Poster Competition on World AIDS Day

On World AIDS Day (December 1st) SOSVA conducted a poster making competition for students across colleges in Mumbai. Through this poster competition, SOSVA intended to:
Increase knowledge about HIV and AIDS among students in Colleges.
Propagate the message that HIV infections can happen to anyone.
Spread the message that treatment, prevention, care and support is everybody's right
Address the stigmatization that HIV/AIDS entail for people in India and create a band of young propagators, who will spread the message of positivism and acceptance.

The participating colleges were:
1) SIES College-Nerul
2) IES College- Bandra
3) L.S Raheja college of Applied Art –Bandra
4) H.K College- Jogeshwari
5) Bhavans College- Andheri
6) SVT college Juhu

There were close to 125 entries received, on the following themes:

1) Let AIDS not divide us
2) Treat AIDS – Save Lives
3) HIV Positives have a Right to Live
4) Stigma Kills – Kill the Stigma
5) Ignorance Kills – Get Educated about AIDS
6) HIV positives have a right to get treated

The judging took place on 2nd December at the Petit Municipal School Hall, where the posters were displayed for the judges to evaluate.
Ms. Kalyani Orpe, Ms. Amrita Bhende and Mr. Sunil Chavan judged the posters on the following criteria:

1)Originality
2)Creativity
3)Composition in relevance to the theme
4)Over–all visual impact


The winners were:
1) Shakambri Soni: SIES Nerul
2) Archana Agrawal: SVT College
3) Tejas Wadke: L.S Raheja College


The winning entries received prizes worth Rs. 5000, 2500 and 1000 respectively and all the participants received certificates and T-Shirts.

Volunteer Day

Recognizing the power of volunteerism, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 2001 as International Year of Volunteers. Since then, 5th is celebrated world over as the International Volunteer Day with its main objectives of increased recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteering.

On the eve of World Volunteers Day, SOSVA organized an Annual Volunteer Meet.

SOSVA has been celebrating this event since last few years, giving opportunity to volunteers to interact and share their experience. This year we took the program to a new level and discussed the various trends in Volunteering. Apart from our volunteers, we invited speakers from the corporate sector and academia to discuss new dimensions that volunteering entails.

Mr. Jayaraman Iyer , (Ex CMD SHCIL), Mr. R. S Surve. Secretary Shri Ambika Arogya Yog Kutir, Mrs. Jyoti Gandhi- Former Head, Dept. of Biotechnology, National College graced the occasion and had a panel discussion on “Emerging trends in Volunteering: Role and Utilization of Volunteers”. Mr. Ernest Fernandes , noted Bandra citizen moderated the discussions.

The crux of the discussion was that if we want a nation where volunteering is an inherent part of our culture then we need to start young and introduce children to the joy of volunteering form school itself.

Children from the NGO’s- Sparsh and Skills and Ability School, Nerul staged a cultural program for the audience.

Be there!

Society for Service to Voluntary Agencies (SOSVA)
cordially invites you to celebrate the Joy of volunteering on the occasion of

WORLD VOLUNTEER DAY-2010


Venue:

M.S Subbalakshmi Auditorium, Bhaudaji Road Extension, Next to Punjab Association Hall, Near Kings Circle Station, Matunga-E

Day, Date & Time:

Saturday, 4th December, 2010 at 1:00 p.m


Tentative Program Flow:

World Volunteer Day Celebration - 4th December, 2010


1.00 pm – 2.00 pm - Assembly and Lunch


2.00 pm – 2. 05 pm - Welcome Address by Radha Vedantam, Director – Volact, SOSVA

2.05 pm – 2. 35 pm - Cultural Programme

2. 35 pm – 2.45 pm - Keynote Address by Mr. Ananthraman Mahadevan, Chief Executive, SOSVA

2.45 pm – 3.30 pm - Panel Discussion : Emerging trends in Volunteering : Role and Utilization of volunteers

Panellists


1. A corporate Speaker

2. Academia

3. Volunteer Speaker

4. Volunteer Speaker

5. Media Speaker


3.30 pm – 4.00 pm - Q&A and Experience Sharing

4.00 pm- 4. 25 pm - Certificate Distribution ceremony

4.25 pm - Vote of Thanks



RSVP: SOSVA
Tel: 2655 5704, 2641 1205

E-mail: sosva@hotmail.com, volact@hotmail.com

Kindly let us know if you can make it to the function.

Children's Day Celebrations

A child's home environment and the toys they play with influence their educational development. Play is as important as is formal education.Play gives children fun and joy, develops a child's personality, helps them realise their potential and experience the satisfaction of success. It opens up a whole new world of creativity and imagination and helps develop speech, reading, thinking, problem solving and fine motor skills. Toys are an integral part a child’s learning process and a variety of well chosen toys helps a child's personality development. Toys lay the groundwork for language, reading, mathematical, scientific and physical skills. And perhaps more importantly helps children in their social and emotional development.

SOSVA has constantly endeavored to reach out to those children for whom Toys are nothing but a distant dream.

This year to celebrate Children’s day, SOSVA in consultation with the volunteers decided to conduct a Toy Donation drive across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The focus was on Educational Toys and Aids and toys which will aid in the development of the children. There was an option of donating either Toys-old (but in good condition) and new or to donate in cash. NGO’s were identified where toy libraries could be set up or existing ones strengthened.

The response was overwhelming and people donated in cash and in kind.This would not have been possible without the support and faith of our volunteers.

SOSVA conducted two events to commemorate Children’s Day, one at Children Of the World, Nerul and the other at SHED-Dharavi and the toys were distributed to these two NGOs, bringing cheer and fun into the lives of these kids.
Thank you Volunteers...This would not have been possible without you.

Annual Memorial Address in honour of Late Dr. (Mrs.) Mabelle Arole

As you may be aware, SOSVA (Society for Service to Voluntary Agencies) has instituted an Annual Memorial Address in honour of Padmabhushan and Magsaysay Awardee Late Dr. (Mrs.) Mabelle Arole who passed away in Jamkhed on 27th September, 1999.

This year Dr. Anant Pandhare, Medical Director of Dr. Hedgewar Hospital & Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Vaidyakiya Pratishthan, Aurangabad has kindly agreed to give us an insight into the various programs undertaken by the Pratishthan on an unique preventive health care model, complementary & supplementary education, sanitation & hygiene, vocational guidance etc for the support and empowerment of children, adolescent girls, women and other underprivileged sections of the community in and around Marathwada.

The Memorial Address “Beyond Health Care – Hospital With A Vision”, will be delivered at Walchand Hirachand Hall, Indian Merchants’ Chamber, IMC Marg, Opp. Churchgate Station, Mumbai – 400020, on Saturday, 23rd October, 2010 at 4.00 p.m.

I hope you will be able to make it convenient to attend and grace the function.

Thank you for your goodwill and support.

Yours sincerely,


M. Anantharaman
Governing Council Member and Hon. Chief Executive – SOSVA
=================================
Society for Service to Voluntary Agencies,
Room No. 2 & 3, Petit Municipal School,
Opp. Bhabha Hospital, R. K. Patkar Marg,
Bandra West, Mumbai – 400 050
Call – 91 – 022 – 2641 1205, 2655 5704
Website – http://www.sosva.org
Blog - http://volact.blogspot.com
Email Id – sosva@hotmail.com

DO GOOD Program - Notebook Drive 2010

The notebook drive for 2010 was indeed more than successful...thanks to the generosity of the donors. SOSVA was able to meet the requirements of the NGOs for whom the drive was initiated...It was indeed a pleasure to see the happy faces of the students who received the notebooks...Here are some pictures of the notebooks distribution at some of the NGOs. Thank you once again donors..We hope that next year we will be in a position to cater to more NGOs.

Distribution at Vidya, Powai and Janvi, Saki Naka

World Environment Day

World Environment Day on 5th June this year, was celebrated with our volunteers in Maharashtra Nature Park. The volunteers enjoyed the trail with tips on urban gardening and vermin composting.