Nurturing a positive attitude in kids in the times of pandemic

NEW DELHI: Anjali Tiwari, Class VII student in a Delhi government school in north-west Delhi, has a fixed morning schedule these days. Even though the schools are closed, she gets up early and then goes out to water the marigold she has planted. She then finishes her drawings and revises lessons from her textbooks. For close to 200 students like Tiwari living in the resettlement colonies in Holambi Kalan, Narela and Mongolpuri, these activities are now a priority in the mornings.

Such pastimes were conceived to keep the children engaged at home and to divert their attention from the pervasive gloom created by

Covid-19

. The initiative is being run by

NGO

AV Baliga Trust. Its dedicated set of volunteers continuously engage with the children and guide them on caring for the

plants

. For now, with Covid a dangerous reality in the city, such instructions and activities are sent to the

kids

online. Those without mobile phones in the family walk to the NGO centres, all of which are located within the community.

Covid forced the summer vacation for the students to begin early. The schools will remain closed till at least June 9. Amar, the co-ordinator at the Holambi Kalan centre, said, “With schools closed, these children would mostly be idling at home. So, we thought of engaging them with kitchen

gardening

, drawing, painting and a bit of academic work. When we interact with them, we also learn if they are doing well or if any of their family members and neighbours are facing problems. In many cases, through these children, we have been able to provide medicine to those in need.”

Gardening is something that the children are most excited about. “The didi at the centre told us about growing plants. So, I have a marigold plant,” explained Tiwari. “I have planted it in a small pot because there is no space outside my house. I am taking good care of it.”

Another Class VII student, Vansh Kumar, is happy about the garden activity. He nurtures a tulsi plant in a pot. “I really enjoy growing plants, also the drawing activity. They are really good,” said Kumar. He doesn’t like it much when he is given activities related to his school lessons.

There are some students who are now so interested in gardening that they have planted different plants in a tray and excitedly watch them grow.


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