On the 3rd of February Sr. Phulmani Ekka coordinator for Ecology at Maria Sharan, organized for our inmates the day of appreciation of nature and of each other. Sr.Maria Achandil, the in-charge of garden and field, was the main resource person for the day. Sr. Maria spends most of the time with nature as she is the lover of nature. Through her wide experience in conserving and savoring her moments with natural beauty, she explained the importance of various plants, trees, seeds, flowers, soil, manure etc. The girls were attentive and interested in enriching themselves with Sr. Maria’s inputs. This comprised the theory session, which was then followed by the practical one. She divided the girls into four groups. They were given instructions regarding plantation of the vegetables, flowers and preparing the ground for the planting etc. According to the activities, each group of girls began to clean, prepare the ground and pots for planting, watering etc. The girls promised to express their gratitude to nature by taking care of nature by keeping their surroundings clean in the campus and keeping the garden green. To mark the day of appreciation, the girls planted vegetables like eggplant, beetroot, salad leaves, chillies, tomatoes and also various flowers and show plants in the pots. With a grateful heart, they accomplished the hard work.
In the evening hours, a moment of prayer was organized to appreciate each other. Before the prayer, necessary instructions were given to the inmates for the small activity. The prayer moment began with the video song Dhanyawad the three inter-religious scripture readings followed. After a moment of silence, Sr.Phulmani read the commentary on finding happiness of being grateful to God and to each other. Blank papers were given to each girl to write the good qualities of the girl who was sitting next to her during the prayer moment. Each one of them wrote the good qualities of each other and papers were put back into the basket. The prayer moment was concluded by offering gestures of peace and singing a peace song and by lighting the candle of peace and a candle of love. After the prayer service, the girls sat down in a circle and each girl picked up a paper from the basket and read the good qualities of each other. While reading and hearing there was a glow on their faces.
They had a beautiful experience of the day by appreciating nature and each other. So they voiced out their learning experiences which are noted as below:
- The girls said that they were enriched by the sharing of Sr.Maria Achandil. This helped them to be always grateful to nature. Nature beautifies the surroundings and looking at nature, we experience peace and joy.
- They learn the process of planting, sowing, preparing the ground, soil, manure, watering etc.
- They were happy to spend the day around nature and expressed their gratitude to nature.
- Each group promised to take care of the surrounding of the campus, garden, and the field by keeping clean, watering the garden regularly, putting manure etc.
- They promised not to harm nature by throwing plastic and rubbish around but would dispose of them in the proper place.
- Appreciation of each other boosted their courage and self-confidence. Some were emotionally touched and were moved by hearing their positive qualities.
- This activity helped them to see the positive in others and appreciate it.
- It encouraged them to be generous in giving each other positive strokes.
- This has helped them to discover their potentiality and talents which they were not aware of.
- They promised to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in the boarding and spread positive vibrations around.