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TagOn Talks

A monthly newsletter on student volunteering, community service and service learning

Issue 03 | March 2024

From Editors' Desk

It's already third issue of TagOn Talks! Seems like we had launched it just yesterday. In this issue, we bring to you notes from Dr. Manish Kothari, Founder & MD, ISBR Group of Institutions, Bengaluru in our Leadership Logs section. Learning Bytes section covers the history of service learning. We focus on Environment as a cause in this edition and also feature an NGO working in the space. We conclude with an exciting update from LetsTagOn. 


Happy reading,

Team LetsTagOn

Leadership Logs

Conversations with visionary education leaders shaping tomorrow's minds

You have been a pioneer in the introduction of community service as part of the curriculum for management students. What benefits have you seen of this intervention?

We have introduced social immersion as part of the orientation of every new batch for more than five years now, which helps students develop awareness and sensitization of various socio-economic and environmental challenges. We are also one of the few institutes having social impact initiatives service-learning program as a credit course. We have seen tremendous influence of this program on students' ability to observe, comprehend society and surroundings and develop a problem solving and can-do mindset. We have had our alumni come back and share fond memories of the community service that they had undertaken as part of their college days and stories of how they have carried the service mindset forward.

Dr. Purushottam Bung

Dr. Manish Kothari

 Founder & MD, ISBR Group of Institutions 

What are some of the social initiatives that you have undertaken?

In addition to the regular service that our students offer at children shelter homes, elderly care homes, food distribution, tree plantation, etc, we have undertaken mega social projects for the last three years such as cyber safety awareness program across 40+ government schools, refurbishment and beautification of a school, road safety awareness across 11 traffic signals in Bengaluru, for which we have also won the FICCI Road Safety Awards. 

What plans do you have for the future to take these initiatives ahead?

We have achieved the goal of having a social impact mindset in our DNA already. Every activity we undertake at the institute has a social angle. We also sponsored the jerseys and medals for a tournament organized by Karnataka Wheelchair Cricket Association. We are undertaking several CSR projects in which our students and faculty will also get involved and develop holistically.

Learning Bytes

Insights on service learning, volunteering and community service

We have been talking about how Service Learning is an opportunity for students to learn about real-world issues by actively participating in projects that benefit communities. What’s the history of service learning? The phrase Service Learning was first used in 1966 to describe a joint project between Tennessee college students and professors working on area developmental organizational projects. 

However, in the 1960s-1970s, Service-Learning gained momentum during the civil rights movement and anti-war protests when students sought ways to address social issues. Its origins can be traced back to various historical and philosophical influences. John Dewey, often considered the father of experiential education, emphasized the importance of learning through experience. He believed that education should not be separate from the real world but integrated with it. During the Civil Rights Movement, the United States brought attention to social justice issues and the need for community engagement. Many students and educators became involved in activism and community service during this time. 

They defined the core principles of Service Learning as -

  • Reciprocity: The idea that both the community and the students benefit mutually from the experience.

  • Reflection: Encouraging students to think critically about their experiences and connect them to academic learning.

  • Community Partnership: Collaborating with community organizations to address real needs and challenges.

  • Academic Integration: Connecting the service experience to academic curriculum and learning objectives.

Since then, service learning is evolving over time into the structured educational practices we know today.

Cause Spotlight

Environment

While every country strives to achieve social and economic progress, this progress can not come at the cost of the environment. There is a need for balance and harmony between economic, social and environmental needs of the country. The challenges with the environment are connected with the state of environmental resources, such as land, water, air, and their flora and fauna. There are various factors contributing to the degradation of the environment - population growth, unplanned urbanization, intensive agriculture, polluting industries, increasing consumption and inappropriate consumption choices. 

The NGOs and the social enterprises working in the space of Environment focus on ensuring restoration of natural resources and promotion of sustainable lifestyle habits. Key areas of work of different NGOs are listed below:

  • Waste management awareness and solutions.

  • Awareness drives a sustainable lifestyle.

  • Lake/ waterbody restoration and sustainable water management solutions.

  • Increasing forest and green cover by plantation and protection of trees, and reforestation.

  • Cleanup drives to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

  • Environment conservation initiatives and promotion of biodiversity.

A volunteer interested to work in the area of Environment has many opportunities to contribute through such organizations to create awareness, promote environmentally sustainable practices, participating in plantation, cleanup and sustainability initiatives.

NGO Showcase

Adamya Chetana

Adamya Chetana is a voluntary organization working since 1997 in the fields of education and environment with Anna – Akshara – Arogya – Prakruti - Samskruti (Food – Education – Health – Nature – Culture) as its core intervention areas. Adamya Chetana operates a zero waste kitchen through which it serves hot nutritious mid-day meals to more than 2 lakh school children every day. 

Adamya Chetana has also been running Green Sundays initiatives through which they hold plantation drives every Sunday. In an effort to promote sustainable practices, they also run a cutlery bank through which reusable steel cutleries are rented for various events. The organization runs several such initiatives to achieve their mission of sustainable, replicable models for the social betterment of the underprivileged and to develop a sense of appreciation of the Indian culture and value system among the younger generation.

NGO Showcase

Know more at: https://www.adamyachetana.org/volunteer/

LetsTagOn Highlight

LetsTagOn team participates in final assessments of social projects at RVIM.

Letstagon Campaign

LetsTagOn team was part of the assessment panel at RV Institute of Management (RVIM), evaluating the service-learning projects of students. It was wonderful to witness the commendable work done by the students and the support of college staff and management.


Bravo to all the amazing students for their outstanding impact projects! Their passion, creativity, and dedication to making a positive impact in community are truly inspiring. Each project reflected their commitment to social responsibility and the betterment of society. 

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