Jamshedpur, Dec 20: Kerala Samajam Model School (KSMS) participated in the Design for change challenge – �I Can� 2014 contest and was declared a winner, in November 2014 as one of the top 20 winning schools, amongst over 1990 entries from 24 states for its story �ItsOK2talk�.
A group of plus two students identified problems and issues that cause inconvenience to them and community at large. The problem of �stress management� was selected and steps undertaken to reduce stress amongst students. The objective of the project was to bring back a smile on the faces of such students that led them to think, �that just made my day�.
Happiness club was formed (by the students and for the students) to give emotional support and human touch to students who were under stress. Sharing sessions was held were students disclosed their problems causes of stress was identified. Through regular listening and therapy sessions a few of them became more at ease with themselves.
Tangible and intangible impacts was seen. The stress level come down, drastic change in their behavior was observed and happiness quotient increased. This concept was shared with the project school, other local schools and with Tata Steel as �PANKH� project.
As an part of the award Disney channel has offered to set up an activity room for the school with props, activities, murals and furniture.
Design for change is the largest global movement initiated by the Riverside school, Ahmedabad to give children an opportunity to express their own ideas for a better world and put them into action.
Children and adults learn through the DFC challenge that �I can� are the two most powerful words a person can believe. The challenge asks students to do four very simple things: Feel, Imagine do and share.