Loretto Convent, Chembur - Parents Session

 Loretto Convent, Chembur

23rd September 2017

Fr. Leon Rodrigues sdb, the director of AVEC, was invited to take a session for the parents of the Pre-Primary section of Loretto Convent, Chembur on Positive Parenting.

Fr. Leon addressed the gathering on the topic ‘A-Z of Effective Parenting’. He began his talk by highlighting the fact that Parents have been given a great gift. They have been blessed with life and it is their responsibility to take great care of this life. One might think that parenting is easy yet it requires great effort because parenting to us human beings doesn’t come natural. We need to learn effective parenting’.

He helped the parents debunk certain myths about parenting and helped them establish the fact that their ultimate goal is to prepare their child to face the adult world. He highlighted that parents are called to be neither authoritarian nor permissive but ones who follow the mean – democratic who correct with love.

He ended his talk by asking parents to Accept their children, Be good role models, Communicate effectively with their children.

Fr. Leon Rodrigues was thanked for his wonderful insight. 

St. Xavier's High School, Vile Parle

St. Xavier's High School, Vile Parle 

 Students Session

19th September, 2017

AVEC organized a value education session on LIFE for the students of St. Xavier's High School, Vile Parle.

The session was conducted by Fr. Leon Rodrigues sdb who explained that many of life's failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Our lives 'begins to end' on the day we become silent about things that matter. The students also came forward and shared some of their personal life experiences of failures. Fr. Leon explained to the students that success in life is not possible without having a road-map. One needed to set a goal on where one needs to reach. He asked the students to set priorities before them so that they could do well in their Std X exams.

The students actively took part in this interactive session that helped them to look at life from a different perspective.

In the end they thanked Fr. Leon for the wonderful session.

St. Joseph's Convent, Vile Parle

St. Joseph's Convent, Vile Parle

June - October

Fr. Leon Rodrigues sdb conducted Value-ed sessions for all the students from Std V - Std X over an extended period of four months.

He took sessions on interesting topics like self-worth, life is precious, Heart values, direction in life, positive attitude.

Mr. Joshua D'Souza and Mr. Aditya Salunke, also helped out in animating the sessions.

St. Peter's High School, Mazgoan

 St. Peter's High School, Mazgoan - 16th September

Fr. Leon Rodrigues conducted a session for the teachers of St. Peter’s Mazgoan.

The teachers were divided into groups in order to discuss the statement “I was born intelligent, education ruined me.” Was this a true? 

There was a split verdict on the validity and truthfulness of this statement but the larger question of whether we need to focus on the ‘curriculum’ or on the ‘holistic education of the child’ came to the fore.

Through a presentation Fr. Leon helped the teachers understand that our vocation as teachers was to help the young achieve an integrated life.

Fr. Leon then touched on the subject of the Blue Whale syndrome that was gripping our nation. He helped the teachers understand that today’s child is a NETIZEN (a citizen on the internet) and that inorder to reach to him/her we need to be physically present in the classroom and the educational environment. Love would bring about greater education than fear.

The session ended with everyone committing to making their classroom a better place.

St. Agnes Junior College, Byculla

St. Agnes Junior College, Byculla - 13th September

Mr. Rochwyn began the session by invoking the help of the Lord. He helped the children meditate through a breathing exercise.

Through fun, games and excitement Fr. Leon then began the session. He helped the students realize their inner worth. All are created in God’s likeness he said. With the help of the example of Nick Vujicic and Jiah Khan he helped the students understand that life is precious and that no matter we should never stop living.

During session no. 2 he made the students play the ‘one direction’ game. He told the students that all require a direction in life and that without direction life would be meaningless. He challenged the students to find their true north.