An enriching student leadership programme

ADHYAYAAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

-          Ms. Cressieda Murzello

St. Joseph’s High School,

Wadala,

29^th June 2013

What started as a rainy day for Mumbaikars on 10^th June 2013 proved to be a day to cherish for the leaders of St. Joseph's High School, Wadala and Don Bosco High School, Matunga. All thanks to the Adhyayan Organization for their interesting, creative and innovative eight-day workshop for the leaders of the four Salesian schools in Mumbai (simultaneously, a similar leadership program was on for the leaders of Don Bosco High School, Borivili and Dominic Savio High School, Andheri). 

On the first day, the leaders were greeted by Mr. Michael and Ms. Sophia from the Central School of Speech and Drama, London . The workshop began with an energetic exercise of rhythmic exercise that was followed by 'The Penguin Song', a weird yet an interesting and innovative concept . Then ensued a host of invigorating activities in groups as ice-breakers and value-discovery exercises. 

On day two, the participants were engaged in a blindfold game advocating ‘trust’, and an absorbing treasure map task that drilled in the impact of leadership qualities in managing one’s team. The end of the day saw all rocking to the song, “I say boom chicka rocka chicka boom”.  The amusing banana song sung by the leaders on a conjectured lonely island following a plane crash was the day’s first activity on the third day of the workshop.  The tough ‘mother hawk’ game and the ‘man monster cum survivors’ team game took us to the end of yet another entertaining day. 

Following a break of four days, the workshop resumed on 17^th June with some enthusiastic tasks for the leaders.  The qualities of teamwork were best put to use during the construction of the longest tower with the help of straws.  Thereafter, a ‘Democratic System of Student Council’ was explained to the students by Ms. Shagun.  The students met in smaller groups to work on the formation of the Students’ council for the school, and discussed the problems and the issues that could be addressed and solved through this forum.  This important activity was continued right through the next day.  On the fifth day, the leaders thoroughly enjoyed the game called ‘THE ULTIMATE NINJA’ – which was soon to become a hit- that taught them a great lesson: to survive and succeed one has to listen to his leaders. The students then worked on charts to present their plan to conduct school council meetings. 

On the second last day of the workshop, after the preliminaries of songs and games, the students got down to their task of defining the goals of the Student Council, and nearly created a 'CONSTITUTION' for our very own country-like school.  Later the student leaders were given a lesson in the conduct of a Student Council through a role play activity – Chair, Vice Chair and the Scribe. On 21^st June, being the last day of the leadership camp, the boys marched in with abundant energy and enthusiasm.  Energetic exercises, the games SPLAT and ‘the cat and the mouse’ were the prelude to the STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING.  The issues of the meeting that featured ‘change in uniform’ and ‘cleanliness around the school’ were selected by the Chair and the Vice Chair appointed by Mr. Michael and Ms. Sophie . 

This was sadly the last session at the camp. The students of St. Joseph’s presented Ms. Sophie and Mr. Michael a ‘thank you’ card and a photograph as their token of appreciation for them. We have just begun a new scholastic year – may these inputs prove to be fruitful and productive for the entire school community.