I N T E R G E N E R A T I O N L T H R U S T
M a n a g e m e n t
B a c k g r o u n d
Dignity Foundation's
intergenerational bonding through
"Suraksha Bandhan"
Dignity Foundation celebrates October 1 - U.N's World Elders Day - as a day when very child in India will bond with its parents/grandparents and take a vow:
"I protect your security with dignity"
Dignity Foundation is witness to the rampant presence of the phenomenon of Elder Abuse, neglect and abandonment. Elders are not only lonely, depressed and isolated from the mainstream, but their vulnerability is rapidly exploited by their own children, domestic helps, landlords and neighbours, and other anti-social elements.
Dignity Helpline in each of the four cities receives calls from elders and their well-wishers relating their gruesome stories of torture, harassment and denial of legitimate rights of senior citizens in their own families.
Manned by professionally qualified Social Workers and Counsellors, the Helplines offer immediate counselling and follow-up services at the homes of the senior citizen. Ranging from psychological and emotional support and family counselling, Helplines offer police assistance, legal redressals, reconciliation techniques, and even an in-house "court hearing" where professional counsel to the aggrieved parties are delivered free of cost.
In a special Reconciliation Forum, retired judges and IPS officers hear out cases and offer solutions to the parties in conflict.
There is no substitute to children taking care of their own parents. Reaching out to school children "Suraksha Bands" will be distributed to all schools to make children tie bands to their parents/grandparents.
The President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam commenced this programme in 2002. His message delivers hope and advice. Dignity Foundation holds the event every year in more and more schools added to the reach-out.
Dignity Foundation sends suraksha bands to schools. A covering letter addressed to the Principal explains what the Principal is expected to do. Children buy the band at Re.2 each. They take the band home and tie it to elders. The school arranges for students to give the proceeds of the sale of bands as donation to an Old Age Home nearby. This completes the sensitization exercise.
Suraksha Bandhan 2007
Schools of Mumbai celebrated Suraksha Bandhan on World Elders Day on October 1. The Don Bosco group of schools this year had a very special Assembly for 20 minutes where children enacted a Skit choreographed by Raell Padamsee.
O h M y L o v e l y G r a n d p a a n d G ra n d m a !
A 20-minute Presentation by Children at the
School Assembly on World Elders’ Day, October 1, 2007
Teachers can use this as Introduction
Today is October 1st – a day when the world celebrates ‘World Elders Day’. It is a day when we stop and remember our loving grandparents who are over the age of 60. We remember what a great contribution they have made to the nation. They have also educated and loved our own parents. They lovingly welcome you as grand children into the family.
In their honour we will participate in this Assembly with a beautiful programme for the next 20 minutes.
We will start with a 10-minute Skit entitled “Oh My Lovely Grandpa and Grandma!”
This Script is exclusively designed by Raell Padamsee’s Academy for Creative Expression for Dignity Foundation. Making copies of the information in full or any portion thereof, for purposes other than the authorized use by the Dignity Foundation, would be a violation of the copy
Narrator 1:
Narrator 2:
Old Man:
Old Woman:
Children: (15)
Fashionable ladies: (3)
Office Man:
Robbers: (2)
(not clear about the blue and red text)
Blue Text: If there is a shortage of mikes and only one available for the narrators the blue text can be used.
Red Text: The Red Text can be used if the stage has a couple of mikes, or if enacted in front of a smaller audience.
Scene 1:
(Scene opens in a garden set-up with 2 to 3 benches placed on stage. All the benches would need to be occupied and children could be playing, eating or any park related activities on stage. As the dialogue starts every one freeze).
Music: Either Yanni or any other western classical music to be played as interlinking music.
(On stage Right)
Narrator 1: On a wonderful, sun filled morning, in a park near the lake, an old couple were taking a walk. The park was one of their favorite places. But suddenly, everything started to go wrong on that bright, sunny, beautiful day.
Narrator 2: Would you all like to know what went wrong? (to the audience)
Aud: Yes
Narrator 1: As they were old, they were looking for a place to sit down and pass the time, but could not find any place, and no one seemed to offer them a seat. They decided to ask a young man, talking on his cell phone, for a seat.
(Enter Stage Left)
Old man: Excuse me can we please have this seat?
Young man: Can’t you see, I am on the phone? Please don’t disturb me.
Old woman: Oh, I am so tired.
Narrator 1: As you know, people in today’s day and age, have no time for anything else besides work. Like the young man sitting on the park bench, without a care for the old couple, sprawling and talking on his phone. If he had decided to stand and offer his seat, what would he have had to lose? Not even his network.
Narrator2: Two children noticed this and decided to offer them a seat.
Child 1: How sad! Look at that old couple. I would never treat my grandparents like that.
Child 2: I would love to offer my seat to them, please have our seats.
(This could be done in mime if there is a shortage of mikes)
Old couple: Oh thank you so, so much dear children.
Old man: So nice of you to offer, I wish I had grandchildren just like you.
Narrator 2: The old couple was so happy to be offered a seat at last and thanked the children for their kind gesture.
Narrator 1: Then do you know what happened? (to the aud)
Aud: Yes
Narrator 1: Would you like to know? Two robbers who were up to no good, and were in search for easy loot, saw the old woman’s hand bag, and their eyes shone with glee. They reached out quietly and grabbed the bag.
Narrator 1: The old woman started screaming, but no one seemed to notice, people passed by without a care. A group of school children saw the old couple helpless and immediately started to chase the robbers and in no time, caught the robbers and reported them to the police. (2 robbers enter from stage right.This can be enacted out in the form of a mime)
Old Couple: Oh thank heavens you children were around, you saved us from those two robbers.
School Children (Group of 4 Children): No problem, If my grandparents were in trouble I would have done the same thing.
Old Couple: You kids are the best.
(The Old couple can be shown hugging the children and in gestures showing how appreciative they are)
Narrator 2: The old woman was delighted to get her handbag back, and thanked the children for their good deed.
Narrator 1: As they continued to sit on the park bench, dark grey clouds started to collect above them; it was not bright and sunny any more. It started raining heavily and the poor old couple had no umbrella.
Scene 2:
(Scene opens with every one opening umbrellas, putting on raincoats and children running for shelter screaming Oh! No its raining.)
Narrator 2: A group of very fashionable ladies holding umbrellas and doubly protected by brightly coloured raincoats, just walked by not showing any sign of sharing their umbrellas with the old couple.
(Enter Stage left and comes towards center stage)
Fashionable Lady 1: You know my husband bought me this umbrella for Rs. 2000/- .
Fashionable Lady 2: That’s nothing my husband bought my umbrella for Rs. 3000/- from Paris.
Fashionable Lady 3: So what, (Laughs) my husband bought my umbrella from London for Rs. 6000/-
Fashionable Lady 1 and 2: 6000 rupees! Wow!! Really!! You are so lucky (walk out in a huff and Lady 3 Smiles and follows)
(Four children enter from stage right)
Narrator 1: Four children on the way back from the local supermarket noticed the couple getting soaked, and offered them their umbrella.
Old Woman: Oh thank you so much
Old man: We wish we had grandchildren just like you.
Children: Don’t worry just call us and we will be there, anytime!!.
Narrator 1: The old couple accepted the children’s loving gesture, and welcomed it with a smile. The old couple wished they had grandchildren just like them.
Narrator 2: Now for all of you out there, You all have grandparents, some very old , some young at heart, Some with grey hair , some without any hair, some who bake you cookies and give you extra pocket money , some who love to eat cookies and ice-creams too, Like a special granny we know. Would you all like to meet her?
Aud: Yes
The poem below can be recited by children of Std VI and/or above.
(Enter and stand –Center Stage)
Poem:
THOROUGHLY MODERN GRANNY
- By EVA COOK
I have a little granny,
She’s really very old,
But also unconventional in a
Most unusual mould.
She doesn’t wear her spectacles
Perched upon her nose
She’s into contact lenses
And varnishes her toes.
Unlike some other Grannies
Who are home before its dark
She’s dressed up in her tracksuit
Jig-jogging in the park.
And when I’d wish she’d sometimes stay
And tuck me up in bed
She’s off to study yoga
And standing on her head.
She goes on day trips with her gang
The over sixty’s club
They racket down the countryside
And end up in a pub.
I love my little Granny
I think she’s really great
If that’s what growing old is like
I simply cannot wait.
One child steps in front and says this line alone.
Narrator 1: That was great. And in the end all grandparents need your love and respect and need to be cared for….. Just like they have cared for you from the very day you were born …….. Through good times and bad, and they will never stop caring for you and giving you the unconditional love and support that only a grandparent can give.
Narrator2: All it takes just a phone call to say hi, or even a walk in the park, or a big tight bear hug, or maybe just sharing an umbrella in the rain to show that you care. So everyone out there, are we going to show that we care?
OR
(15 kids enter stage center)
5 Kids: All it takes just a phone call to say hi,
5 Kids: or even a walk in the park,
5 Kids: or a big tight bear hug,
Narrator 1: or maybe just sharing an umbrella in the rain to show that you care.
Narrator 2: So everyone out there,
All the children: Are we going to show that we care? (to audience)
Aud: Yes
(20 children with umbrellas enter from stage right and come to center stage)
You are my Sunshine , My only sunshine,
You make me happy , when skies are grey.
I love you Grandmom and Granddad, so I shall be your sunshine today.
Muaah!(Everyone comes together in a line and takes a bow and screams Yeah!!)
Founded In loving memory of Pearl Padamsee
Allow the children to remain on the Stage. Call for Grandparents or Older people in your School to come to the Stage.
Let the Suraksha Bandhan wrist bands be tied to the wrist of senior citizens by the children. Children will take the Vow: “I protect your Security with Dignity”
Then ask Senior citizens to sing after you line by line: Teachers can listen to it in the CD.
Senior Citizens Anthem
Avaaz Suno
Awaaz suno, Awaaz suno (2)
Dil se nikali awaaz suno
Hum bade buzurgon ka kehena (2)
Dharti bhi suno, aakash suno…
Awaaz suno, Awaaz suno
Barso se desh ki seva ki
Janhith main tan man vaar diya
Is samaj ko, hamne aaj ko
Sanskaar aur pyaar diya
Awaaz suno, Awaaz suno….
|
Jeevan ki sandhya bela main
Khushiyon ke pal do char mile
Haath aapka, saath aapka,
Pyaar milem adhikar mile
Awaaz suno, Awaaz suno…
Hum aaj Hind ki janata ke sang (2)
Karte hain aagaaz sunoAwaaz suno,
Awaaz sunoDil se nikali
Awaaz sunoHum bade buzurgon ka kehena
Dharti bhi suno, aakash suno
Awaaz suno, Awaaz suno (2)
|
Dignity Foundation, BMC School Building, Topiwala Lane, Opp. Lamington Road Police Station, Mumbai 400 007. India.
Telephone: 23898079 / 23841845 / 23814356 · Fax: 23898082 · Email: info@dignityfoundation.com
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