinde High School in Pune, where almost 300 girls have learnt self-defense skills. These Mission 1000 workshops target batches of 50-60 female students from the 8^th to 11^th grade. Taught by the founder of Colorss Foundation himself, Anand Koti, the students have been learning several skills on how to punch, kick and block assaults. Each child has also left each session with a boost in her stamina, self-esteem and confidence. 

Mission 1000 makes a difference to the lives of these young women. Those who have completed the Mission 1000 workshops express gratitude in learning self-defense. Some have even taught these skills to their own family members. The daily fear of being harassed is now a thing of the past for many of these young women, who are now more confident in interacting with society. 

Please help us protect these young women by helping us sustain these Mission 1000 workshops. Be part of the Mission 1000 movement by reaching out to us at emailcolorss@gmail.com or visit our website to give securely at http://colorss.org/donate/. 

By Asyura Salleh

'Do Good, Feel Good' initiative

Anand Koti runs a "Do Good, Feel Good" initiative, where 40% of the proceeds from the self-defense workshops are directed to help the efforts of the Colorss Foundation where the under-priveliged females, both young and old, are trained for Free in self-defense. If you wish to see Koti's LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandkoti

Eve-teasing, undesired stares, men lurking in dark allies..these are some of the everyday fears that women in India have to live with. With 19 years of martial arts practice and another nine years of experience in training others, Koti has made it his mission to protect women by teaching them self-defense. We are happy to get the support from Koti. You can have a look at their website www.anandkoti.com and their social media accounts: - www.facebook.com/anandkotidotcom | www.twitter.com/anandkoti | www.instagram.com/anandkoti for more information. 

To keep yourself updated with latest Health and Fitness related topics and to learn more about Ergonomics read their blog as and when you get time. https://anandkotiblog.wordpress.com

Koti, is leading Mission 1000 project which is one of the promising projects at Colorss Foundation, Mission 1000 is focused on training young girls and women in self-defense techniques. Mission 1000 aims to reach out to at least 1000 underprivileged women and girls every year. By equipping each child with self-defense skills, Mission 1000 hopes to tackle the sexual abuse, which include harassment, assault and rape, against women in India. As Mission 1000 believes in providing free-of-charge self-defense workshops, this programme largely relies on donated funds.

Taught by the founder of Colorss himself, Anand Koti, the students have been learning several skills on how to punch, kick and block assaults. Each child has also left each session with a boost in her stamina, self-esteem and confidence.

Mission 1000 makes a difference to the lives of these young women. Those who have completed the Mission 1000 workshops express gratitude in learning self-defense. Some have even taught these skills to their own family members. The daily fear of being harassed is now a thing of the past for many of these young women, who are now more confident in interacting with society. Students undergoing Mission 1000 workshops will leave with a certificate and a new set of skills that they can use to protect themselves and their future. Along with learning kicks, punches, blocks and self-defense techniques the girls also enjoy meditation, which is also the part of the workshop. Meditation has helped the girls release stress.

For Love,

What we are up to : MORE GIRLS LEARN SELF-DEFENSE IN MISSION 1000

WHAT WE ARE UP TO

28 December 2015

MORE GIRLS LEARN SELF-DEFENSE IN MISSION 1000

Colorss Foundation is currently running a workshop to train young girls in self-defense techniques. This effort falls in line with Mission 1000’s aim, which is to transform the lives of at least 1000 underprivileged women and children every year. 

By equipping each child with self-defense skills, Mission 1000 hopes to tackle the sexual abuse, which include harassment, assault and rape, against women in India. As Mission 1000 believes in providing free-of-charge self-defense workshops, this programme largely relies on donated funds. 

Mission 1000 is focusing its efforts on Mahadji Shinde High School in Pune, where almost 300 girls are now learning self-defense skills. These Mission 1000 workshops target batches of 80-60 female students from the 8^th to 11^th grade. Taught by the founder of Colorss Foundation himself, Anand Koti, the students have been learning several skills on how to punch, kick and block assaults. Each child has also left each session with a boost in her stamina, self-esteem and confidence. Mission 1000 hopes to complete this workshop by the end of the first week of February 2016, before setting sights on teaching self-defense skills to students of the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial School next.

Mission 1000 makes a difference to the lives of these young women. Those who have completed the Mission 1000 workshops express gratitude in learning self-defense. Some have even taught these skills to their own family members. The daily fear of being harassed is now a thing of the past for many of these young women, who are now more confident in interacting with society. Students undergoing Mission 1000 workshops will leave with a certificate and a new set of skills that they can use to protect themselves and their future. 

Please help us protect these young women by helping us sustain these Mission 1000 workshops. Be part of the Mission 1000 movement by reaching out to us at emailcolorss@gmail.com or visit our website to give securely at http://colorss.org/donate/. 

By Asyura Salleh

Project Enhance has been named Re-imagine Learning Challenge Pacesetter #Play2Learn

#Play2Learn #changemaker #projectenhance #colorss #pune #baroda

The LEGO Foundation - RE-iMagine Learning Challenge #Play2Learn  

Project Enhance has been named Re-imagine Learning Challenge Pacesetter #Play2Learn for its effort to transform the way the world learns. In the face of critical and complex challenges, we believe that children and young people need to better develop creativity, imaginative problem-solving, teamwork, empathy, and inspiration so they can step into leadership roles in pursuit of purpose. Project Enhance joins a global network of groundbreaking projects that are making this dream a reality.

Anand Koti, founder of Colorss with more than 15 years of martial arts training, a second-degree black belt in Karate, and a passion for using his talent to help others reach their potential has come up with this project.

            Project Enhance uses a combination of sports (Martial Arts - Karate) and creative arts as vehicles to promote both the physical and mental well-being of underprivileged children in India. Good mental health is not just the absence of a mental disorder; it is a state of well-being where an individual feels confident and ready to cope with the stresses that life sometimes presents.

            In India, young girls are viewed as inconsequential, often ignored, or even harassed and molested. Project Enhance aims to empower young girls and boost their self-confidence through a blend of karate and creative arts in hopes that they can one day become educated, productive, and active members in their communities and society. 

Self-defense workshops for women and girls are extension of this project.

#socialchange #projectimpact #projectenhance

Objectives:

-          Empower young girls

-          Promote  mental and physical health

-          Foster a sense trust, cooperation, confidence, and community

-          Encourage values of discipline and responsibility

Students undergoing self-defense techniques under project enhance.. Demonstrating the techniques with our volunteer/inter Neha Shaw (Symbiosis Law School, Pune)

  

How Can Martial Arts Help?

            The art of karate involves integrating the mind and body to condition the physique and enhance self-awareness. When the muscles and brain act in perfect unison, a sense of discipline, mindfulness, and serenity are set in play. Thus, learning to control each movement in a fluid and adaptable fashion produces benefits that outlast practice sessions. Research has shown that karate is associated with positive changes in mood, as well as reductions in anxiety and depression.

Sensi Pervez Mistry, the father of modern martial arts in India, noted: “Karate is generally perceived as a destructive sport. This is a misconception. In fact, the reverse is true. With karate, we can work towards improving health. A willingness and desire to be a better person is developed and self-confidence is built while ego is dampened.”

In fact, martial arts promote both mental and physical health and enforce values such as respect for others, faithfulness, and tranquility, and sincerity. When these qualities act in unison, they can induce relaxation and increase self-confidence. Additionally, many studies have championed the cognitive and behavioral benefits of martial arts. Improvements in self-esteem (Fuller, 1988), positive receptiveness of physical challenges (Richard and Rehberg, 1986; Trulson, 1986), greater autonomy (Duthie, 1978), emotional stability and assertiveness (Konzak and Boudreau, 1984) and reductions in anxiety and depression (Cai, 2000) have all been associated with martial arts training.

     

To sum it up, Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate, once said, “The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.”

Sensi Mistry speaks about Anand

            Sensi Pervez Mistry is considered to be the father of martial arts in India. He has been the Chief Instructor for the International Okinawa Goju-RyuKarate-do Federation in India for the past 46 years and is the founder of Karate-do in India.

Sensi Pervez Mistry with Anand Koti

            “Karate is generally perceived as a destructive sport. This is a misconception. In fact, the reverse is true. With karate, we can work towards improving health. A willingness and desire to be a better person is developed and self-confidence is built while ego is dampened. When Anand met me a few years ago, he was worried whether or not we would be able to manage the program. I was confident from day one that he would succeed.  He has struggled and faced hurdles, but he has conquered all of them, in part from the confidence he has gained from martial arts training. 

How Can Creative Arts Help?

        Creativity and art help reinforce elements of martial arts training, further helping children develop and retain their learned skills. Though its task-based instruction and demanded attention to detail, art cultivates a sense of responsibility, hand-eye coordination, and controlled motor skills. Furthermore, selecting materials and tools, focusing on creating a work of art, and ultimately finishing a project fosters a sense of achievement as well as enhances cognitive skills, decision making skills, and discipline. Furthermore, to maintain and develop awareness of different methods of mind and body control, games, meditation, and dance are incorporated into each creative arts session.

Project Structure:

       

It consists of 1 hour sessions, twice a week, with 30 minutes of martial arts training and 30 minutes of creative arts. Each martial arts session is a mixture of exercise and meditation. These sessions aim to relax the body muscles and gradually build flexibility and stamina. Each creative arts session includes various exercises in drawing, sketching, dancing, music, acting, brain-stimulation games and story-telling.

Based on child progress, the program introduces longer and higher levels of martial arts and creative arts sessions. Thus, the contents of each session change along with the children’s progress in order to keep challenging and encouraging each child to reach his or her full potential.

Finally, a counseling component is integrated into the program. Professionals work with the children not only to provide a support system, but also to motivate them to succeed, improve communication skills, discuss future careers, and teach them about socially acceptable behavior.

Quote from participant:

            I feel very peaceful after joining the karate project. Our teacher is a very cool person and karate benefits us and gives us physical exercise. Karate also helps us develop a better memory and gives physical flexibility to our bodies. There are so many benefits of karate.

How can you contribute?

Volunteer:

Volunteers are our greatest asset. You can contribute by volunteering to conduct workshops in various media of creative and performing arts, such as drawing, counseling,  painting, dance, personality development, brain-stimulation games and creative writing. Any other forms of creative art are welcomed as well!

If you want to have self-defense workshops for yourself or your team  - please get in touch. We would be happy to train you all.

http://colorss.org | emailcolorss@gmail.com | contact@colorss.org

Thank you

A VOICE! - WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE THAT WILL HELP! | Colorss Foundation

A VOICE!

A voice for the little one's,
a voice for a cause,
they are abused, hurt and assaulted.
The harshness of realities entrap them,
leaving them horrified and exploited.
Protected nutshell is broken,
the shrewdness is revealed.
Be it mental, sexual or emotional,
the harassment cannot be healed.
From the cradle to the greenness,
from innocence to maturity,
passage is filled with hardships,
making the journey uneasy.
The beam of light,
becomes a horrible sight
losing the mental aplomb they stand,
instead of learning what is right.
Wide,scary eyes staring
weakens the psyche,
the pressure to perform well,
leads to the closing.
Reaching the adolescence,
is what becomes a sin,
a stranger, an acquaintance or a kin.
For every one of them,
an easy target is all they are,
killing their innocence,
pleasure is what they gain.
Books,which the hands should hold,
have brushes and mops.
The ambition, the heart should focus on,
has the dullness and lost hopes.
Dying are the aspirations,
fading are the beliefs.
Anticipating for a change,
is here I appeal
Broaden your thoughts,
widen your sight.
Give them what they deserve,
they have the right to live,
raising a voice against child abuse
WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE THAT WILL HELP!
~ Akshita Makin

Free self-defense workshop @Colorss Foundation Facebook page - follow link below

FREE FREEE FREEEE ONLINE 7-DAYS SELF-DEFENSE WORKSHOPS

The classes will take place on 6th Jan 2014 via the Colorss foundation’s facebook page [events section], in an interactive fashion. Click on this link [https://www.facebook.com/events/255529674604610/] to directly go to the event section - 
don't forget to join and invite those whom you feel will benefit from this workshop

Be your own hero! - FREE 7-days online Self-Defense workshops for women | Colorss

Be your own hero! @ 6th Jan 2014; 9:00 am UTC+05:30

With Colorss foundation’s 7-day Online Self Defense classes

In today’s world, women are faced with danger and violence throughout their lives. We don’t choose to be a victim, but we can choose how we respond to these situations. Self-Defense is about learning the basic physical skills to be able to fight off attackers and reach safety. But it’s also about gaining empowerment and confidence. It’s about standing up and saying, I can protect myself, I refuse to be intimidated.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the time nor money to attend self-defense classes. So the Colorss foundation, a NGO based in Baroda, Pune and Ajmer in India, has come up with a novel idea: an online, 7 day self-defense workshop, to enable all women, from across the globe, to learn the necessary skills to remain calm and fight back against attackers.  The classes will take place on 6th Jan 2014 via the Colorss foundation’s facebook page [events section], in an interactive fashion.

Click on this link [https://www.facebook.com/events/255529674604610/]  to directly go to the event section - don't forget to join and invite those whom you feel will benefit from this workshop.

Participants can easily ask questions to the teacher via the internet, and benefit from the knowledge imparted from the comfort of their home, wherever they are in the world. 

Join in, and become your own hero ! 

~Eloise Stark 

For Love,

Anand Koti

Founder Chariman

Colorss Foundation