Inspiring social change

Leadership is a common word. Everyone uses it. Many books have tried to capture some part of its essence. Some think leaders are born and that one either has it in him to be a leader or does not. Others think great necessities call forth great leaders. In the words of Warren Bennis,the management writer, ― Leadership, like love, is something everybody knows exists, yet is difficult to define.

Ralph Waldo Emerson used to greet old friends with, ― What‘s become clear to you since we last met? Writing this article, is an opportunity to reflect on that question and what‘s become clear to me is how much one can learn just from observing other lives. Our experiences at the ― Leaders of Tomorrow program served to some extent, to manifest how young people can be trained to take charge; of their lives, their careers and their futures. In the following description, we have tried to explain what difference this training, provided at a young age to students, who otherwise may never have such an opportunity, made to their lives. 'Leaders of Tomorrow' is a program conducted by Dr. P.N. Singh‘s Foundation. The training is imparted to students at Rameshwar, Patuck and other schools in the city of Mumbai.

Mumbai – the land of dreams and maddening paradoxes. Sprawling highrises and heartwrenching poverty. Children at international schools preparing for the opportunities offered by the globalized world and those who work the streets, just to earn their next meal. In this city that never turns anyone away, our 2 week experience at the foundation, opened our eyes to one of the selfless efforts made by determined people to bridge some of the opportunity gaps.

The Foundation launched its Leaders for tomorrow project in 1998 for under privileged school children. It is a one year part time program in class ninth where trainers teach students skills like goal setting, time management, mind control, motivation and public speaking. The project aims at developing self-confidence and improving self-worth in participants so that they are prepared to assume leadership positions in the professions they choose. The course is free of charge and is conducted in various languages like Marathi, Hindi and English. The project has about 33 trainers, all professionals from H.R and other fields. For this project, 30
students, on an average are selected from Class IX by the principals of the respective schools. The students selected are financially backward and are academically inclined. At the end of the program the students are awarded with a certificate by the foundation.

Various aspects of personality development such as self esteem, concentration, habits, memory development,speed reading, communication, creativity, goal setting, time management, attitude, values,stress management, mind control and social behavior are covered by the foundation. On 16th January, 2006 the foundation initiated the India scholar awards. These are handed out every year to well deserving students selected on the basis of merit, which provide them with financial assistance to pursue their graduation.

We also managed to meet some students who had attended this program in the years 2003and 2004. Most of them stay in the slums and needless to say, have not been exposed to any kind of training in terms of personality development and language. We wanted to find out the impact this unique initiative has had on these young students and how it has influenced the career choices they made or were planning to make.

On our journey, we were led around by one of the students, Jitendra, who wove in and around the slums, tirelessly introducing us to people. One of the things that moved us was the courteous treatment given to us. These were poor people, who did not hesitate in offering us food, being short of it themselves. On interacting with students who were trained by the foundation, we were left with no doubt as to the effectiveness of the training and the positive difference it made to their young aspirations.

There were those students, who wished the workshop stayed in longer touch with them but they seemed glad to answer our questions and remembered all the training sessions and their trainers with gratitude. The choices they were equipped to make prepared them for their work lives and contributed in enabling them to choose their careers. Surprisingly, not many were keen on choosing that coveted area of higher education – MBA. What interested them more,were fields of engineering; one student, being particularly fascinated by aeronauticalengineering, and refreshingly, some wanted to know how to gain an entry into the UN.

It was heartening to see wings being provided to the dreams of these young children. These kids are marginalized, like so many in our city. It gave us particular joy to hear the case of a young girl, trained by the foundation, who competed at the national level for a public speaking title, with students from well-heeled schools; and won. These were students who learned just for the joy of learning. They could not afford to take education and a good career for granted,unlike many of us. They had a genuine desire to know more, to make something of themselves and they were clay in the hands of those who wished to mould them.

We could sense their joy from the bright glint in their eyes and their happiness from the words they said. The children were glad that someone cared and their enthusiasm glowed from their faces. Much of the effectiveness of the training arises from the fact that these students are caught young; trained when their beliefs are still being crystallized and taught while they still dared to dream.

Even as we applaud those at the foundation, we realize, certainly, more of such selfless efforts are needed. How can someone like you and me contribute to such initiatives? We‘d say: Time, Money and Support. Any of these, would be investments in the future of such children that will earn rich dividends in the days to come. Along with us, they can also be leaders, learning to take charge of their situations, instead of being pushed around by circumstances. The times we spent with the children served as an eye-opener and to be a part of their happiness, we consider a joy and a privilege.

(Written for the college magazine, 2009)