World Day Observance in Kolkata

GLOBAL WEEK FOR HOLISTIC WELFARE OF CHILDREN

14 – 20 NOVEMBER 2011

Organized by the initiative of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University (Declared by the Government of India as a Deemed University under UGC Act, 1956), to take place in Belur Math, Howrah 711202, West Bengal, in active collaboration with World Day of Prayer and Action for Children under the aegis of The Arigatou International, New York Secretariat, USA, Organization for Friends, Energies and Resources (OFFER), Dunlop, Kolkata and Several other Children’s Welfare Organizations in West Bengal.

INVITATION

All-round welfare of children should be a prime concern of thinking and feeling people all over the world if humankind has to live and survive in peace and harmony. To raise awareness in this regard and to pray and work for children all over the globe, the Organizing Committee for “Global Week for Holistic Welfare of Children” earnestly and cordially invites you and your friends to join them in the celebrating, for the first time in India, this Global Week through a weeklong programme from 14 – 20 November 2011 (that is, beginning on the Children’s Day in India on 14 November and ending on the Universal Children’s Day as declared by United Nations Organization on 20 November).

This week-long celebration is being undertaken with the call for synergy and concerted action by organizations working for children’s welfare in India received from a reputed organization, The Arigatou International, with Secretariat in New York, USA, who observe World Day of Prayer and Action for Children every year on 20 November. This call and invitation for collective action has come to India through the Vice Chancellor of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, one of the undersigned, who is on the Executive Council of The Arigatou International.

This weeklong event is being organized at the initiative of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Belur Math, in active collaboration with Organization for Friends, Energies and Resources (OFFER), Dunlop, Kolkata and several other like-minded organizations in West Bengal working for children, and the logistic support of Ramakrishna Mission Swami Vivekananda’s Ancestral House and Cultural Centre, Kolkata, and Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Kolkata. This unique event commemorates, by happy coincidence, Swami Vivekananda’s 150^th birth anniversary and is a humble offering to this great savant who envisioned a rejuvenated and glorious India populated with joyful children and youth who are harmoniously developed and are of impeccable character.

We heartily invite you and your friends in the name of Swami Vivekananda to join us in this noble nation building endeavour.

Major Themes for this year:

(1)  Stop violence against children (Disciplining children with love)

WEEK-LONG PROGRAMME

14 November 2011 (Monday)—Children’s Day in India: 3 – 5 pm

Inaugural function at Ramakrishna Mancha, Swami Vivekananda’s Ancestral House and Cultural Centre, 3, Gour Mohan Mukherjee Street, Kolkata 700006—Lighting of candles and cultural programme by various children’s groups; Sri Shovan Chattopadhyay, Hon’ble Mayor of Kolkata, has kindly consented to be the Guest-in-Chief

15 November 2011 (Tuesday): 10.00 am – 3.30 pm

Day-long workshop on Children’s Rights, with particular reference to Right to Education—Expert Resource Persons from (i) National Commission for Protection of Children’s Rights (NCPCR), (ii) UNICEF, (iii) Save the Children, (iv) Child Rights and You (CRY). Participants: Various Children’s Rights Activists, NGOs and other members of the public seriously interested

Venue: Turiyananda Hall, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Kolkata

16 November 2011 (Wednesday): 3 pm

Value education workshop for children, organized by Chhatra Kalyan Samiti, Dist. 24 Parganas (North), West Bengal

17 November 2011 (Thursday): 2 pm

Health awareness and health checkup for children, organized by Atghara Sanhati Kendra, Dist. 24-Parganas (North), West Bengal

18 November 2011 (Friday): 3 pm

Positive and Purposeful Parenting workshop, organized by Sri Sri Sarada Ramakrishna Ashrama, Hotor, Dist. 24 Parganas (South), West Bengal

19 November 2011 (Saturday): 11 am

(i) Health awareness and health checkup for children, organized by School of Human Genetics and Population Health, in  Howrah District, West Bengal

(ii) Health awareness and health checkup for children, organized by CINI Asha, Sealdah, Kolkata

20 November 2011 (Sunday)—Universal Children’s Day as Declared by UNO

(i) 10 am: Prayer for Children at Loreto College, Kolkata

(ii) 3 pm: Valedictory function at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University’s Main Campus at Belur

Other activities during the week of November 14-20

–       Mobilizing over 5,000 children

–       Disseminating Banners, newspapers,

–       Inclusion and collaboration with 12 organizations: pre-schools and schools

–      Promotion of main theme: violence against children

Kallol Ghosh                                        Swami Atmapriyananda

Founder-Director                                 Vice Chancellor

OFFER                                                    Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University

Kolkata                                                   Belur Math                                               

PARTICIPANT ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE PARTNERS IN THIS NOBLE EFFORT

 Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Belur Math

Organization for Friends, Energies and Resources (OFFER), Dunlop, Kolkata

Atghara Sanhati Kendra, Dist. 24- Parganas (North)

Chhatra Kalyan Samiti, Dist. 24-Parganas (North)

CINI Asha, Kolkata

Kolkata Konsultants, Kolkata

School of Human Genetics and Population Health working in Howrah District

Sri Sri Sarada Ramakrishna Ashrama, Hotor, Dist. 24-Parganas (South)

Vivekananda Centres for Positive Thinking, Prantakatha, Kolkata

Loreto College, Kolkata