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

How the Colorss foundation’s 7-day Online Self Defense classes inspired me!

When it comes to Self Defense I’m pretty paranoid. I worry about a number of different situations that may be very unlikely to happen, but it is always very important to feel safe because today on the streets of this country anything can happen. And therefore, when I read about Colorss foundations’ Seven day online Self-Defense workshop, I was instantly fascinated by the workshop and was very keen on attending it. The best part about the workshop was that it was online. I didn’t have to take out much time from my busy schedule to be physically present at a place for these classes.

The workshop made me understand myself, my fears and my abilities better. I learnt that self-defense is not about getting into fights with others, but about how you can extricate yourself from certain situations, which includes general awareness of the surroundings and the importance of being steady and remaining calm at the same time in a bad situation. We covered things like how to get out of wrist grabs, body grabs, chokes, and as women where our strength comes from. It’s not about getting into a one-on-one fight with the attacker but to create enough impact to get the time to escape and run to a safe place. The best part about the workshop was that every technique was demonstrated with pictures and we could also ask questions and clear our doubts about any of the techniques.

Besides all of this, the workshop also inspired me to get in good shape, as the principle of self-defense involves being ready and fit both mentally and physically. Since those seven days, I’ve regularly been practicing the techniques taught in the workshop. I’m glad I came across such a helpful online workshop. I hope and also encourage Colorss foundation to come up with more such helpful techniques in self-defense.

~ Empowered

Kritika Kapoor

Self Defense Workshops - to empower the women of India | Colorss Foundation

In India, girls are forced to battle for their fundamental right to live, from the day they are born. Because of social stigma, women in India are often considered inferior and suffer torment and persecution for no reason other than their gender. From a young age, most local women are taught about the dangers they will inevitably face during their lives. Unfortunately, being aware is no longer enough.

While it is by no means an altogether solution for the terrible issue of violence against women, providing Indian women with self-defense training is a great step forward in order to protect their basic freedoms and permit the ability to walk through the streets unaccompanied without fear.

Colorss Foundation, a NGO based in Baroda, Pune and Ajmer is launching women’s self-defense classes to empower the women of India and provide the skills to remain calm and fight back against attackers, if this is ever required. If there is one thing that the December 16 attack has achieved, it is in spreading the reality that no one is safe from these types of assaults. Every woman in India, through no fault of her own, is a potential victim.

Self-defense workshop for Vodafone staff and their family members; Baroda

Colorss’ self-defense classes are for working women, university students and children, with no prior experience necessary. The classes are designed to take part 2-3 times a week, with groups of 10-15 participants in Pune. The classes may take place at your personal residence with a group of 10-15 participants, for the convenience of participants.

Anand Koti, the foundation’s director, will be conducting the classes. Anand has been practicing martial arts for over 15 years and has a 2^nd degree black belt in Karate, which demonstrates his commitment and discipline. In addition, Anand also possesses an undergraduate degree in Industrial Psychology and Masters degrees in Health Management and Industrial Relations and Personnel Management.

This unique combination of education and passion for martial arts has provided Anand with the perfect blend of skills to successfully pass his knowledge on to students. Under Anand’s supervision, many children from the Pune region have already benefited from Project Enhance, another initiative of the Colorss Foundation. Project Enhance involved providing underprivileged children of the region with martial arts and creative arts classes. The results of Project Enhance have been overwhelmingly positive. In addition to building the physical strength and stamina of the participants, Project Enhance also boosted their self-esteem and confidence.

While the most obvious benefit of these self-defense classes is the ability to defend yourself against an attacker, there are also numerous peripheral benefits, such as increased confidence and mental development. At Colorss, we strive to give women the physical and mental strength to surpass any challenges.

Colorss' have conducted self-defense workshops for different corporate:

Self-defense workshop at L&T Knowledge City, Baroda

Self-defense workshop at Nielsen, Baroda

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there were 24,206 cases of rape registered in India during 2011, but this is suspected to be a major under-representation of the true figure and of the problem at hand.

The worst reaction from this case would be for women to remain indoors, further restrict their activities and escalate the oppression they already face on a daily basis. This should be used as an opportunity to empower the women of India – for them to stand up and assert themselves.

It is in the hands of the government to make a legitimate stance on the issue of violence towards women and make widespread changes throughout the country; however, basic self-defense is a great step forward for the women on India.

It is our goal to empower the women of India to have the confidence to live completely fulfilling lives.

Contact Colorss for more information on self-defense training. You can email us at:emailcolorss@gmail.com and find us on Facebook.

Colorss in partnership with Nielsen, Baroda | Colorss Foundation

Colorss has always been focused and has constantly been utilizing the opportunities that have come its way, to stand by its vision of empowering and developing the under-privileged children of the society. This time it was collaboration with Nielsen, the global leader in measurement and information that took the attempts of turning its vision to reality, to the next level altogether. In what was termed as a mega event by its founder, the partnership with Nielsen Office at Baroda helped Colorss truly realize key objectives of its project – Colors of Life.

          The association with Nielsen, Vadodara happened when Colorss proposed and organized a Self-Defense workshop for the former’s female employees on the 26^th of April 2013. Anand, the founding director of Colorss, took keen interest in putting across several powerful and useful techniques of self-defense to the women employees. Some pictures from the events can be seen here. The employees were more than excited and appreciative of the session. They also went on to quote this experience as being wonderful and helpful in making them more confident at times of need. See what Jimsy Kuriakose from Nielsen had to say about the workshop.

Founder Chairman Mr. Koti teaching self-defense technique at Nielsen Baroda

           In the second half of the day, the Nielsen’s turned hosts to little guests from slums in Sanjay Nagar, Vadodara. These 30-35 children aged between 5 and 15 years are part of the educational program of Colorss. Thanks to the Nielsen employees who took great interest in giving a unique and memorable experience to the kids. From giving them a guest pass, walking them through the security and the buildings to making them feel at home and building rapport with the children, the enthusiasm and concern shown by the employees were definite indicators of how socially responsible corporates are. This first of its kind interaction created a sort of vision; an illustration of a big picture, in the kids, something they will always remember.

          As an extension to the event conducted on the 26^th April, the 10^th of May yet again turned out to be a great opportunity for these kids to showcase their talent and skills. The employees of Nielsen once again invited the kids to their premises and this time to add to the excitement the parents had to accompany their children. While the hosts left no stone unturned to keep the spirits high and boost the momentum, the kids too didn’t miss the chance to come up with dance performances, mime shows and small acts that showed their sheer ability and interest to learn new things and develop themselves on par with anyone else. This fun filled event was definitely a mega-event in all aspects and did everything to prop-up the benefits stated by the educational program in its true sense.

Children performing Mime act at Nielsen Baroda

          Colorss whole heartedly thanks Nielsen, Vadodara and its employees for lending great support and for contributing towards its mission. Colorss appeals to all other corporates and private bodies to join hands with it to work towards the betterment and upliftment of the society.

If you would like to benefit from our Self-Defense Workshop, please send an email to contact@colorss.org

If you would like to support Colorss in some manner, then please do register as a volunteer with us. You can also contribute to Colorss by making a donation here.

For Love,

Anand

[Thanks Raghu for the write-up]

Student/Beneficiary Feedback Vishakha Randive | Project Enhance ~ Pune

Project Enhance

Certain things can be put to complete use only when they are given to the right people at the right time. From a social perspective, realizing the need of the hour, researching the dire requirements and identifying the target group is of utmost importance to get anything up and running. And the outcome is bound to be beneficial and definitely advantageous given the pre-work that has gone into it.

Listen the student talking about the project and her experience - that would make more sense:

Colorss hit the gong at just the right place and the right time through its innovative developmental initiative – 

Project Enhance:- Project Enhance is basically a multidisciplinary programme that aims at encouraging creativity, promoting healthy development, increasing productivity and creating a sense of responsibility towards the community and its members.

Project Objectives: 

Project Enhance, designed for young children is a multifaceted approach aimed at

• Developing discipline by way of imparting Martial Arts training
• Increasing focus by helping them cope with stress and tension
• Improving their physique by way of sports activities, thus contributing to their healthy development.
• Increasing productivity by helping them get better control of body and mind
• Fostering confidence by getting them involved in creative artwork
• Contributing greatly to increased self-awareness
• Training them to be responsible social members of the society.

Project Benefits:

Project Enhance has multiple benefits as listed below.

Psychological Benefits: Control aggression and anger; Stimulate Brain Activity; Increase happiness; Build self confidence; Develop trust, co-operation and togetherness

Physiological Benefits: Increase Stamina; Fortify Muscles; Regulate breathing; Widen range of flexibility; Improve body posture and control.

Creative Art & Benefits: Responsibility; Cognitive Skills; Eye/Hand Coordination; Responsibility; Cognitive Skills; Eye/Hand Coordination; Focus & Discipline

For Love,

Anand

7-day online course for self defense | Colorss Foundation

We have now successfully completed our 7-day online course for self defense! This project came to life as a result of recent discussions and demonstrations concerning womens’ and girls’ safety on the streets of India. At Colorss Foundation we strongly urge women to be aware of their safety and different ways of protecting themselves. Knowledge is a great weapon!

Find out more techniques on your FB page. This is the 7th self-defense technique  for safety

During a period of 7 days, we posted one step of self protection every day, with step-by-step pictures to demonstrate the process. The response from our followers was excellent, with many people commenting, engaging, and sharing their points of view on the matter. We believe that It is only when awareness is created, when people engage in discussions, and word is spread, that we can start a joint movement to increase the safety for women and girls in India.

Please visit our Facebook page to access the album post on self defense http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151225830616724.463260.170912596723&type=3

Thank you,
For Love,
Founder
Anand Koti

Adding a Little “Color” to my life!!!! - Sundar Sarma | Colorss Foundation

Adding a Little “Color” to my life!!!!

It was September of 2012 that I met this old friend of mine, by sheer chance, after a long gap of close to 12 years and boy it did turn out to be the best catch up sessions I have had in years. Before you jump the gun, No – it was not that we were the best of friends or were inseparable when we were in touch in the nineties, but yes – our association was definitely way better than those of preferred acquaintances. So it was not about discussing those lovely summers that we spent playing together, but more about some wonderful things that he has been doing over the past few years. It was about COLORSS, the organization or should I say the institution that he founded in 2008 and the tireless efforts that he and his team have been putting in to get it where it is today. This was the same time when most of us, in the same group as teenagers in the nineties, were busy raking in the moolah for ourselves somewhere out there in the marketplace. Not that I am feeling bad about what I did and achieved over the years, but I am definitely happier and filled with a sense of pride at what Anand Koti, this friend of mine dared to do - give up a corporate career and set up Colorss – the foundation.

A rose for Sundar Sarma @ vocational training program #Baroda

With a central idea that children are indeed the colors in our life and recognizing the fact that not all these colors are as bright and impactful as they need to be, he set out with his dynamic team to ensure that they help rediscover the radiance of the “colors” lost in the cloud of economic and social hopelessness. Their simple idea, as I was able to understand, was to empower these socially underprivileged children by helping build a better self esteem, creating a sense of pride in them and preparing them for greater responsibilities in life. There were no free meals, clothing or shelter on offer, but there was a promise of a better life where one could live with the head held high.  Their projects right from “Colors of Life” which talks about developing faculties like writing and expressing through painting or “Urja” which aims at developing a vocational skill or my favorite “Enhance” which uses techniques like martial arts and other creative skills to help develop self esteem in an individual were very different from the ones usually seen or experienced. So along with education, these children are provided with avenues where they could put their evident or latent skills to good use to discover their inner potentials and feel good about themselves. They are guided on the importance of honing these skills with the right kind of focus and discipline which holds them in good stead for whatever they decide to take up in the future. I have always believed, that great individuals achieve greatness in whatever they do, and greatness is a direct function of confidence which in turn is directly proportional to one’s state of happiness. And generally, one is happy when one feels good about oneself i.e. when one has a high self esteem. I am not a psychology expert and I am sure Anand will have a few thoughts about my ramblings considering his psychology background, but I see things in a certain manner and this manner compels me to believe that Colorss has hit the nail right on the head when it comes to understanding the current socio-economic context of our country and has come up with some unique and thought provoking projects to address some of the key issues faced by the socially less privileged.

Why only socially less privileged, helping any child develop his or her self esteem is one of the best service possible in today’s day and times, but I have to say that it is a great start. Another wonderful thing about these projects is the long term vision which makes it all the more challenging. When you see so many projects with a vision and results that are short or sometimes even immediate term in nature, one tends to believe that that they are more effective than some of the others that Colorss has set out to achieve. Why outsiders, even the stakeholders including the benefactors and the beneficiaries question this and it is in the process of answering these questions that the unwavering focus of these strong willed members of team Colorss is called upon. I was privileged to meet up with a few of them and really am in awe of their enthusiasm and dedication and the sheer love for what they have set out to do. While I absolutely mean no disrespect to any effort taken by any other foundation, I have to confess that education, self reliance and a higher sense of self esteem are right up there as far as my personal priorities are concerned. So here I am now, trying to find ways and means to being useful to Anand and his wonderful foundation. As I sit here and contemplate, I am sure Anand and his wonderful force is out there in some community centre of theirs, in a less privileged part of the cities they operate in, trying to empower and create a new society. Thank you Colorss and thank you Anand for letting me be part of your journey. I will keep doing my bit, in whatever way I am able to for I have experienced the ecstasy of “Colorss” in my life.

For more information you could also visit their website, www.colorss.org or have a quick look at their facebook page www.facebook.com/colorssfoundation

Sundar Sarma

Self Defense - to empower the women of India | Colorss Foundation

The brutal gang rape and murder of a young girl in Delhi has brought worldwide attention to an issue that has plagued India for years - the oppression and gross mistreatment of women in the country.

In India, girls are forced to battle for their fundamental right to live, from the day they are born. Because of social stigma, women in India are often considered inferior and suffer torment and persecution for no reason other than their gender. From a young age, most local women are taught about the dangers they will inevitably face during their lives. Unfortunately, being aware is no longer enough.

Anand Koti teaching self-defense 

While it is by no means an altogether solution for the terrible issue of violence against women, providing Indian women with self-defense training is a great step forward in order to protect their basic freedoms and permit the ability to walk through the streets unaccompanied without fear.

Colorss Foundation, a NGO based in Baroda and Pune, is launching women’s self-defense classes to empower the women of India and provide the skills to remain calm and fight back against attackers, if this is ever required. If there is one thing that the December 16 attack has achieved, it is in spreading the reality that no one is safe from these types of assaults. Every woman in India, through no fault of her own, is a potential victim.

Colorss’ self-defense classes are for working women, university students and children, with no prior experience necessary. The classes are designed to take part 2-3 times a week, with groups of 10-15 participants in Pune. The classes may take place at your personal residence with a group of 10-15 participants, for the convenience of participants.

Anand Koti, the foundation’s director, will be conducting the classes. Anand has been practicing martial arts for over 15 years and has a 2^nd degree black belt in Karate, which demonstrates his commitment and discipline. In addition, Anand also possesses an undergraduate degree in Industrial Psychology and Masters degrees in Health Management and Industrial Relations and Personnel Management.

This unique combination of education and passion for martial arts has provided Anand with the perfect blend of skills to successfully pass his knowledge on to students. Under Anand’s supervision, many children from the Pune region have already benefited from Project Enhance, another initiative of the Colorss Foundation. Project Enhance involved providing underprivileged children of the region with martial arts and creative arts classes. The results of Project Enhance have been overwhelmingly positive. In addition to building the physical strength and stamina of the participants, Project Enhance also boosted their self-esteem and confidence.

While the most obvious benefit of these self-defense classes is the ability to defend yourself against an attacker, there are also numerous peripheral benefits, such as increased confidence and mental development. At Colorss, we strive to give women the physical and mental strength to surpass any challenges.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there were 24,206 cases of rape registered in India during 2011, but this is suspected to be a major under-representation of the true figure and of the problem at hand.

The worst reaction from this case would be for women to remain indoors, further restrict their activities and escalate the oppression they already face on a daily basis. This should be used as an opportunity to empower the women of India – for them to stand up and assert themselves.

It is in the hands of the government to make a legitimate stance on the issue of violence towards women and make widespread changes throughout the country; however, basic self-defense is a great step forward for the women on India.

It is our goal to empower the women of India to have the confidence to live completely fulfilling lives.

Contact Colorss for more information on self-defense training. You can email us at: emailcolorss@gmail.com and find us on Facebook.

Paul Whelan

All about Colorss

Reducing the number of school drop outs, brightening children’s lives with martial and creative arts, and teaching skills to poor women: some actions have a great potential of change. This is what Colorss Foundation believes in. This is what we do: use knowledge to transmit knowledge. Colorss Foundation has been operational since Sep 2008 having its presence in Baroda, Gujarat and Pune, Maharashtra.

By developing programs to improve disadvantaged groups’ lives, Colorss Foundation is doing its part.

1.    Project Enhance – 110 girls [Pune]

Underprivileged children face stress in many aspects of their lives: family, academics, health, and more. The situation is often worse in female children; because of social stigma, girls tend to be seen as inferior or even neglected, which leaves them with a sense of worthlessness and low self-esteem. The truth is, however, that they deserve much more than this.

How can we brighten these children’s lives? How can we empower these girls and foster their confidence? Thinking about this, Colorss Foundation has developed a program called Enhance. This project uses the benefits that Karate and Creative arts bring to reach a better life for these kids.

2.    Project ‘Colors of Life’ – 100 students [boys and girls – Pune, Baroda]

Observing government schools in India, we can face a bad reality: 50% of students drop out of school before the 8th standard. This is very worrying when we think about the importance of education, a key for the development of individuals and of the society. And this is the point when creating a program like Colors of Life. How this can be done? The students are given topics for creative writing –they are either encouraged to write in Marathi, Gujarati or Hindi. These topics are thereafter translated into English and published as an E-zine. 

The program works with brain stimulation games, workshops on life-skills and different issues, drawing, music and dance, creative arts, and PBL (project based learning) too.

3.    Project 'UrjAa' – igniting the fire within – 15 women in vocational training [Baroda]

Helping on the development of children is very important. However, we do not work just with children: Project UrjAa that attends to disadvantaged women is important as well. It intends to break the vicious cycle of poverty, in which these women do not have access to training and resources and, consequently, have little or no education. Then, they stay in poverty, and the same thing keeps happening.

            Only education can solve this problem. The children of their families are provided with needful education. Different workshops are conducted for these women and their families. Building up these women current skills and introducing new skills, we can empower them and impact positively their families. This is the basis of Project UrjAa: professionals, peers, community, awareness programs, and mentorships teach vocational skills to a group of women from the slums of Sanjay Nagar, New Sama Road, Baroda.

4.    Risachi - It is the research wing of Colorss Foundation, recently formed in early July 2012. Despite its recent inception, Risachi has successfully completed one major survey study involving 62 subjects and has three other major projects in different phases. The outcome of the research will involve designing novel strategies to improve the health of the underprivileged population.

5.  Aircel a+ a CSR initiative in partnership with Colorss Foundation – 480 students  [Pune, Maharashtra State]

480 students are in a+ Center in Pune. This is an Aircel CSR initiative to help bridge the digital divide in India. The initiative will help empower underprivileged children and adolescents with computer literacy and vocational training and provide them with employability skills. 

Thanking you,

For Love

Anand 

Volunteering ~ if you want to, you can do yours

If you pay attention, you will see that you are just beginning your life. You can study, you can work – you can do everything you want to build your future. Doesn’t this moment look like the perfect one to start making a difference in the world?

Reducing the number of school drop outs, brightening children’s lives with martial and creative arts, and teaching skills to poor women: some actions have a great potential of change. This is what Colorss Foundation believes in. This is what we do: use knowledge to transmit knowledge. And, this way, find better possibilities to people’s lives.

By developing programs to improve disadvantaged groups’ lives, Colorss Foundation is doing its part. If you want to, you can do yours. By volunteering, you can begin your journey in a great manner. And you do not just help: volunteering is a mutual relationship. You, for sure, are going to get a better person and learn new things.

Don’t you want to help someone to build a bright future too? Contact at: emailcolorss@gmail.com | www.facebook.com/colorssfoundation

Luisa Peixoto - UNV Volunteer!

" Colorss : The journey so far -- Volunteer Testimonials" ~ Kanika Singh

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill

When I first contacted Anand, founder of Colorss Foundation for volunteer teaching at one of the several schools run for the underprivileged in Pune I was not sure what I was getting into -- there was a will to help but not a true grit; there was a path to tread on but no one to lead the way.

But having been associated with the kids and the foundation itself for quite a while I can affirmatively say that it has been a truly rewarding experience. From the very first day when I was introduced to the principal and members of the staff at Dr. Ambedkar Memorial High School school by Anand , everyone including the children have been very warm and welcoming . I have no previous experience as a teacher/tutor and was initially skeptical about how I would handle a bunch of exuberant kids but I was surprised at the level of discipline and knowledge in the students of Project Enhance which made the ice breaking process seamless and easy.

From playing "Fire in the mountain" to singing "Happy and you know it" in perfect harmony to teaching me the basics of Karate and martial arts the kids have been lovely and I have enjoyed every bit of my time with them. Some of the kids are particularly brilliant and surprised me with a "Nice to meet you" and a firm, confident handshake at the end of one of my sessions at Dr. Ambedkar Memorial High School with the enhance girl students.

This Saturday I got an opportunity to visit the Mahadji Shinde High school where I was introduced to the principal and the team of volunteers including Dhiraj , Neha and Nikita. I interacted with the girl students of project enhance who have been learning karate at an average duration of one to two years variably amongst the group and got their feedback regarding how karate/martial arts has impacted both physiological and psychological aspects of their lives. 

The girls were very enthusiastic about sharing their karate learning experience and willingly stood up to talk about the same. Most of them agreed to the fact that their posture has improved and slouching/sluggishness while walking and other normal daily activities has reduced to a great extent. Showing off their power with a mighty punch on my palm they also said that their efficiency and stamina in lifting heavy objects and other tasks that involve a firm grip like holding on to a bus pole steadily has also improved. They said that the karate classes has given school a whole new perspective and that not only has it been a great learning experience but also immense fun . Some of them admitted that the karate classes were the highlight of the school for them and that they attended just so they could be a part of it all.

Amongst psychological aspects they said that the physical well being and a sense of self reliance which comes from the fact that they are better equipped to defend themselves in the face of danger has promoted an overall sense of well being and comfort in their minds. Even though the rigorous physical nature of this sport would leave them exhausted by the end of the class, girls said that they felt very mentally active and alert after the karate sessions.

They also admitted that their concentration level has improved and studies have become fun because they listen and understand better. Some felt that their minds were able to reject the antagonism, hardships and anguish in their life amidst their community because they are simply happier on account of having learnt something novel and fun which they can share with their family and members of the community.

I believe I have seen only one facet of this magnificent problem of education that our society faces today and that it will take generations to uproot it completely. But a firm belief in the capabilities of these children, a helping hand and little bit of your time can go a long way in bringing a smile on the faces of these little kids who never have and never will have access to the same opportunities that you and I had growing up as a child .

It is immensely gratifying to be a part of a great cause like this and there is no joy greater than sharing a part of the bread that you have earned for yourself.

---- Volunteer Testimonial by Kanika Singh