LMAD-March,2010 report

An Initiatives of Change workshop “Let's Make A Difference” was held in the premises of Silicon institute of technology from 06 Mar to 07 Mar, 2010 to spread ‘the idea’ Initiatives of change (IofC) to youngsters, especially silconites and a few others from various colleges of Bhubaneswar. Around 36 participants came together in this workshop to experience change and become change agents.

The workshop started at 6:00 PM with facilitators welcoming the participants with an MRA song (Dekho Dekho...) and later we interacted with participants through a few questions like, what brings you again in this workshop? What are your expectations from this workshop? Later "My journey with IofC" was shared by Amar and then we moved on to ice-breaking events. Anil facilitated us to shout Eha.., then transforming us into Rabbit, elephant, etc., and finally showing us the power of our own concentration through Matchstick game.

In between, we danced to the tunes of elated happiness through 'Arey chi cha'. The day ended with a family meet, agenda being the discussion over questions like since the last one-year, what is the memorable incident in your life? Are you satisfied with your life-if yes, why? If no, why? What do you want to become in life? Whatever you are doing now, is it leading you towards your dreams? Is there anything, which is disturbing you?

The next day started at 7:00 AM with prayer and an exercise session facilitated by Abhishek. Later, we were introduced to the concept of "Quiet time - An experiment of listening to inner voice." Every one experienced the quiet time for half-an-hour and shared their experiences, thoughts and ideas. We concluded the 'Quiet time' session with a small meditative exercise and every one enjoyed their closeness with the person, whom they love and a few shared their experience.

After breakfast, "Let's make a difference" session started with banana skit which cogently helped us to discern our own presence in day-to-day problems and how we blame others for the problems we created ourselves. The skit was followed by a thought provoking song “Kaun Hai Zimmedar…”. By that, we realized, the way we are becoming the part of problems in some way or the other and a question arouse- How can we Make A Difference?

Then, we discussed about the characteristics of a successful individual and we grouped the characteristics into four broad values- Purity, Honesty, Unselfishness and Love (PHUL). Later we met in small groups to prepare charts on how do we relate ourselves with these values and how we interrelate each value with other three values. The charts were presented and a person from each small group shared her/his experience with the values. Some of our friends shared the difficulty to withstand PHUL in day-to-day life but concluded that the inner serenity lies in following these values. After all, "How can we make a better society and ideal nation with imperfect people?" and we resolute to "Be the change we want to see in the world"

After lunch, we had "Sabasan" for an hour with light instrumental being played and later everyone was reactivated with “Tom and Jerry" clapping effectual. “Family session" started with the discussion over importance of relationships. All of us drew our relationship maps, which showed the emblazoned 'ME' surrounded by parents, family and other relations. We compared our life with a garden where green leaves and flowers resemble pleasant relationships and dry leaves resemble interrupted or broken relationships. A few of our friends shared their relationship map describing their relations and the way they tried to repair their interrupted relations. Realising our unpleasant relations, we took a resolution to repair them by taking the initiative from our side. We came to know that after all, "Joyousness is NOT Because of, BUT In spite of".

After a short break, we experienced the "Time of silence" with Tibetan incarnations providing us inner serenity. Later we watched the video, “A transformation experience" which depicted the experience of Frank Buchmann and a few other IofC friends. We learned about the power of redemption and came to know that, the way of goodness is the only way to peace and harmony and changing ourselves is the easiest and most important thing in this world.
Later, we presented the video of IofC-Orissa depicting various activities being held by IofC-Orissa team. Another video "Chicken ala carte" was presented which exposed us to the facts of hunger in this world, then floor was offered to every one for open forum discussion on IofC and details about it. Then we proceeded to call it an end for the workshop but the beginning of a new hope and many differences.

We have taken a group photograph and dispersed to make a difference and with this new friends, who were welcomed to the family made us happier and motivated us to move in the path of spiritual regeneration of our nation.

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