ESD at Rajagiri-Doha: SDGs as reflected in the annual Rajagiri Fest REPERTOIRE

I was glad to see elements of ESD in a pronounced manner in the way in which Rajagiri fest was celebrated on the 13th and 14th of December.  

The welcome speech had a special reference to SDG, and personally to me (that is a bit embarrassing though) as the force behind the SDG thinking on the campus.  Our young principal has solid principles to lean on, with his experience in initiating his erstwhile workplace in Keralam, India as a global school. 

His report on the school adequately stressed the efforts taken in this direction by the school as a whole-school programme. The chief guest, Sachin Dinkar IAS, the secretary for education of the Qatar Indian consulate,  noticed the stress given in the programmes on the theme, and added that alongside, incentivised stress could be given on reading selected books of all genres over a year. I would say yes to that - perhaps also having books related to planet life. 

However, from speech to practice is not easy - the annual magazine, prepared after great hard work, and to be released by me, was wrapped in a glossy glass paper, which could very well have been normal paper or brown paper! With Mr Ajith being the man behind it, it is likely that it was a reused stuff, with his alertness towards the principles of sustainability, even before he had the mantle of GS advocate. 

The KG programme Chrysalis, presented the varying seasons with the two chirping little birds expressing their worry for the sustainability of the beautifully diverse common home, with the tiny toddlers and the teachers echoing powerfully together Louis Armstrong's 'What a wonderful world'. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fprasant.palakkappillil%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02RwsGaFbeSwGyVQp34DS6AjyqaaeZgz1TeCAr9YzqjmiBi4Jsg2p7ukwW88tqwHK5l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="543" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>.  A powerful reminder regarding Climate Change (SDG 13)

Harvest of Hope by the VII graders had directly to do with SDG2 of 'zero hunger' and 'climate action' with the little steps school children can play in this regard. For IX graders it was the school value of global outlook that mattered through the Hogwarts School initiation of Harry Porter starting with a detour to Malgudi of India, and its rich diversity being a great lesson.  It had lessons in SDG 14 and 15 (diversity) and that of global cooperation for the goals (SDG 17). 

Fifth graders were happy presenting the diverse dances of India, which they did with gusto. 

On the second day of the fest too, the thrust on sustainability had its mark on the programmes, especially, the programme by the fourth graders 'Calenta Mienta (Calentamiento?) Global' was about global warming, as discussed by a joint family - grandparents, parents and the children, reminiscing about the less threatened past life and looking into what contributes to global warming and small steps that can be taken. 

I had the occasion to deliver the Presidential address on the second day, in which I tried to point out the value orientation of the school, with global citizenship as a core value, and which required training and action in the direction of SDGs, with parental support and involvement.  I am afraid if this was ever listened to by the parents or the teachers, with whom I want a continued dialogue on this matter to take place. I made another post with the matter I presented. 

A great experiment in talent and skill development of children, with almost 60% of the total students making at least an appearance on the stage; giving them an opportunity to get out of their shells, and be with others before a larger audience.  And some of them did vouch for the transformation that can happen through the process of school education, notwithstanding all its limitations!