tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893540726141507062024-03-05T00:37:29.503-08:00Lotus Petal FoundationLotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-88843469755472472012021-07-18T03:30:00.001-07:002021-07-22T00:37:04.861-07:00"Improve yourself to change what`s around"- Madiba`s word continue to light my path each day.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVM6hqy0gtts_QpvkN3zRPvJ33sMfgmg8h4CQeCTyC1B5DBoP3-p_MaK0SxdbPJNIXTC9BUg7we-XYuJVN7IugnTcxDx-nTM8GsJ4qpPF90PwFYIg3stgVw9a8D1F8c5L7pDZfsAbxmA/s1081/1626580400167.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1081" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVM6hqy0gtts_QpvkN3zRPvJ33sMfgmg8h4CQeCTyC1B5DBoP3-p_MaK0SxdbPJNIXTC9BUg7we-XYuJVN7IugnTcxDx-nTM8GsJ4qpPF90PwFYIg3stgVw9a8D1F8c5L7pDZfsAbxmA/w470-h312/1626580400167.png" width="470" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #444444;">On Nelson Mandela
International Day as we celebrate the man who changed the world with his
philosophy and activism on the right to equality and dignity for all, we cannot
forget the remarkable journey of self-growth and transformation of Nelson
Mandela. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For a person who
spent 27 years of his life in prison, his message to the world was always clear
– peace, forgiveness and liberation. His resilience and mental strength helped
him grow as a leader and engage his thoughts on how to resist oppression and
move forward with dignity and forgiveness. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Forgiveness was the
virtue that he gained during his years in prison, a quality that made him the
most followed politician and one of the most celebrated men in history. His
ability to forgive is what lead him to the road to freedom.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;">“As I walked out
the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't
leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.” – Nelson
Mandela</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As we celebrate the
values of Nelson Mandela on his special day, there is much for us to take from
his life. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Nelson Mandela’s
remarkable journey shows us the power of our thoughts and actions. As he
transformed and strengthened his focus on forgiveness, his journey
strengthened. His message was always clear- the need to focus on changing
ourselves because “we” are the society. And when we change for the better,
society changes for the better. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Nelson Mandela’s
life is an example of how our thoughts have the power to create our reality. It
is an internal journey of exploration and discovery of our strengths, believes
and goodness because lasting change begins from within. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A personal hero,
Madiba`s humility, patience, forgiveness and determination to do what he had
set out to do guide my path each day. His integrity gave him courage to stand
up for the right. His practice of forgiveness gave him the endurance to
constantly question the status quo. A life dedicated to community service,
social justice and inspiring change- his message of ‘</span><i style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">’take
action everyday for a better society” </span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">holds as much relevance
today. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">What would be Madiba`s 103rd birthday, a hope to let go off biases to envision a non-discriminating world continues to remain a dream.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-89170008363992754532021-07-13T01:59:00.054-07:002021-08-05T02:09:36.658-07:00Corporate to Non Profit : My Bridge to Fulfillment<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOhKu8g3bfxc9G1XFAfA4BO7eC8bO-DGdKnhFiWJhJoeP_WIPNLEgS2kfX_aPIB6aD6T6l9P3BkPyn7OptGcOfdPEKKep7XlU4xOp5uCzP_IQkhDqCun_qlPCKQpiN9xKATUsqPjrPi4/s1136/image+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1136" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOhKu8g3bfxc9G1XFAfA4BO7eC8bO-DGdKnhFiWJhJoeP_WIPNLEgS2kfX_aPIB6aD6T6l9P3BkPyn7OptGcOfdPEKKep7XlU4xOp5uCzP_IQkhDqCun_qlPCKQpiN9xKATUsqPjrPi4/w517-h226/image+10.jpg" width="517" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. <u style="box-sizing: border-box;">IMUST to 7 – MUST</u></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></u></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">One of my unique learning’s of working in IKEA was IWAY i.e., the IKEA way of doing business, a code of compliance to be always abided by, has key elements such as IMUST and IBasic which apply to suppliers and the IKEA offices themselves in letter and spirit. Inviolable at all times, these principles correspond to themes such as human rights, environmental preservation, safety of workers etc. and reflect the company’s values forming a foundation for its sustainability.</span></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">This concept of having non-negotiable ‘musts’ for the operations of the organization have inspired the 7 MUSTS of Lotus Petal Foundation. These rules range from guidelines about education standards, nutrition, environment sustainability to quality of work which has secured the everyday basics of school operations.</span></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. <u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Culture supporting Work Life Synergy</u></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></u></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">At IKEA, I found considerable value placed upon supporting the work-life balance of employees which encompassed various aspects like flexible working hours, meetings scheduled to allow employees to avoid weekend travels and career decisions factoring personal life situations and priorities.</span></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">Encouraging synergy between the professional and personal spheres of an employee’s life is an important part of Lotus Petal as well. The work week is limited to 36 to 40 hours, akin to European standards of employment. Ideas such as Detox-Talk, borrowed from the Swedish concept of Development talk, encourage the employees to candidly share problems, find a safe space for self-expression and develop further as an individual. All this encourages employees to lead a holistic life at work and home. All employees are equipped with fundamental social security through schemes such as Employee State Insurance (ESI) and Provident Fund (PF), 6 months Maternity Benefits and Medical cover of Rs.5 lacs per family member and supported with other initiatives like compassionate leave to take care of personal life situations.</span></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. <u style="box-sizing: border-box;">VOICE to VOICE IT</u></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></u></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">At IKEA, I found an open listening culture rather than unidirectional instruction. The voice of the employees is highly valued. The results of the annual VOICE survey conducted by a third party is viewed as an important part of building strong employee engagement and providing those in leadership roles clarity and direction.</span></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">At Lotus Petal, we have VOICE IT, an anonymous survey has been conducted for the last 4 years. An integral part of gauging the thoughts and sentiments of the employees, it provides a means for people to share their concerns, opinions, and ideas. Actions taken based on these surveys has helped improve performance at all levels and employees feel like valued stakeholders. It has helped build Lotus Petal into a certified Great Place to Work. The attrition rate of employees with more than 3 years working more than 2 years is < 1,5%.</span></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. <u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Simple and effectives working methods</u></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></u></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">IKEA employs a multitude of innovative systems to facilitate the way problems and possible solutions are handled. Many of these are utilized at Lotus Petal.</span></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">They include the </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Start-Stop-Continue feedback</em><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"> </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">approach</em><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"> to gauge a relevant estimate of projects and feedback; the </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4-room apartment approach, </em><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">employed at every level (personal, departmental, organizational) to evaluate issues; </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Checking-in and checking-out system</em><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">, a way to express understanding and mindset at the beginning and end of meetings and certain processes such as the </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Contract Review</em><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">, which we use to execute all CSR projects creating an internal agreement between the various parties involved, in case of any errors we deploy the </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Root Cause Analysis</em><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"> and work with </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Corrective Action Preventive Action (CAPA).</em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">All these concepts have assisted in streamlining the tasks and have improved efficiency at Lotus Petal.</span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. <u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Leadership</u></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></u></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">IKEA deploys a distinctive leadership development process and some of those learnings have been deeply engrained in my leadership style. The focus on continuous improvement – making something better by a small measure every single day has helped fine tune the entire academic process into a scientific method of education children from less privileged backgrounds. Daring to be different has helped us take decisions which have lifted the organization scope and reach. The decision to provide all students with digital devices in May 2020 was one of them. You are allowed to make mistakes was something I heard for the first time in my career at IKEA. At Lotus Petal we have built a culture around this of “Smart Mistakes” i.e., mistakes we learn from and develop better ways to do it the next time. The recruitment process of IKEA helped me understand the importance in the primary analysis of a candidate to see the fitment into the culture and atmosphere of the organization plus the additional grandparent interview by someone besides the hiring manager and HR staff ensures an impartial decision. At Lotus Petal too the same process has been followed by default and now is being structured as part of the hiring process with the prime focus has been on the harmonious integration of a person into the organization. This approach has proved exceedingly successful in attracting the talented people who are able to perform well and sustain the desired work culture.</span></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">The focus on quality in the everyday life, cost consciousness and an overall sense of wellbeing and fulfilment are difficult to be mapped by a metrics or a process but are critical elements of building an organization that values the individual and the environment. They formed the sublime of my tenure with IKEA.</span></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">Many things remain to be done and we look ahead to a glorious future in which every child gets equal opportunity.</span></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">**************</span></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From a modest one room school with 7 students Lotus Petal is today providing direct education to over 1000 students in our own schools, helping over 500 students in government schools and community services to over 500,000 people annually. Alumni from our programs are employed in the formal sector or pursing higher professional education.</em></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 2rem;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div><br /></div></span></em></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></em></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></em></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-40977352650383492742021-07-07T01:54:00.003-07:002021-08-05T01:58:47.125-07:00Recognizing attributes that may help you find ever increasing joy with your skills and work so no day is as ordinary as it seems today.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3J1x1eNJt8b-WWKQ380DwOtLHRnYgAEiwPuB-R_l4-fvnSj6TkS9CzIg9_GymceZcaRQAcXO85u4rN3-sqEKFnN1EI5O7ZKk-1P4HE9Sm_pYoQFK0AW_rb1S3pYqdqgcekWxlX3AbSQ/s1081/image8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1081" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3J1x1eNJt8b-WWKQ380DwOtLHRnYgAEiwPuB-R_l4-fvnSj6TkS9CzIg9_GymceZcaRQAcXO85u4rN3-sqEKFnN1EI5O7ZKk-1P4HE9Sm_pYoQFK0AW_rb1S3pYqdqgcekWxlX3AbSQ/w564-h249/image8.png" width="564" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">One who takes a pause to listen to the silent voice within that pushes to do more with the everyday can be summed up as a Changemaker. Some do what the nudges suggest with awareness while most respond to the stimuli of feeling better and sleeping better.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Many around are competing to earn more, achieve more and climb higher on the professional ladder, there are some whose determinations are very different. They do not dream of climbing the organizational hierarchy but are searching for more. The more is a whole lot and difficult to explain and impossible to purchase. But there is an abstract ‘more’ that satiates the quest and gives meaning to life. Some call it looking for purpose. The accomplishment of that ‘more’ requires courage and always a lot of letting go.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Few wish to achieve not what the world sees as greater but what fulfills their soul and give them contentment. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They are the Changemakers</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"> – the reformers, progressionist who want to change society for the better.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"> Changemakers are not born, they are self-made – People who are not running the rat race. They may have stability and comfort but are still willingly to step out of their comfort zone in search of something more, something that can give them happiness and gratification. There is risk, discomfort and perhaps at times less money, yet it qualifies as ‘more’. There is a choice made.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Each person who works at Lotus Petal has an innate desire to bring positive change with his work. Their regular-looking jobs give them the freedom to express themselves and flourish as they work for contentment and fulfillment. People are accepted as they are and valued for the skills that they bring and most importantly are treated well. While at work, each Changemaker is aware of how their regular job is a critical link in providing a life of dignity to someone.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Our Changemakers step out of their comfort zones daily as they extend their services and expertise to serve more. They face the unfamiliar, and to learn what’s new and relevant in the changing times. They work for the underserved – in an environment different from where most come from. Each day they live and interact with people living in difficult circumstances, facing complex problems. The work that the Changemaker encounters everyday throws at them unexplainable yet human challenges that many may have heard of but never faced. These are circumstances where statistics, standard procedures, and protocols don’t work. Each challenge is different and each one needs a distinct solution. Most learning is at work every day. The team takes every challenge as part of its daily routine and works its way to find cost effective and innovative solutions to every problem. What you bring to your desk is an open desire to learn and an honest commitment to deliver.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Embracing the discomfort of growth and resolution to rise above the challenges outlines a Changemaker at Lotus Petal. They don`t quit. They learn, they support and emerge resilient because in the persistence lays transformation. And in that spirited environment of growth lays the road to service that enables the less fortunate to hope for a life of dignity.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our Changemakers never stop until they make the change happen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Be A Changemaker </span><a href="http://mailto:Peoplefunction@lotuspetalfoundation.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0073b1; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Peoplefunction@lotuspetalfoundation.org</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://mailto:Rituparna.d@lotuspetalfoundation.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0073b1; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Rituparna.d@lotuspetalfoundation.org</a></div><br /> <p></p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-70862033315201593542021-06-15T08:30:00.117-07:002021-06-28T03:48:59.855-07:00Education for underprivileged in 2021: Bridging the Digital Divide<p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjit1C70r2C_R_Jzf3-Qtdgv-yI_ms5yLPEWTodI791bfqAEhNot06h2mydychDn7oWcBlTkBfg_u_HbijjM2fAnPBFf874yqELrFx5rFQpLxlMViZ9dV4pODiCZio9kp1YidM4QZgbPE/s531/2021-06-23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjit1C70r2C_R_Jzf3-Qtdgv-yI_ms5yLPEWTodI791bfqAEhNot06h2mydychDn7oWcBlTkBfg_u_HbijjM2fAnPBFf874yqELrFx5rFQpLxlMViZ9dV4pODiCZio9kp1YidM4QZgbPE/s16000/2021-06-23.png" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: large;">The global transition of education to a virtual model has led to a deep Digital Divide among students in terms of access to quality online learning. The gap between the privileged and the underprivileged is undeniably evident. As detailed in my article ‘Digital Divide in Education’ published this February, problems in E-Learning are ample but the digital model of learning is bound to continue in the foreseeable future. The way onward then, is to work towards bridging this divide.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: large;">To this end, sharing some insights from our working with online education for less privileged students over the past year.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-weight: 600; text-align: left;">1. </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-weight: 600; text-align: left;"> </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-weight: 600; text-align: left;">Device Misuse Myths</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro, serif; font-size: large;">A certain apprehension pertaining to device misuse / damage / misplacement exists in the society. Having distributed near 750 + digital devices to students at Lotus Petal, our data reflects that while some devices were slightly damaged and few were given back to the school for minor repairs, the number of devices lost or pilfered has been 0. Less than 0.5% of device has been damaged. This is indicative of the fact that theft of devices by students or families is a myth. Rather equipping the children with a device seems to instill in them a sense of duty and responsibility. Measures like good quality device cover and security software’s for remote monitoring act as deterrents and influence appropriate behavior.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: large; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">2. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Full Day Internet Access</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mere device distribution to underprivileged students does not suffice. Internet access, an obvious part of online education, can be provided to students by way of full day internet access. To provide incentive, data pack recharges can be linked to students’ attendance and performance in class. At Lotus Petal, in April 2021, attendance adherence has been observed by 80% of the active 739 students. A possible long-term remedy to improve access to net services for underprivileged students is partnering up with internet service providers to subsidize data plans and make learning on digital platforms affordable. Also, zero-rating practices that allow teachers and students to utilize websites without financial cost can be evaluated. Many of our corporate partners like BA Airways, Mediatek , United Way of Delhi have been funding these access costs based on student attendance performance. </span></p><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: large; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Device cost financial aid linked to outcomes</span></span></div><div><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">The financial aspect of learning needs to be considered as well. Not every parent can afford a digital device. A workable solution for this can be increasing awareness about low-cost access via Blended Finance options such as Impact bonds, Interest Free Loans, Blended Loans, Pay for Performance Grants etc. A typical tab costing Rs. 9000, can be paid off in 12 monthly installments of Rs.750, which can be afforded by most. This way the parents can afford to keep their children’s education going strong. Lotus Petal has collaborated with the Rang De India initiative and has assisted many underprivileged children in availing Interest Free Loans. Partners with programs of Pay for Performance Grants can be reimburse the costs to parents at regular intervals on meeting academic outcomes. This also provides dignity to the parents in the sense that they are getting the benefits based on their and their children’s efforts and it is not a dole.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">4. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bandwidth, Software and Hardware Impediments</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Problems pertaining to Bandwidth and Content Comprehension by the student can be assuaged by modifying the curriculum content in a way that it may be easy to understand and attainable even in lower bandwidth. The material can be made simple and comfortably downloadable and storable for reference later as well. Overall, minimizing the digital divide would require ideas such as televising some of the course content, distribution of learning kits, creating free WI-FI spots in underserved neighborhoods, indigenous manufacturing of digital devices. Learnings from Ed-Tech failures of the past such as a dearth of knowledge repositories, a lack of personalization in learning, incomprehensible course delivery and inability to conduct assessments smoothly call for focus towards a merger of and metamorphosis in software and hardware development. There is a need for establishing workable partnerships between all information and communication technology stakeholders and improving our digital literacy capacities in the short and long run. With this we may bring a meaningful change in the e-learning education space.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">5. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pedagogy</span></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">The pedagogy of classroom teaching cannot be duplicated in the online mode. Here the teaching, which is more lecture based, effective high-quality content on concepts which can be referenced later, encouragement to children to indulge in self-study and access to doubt clearance sessions on one-on-one basis or in smaller groups has been more effective. In this direction, Lotus Petal has partnered with BYJU’s in their program of Education for All in which they provide free content to underprivileged children.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While many steps have been taken in the right direction, much more thought, innovation and action need to go into functionalizing the sphere of E-Learning. It is no longer an option but a necessity. This is an issue which requires the commitment of multiple stakeholders – Government, Non-Profits, Corporate CSR funding, Social Financial Institutions, Content Providers etc. to work in a collaborative manner.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do contribute your valuable inputs on possible solutions in the comments and let us all work towards ensuring quality education for each and every child of the nation including those living in underprivileged communities. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0Gurugram, Haryana, India28.4594965 77.02663830.14926266382115472 41.8703883 56.769730336178846 112.1828883tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-38846168252994419052021-06-08T01:30:00.004-07:002021-08-05T01:47:15.913-07:00Top 7 things to know before starting a non-profit<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0WbHQJmros-GV_K7sX-2cmnBEnW9H_j69Jwx3V7myWW3a_kABvOItXwPf0x-7UHbULdvufSJULCDTI81XgT9RLBZaVjgUljF8-iQj8h8genYoUQfhrExTzPY_ZzGzfPST8pLihc8AzM/s746/image7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="746" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0WbHQJmros-GV_K7sX-2cmnBEnW9H_j69Jwx3V7myWW3a_kABvOItXwPf0x-7UHbULdvufSJULCDTI81XgT9RLBZaVjgUljF8-iQj8h8genYoUQfhrExTzPY_ZzGzfPST8pLihc8AzM/w487-h208/image7.jpg" width="487" /></a></div></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 2rem;">1. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Clear cause and objective:</u></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Most imperative is a clarity about the cause one wishes to work for. A clear vision, derived from what one is passionate about. A non-commercial; charitable or philanthropic endeavour. Registering a non-for-profit organization as either a Trust, Society or Section 8 company then becomes the basic next step. Eventually, clarity brings coherence in the focus of effort expended and actions to take/not to take as the organization grows successfully. If the purpose is clear, then every obstacle can be overcome.</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 2rem;">2. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dependable associates and allies:</u></span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Selection of the people one collaborates with for the founding structure of the organization is critical. These people should be unwavering allies, willing to be open to scrutiny by tax authorities, government departments like MHA, Intelligence Bureau and sharing personal as well as financial details to multiple stakeholders. At the same time, they should be able to advise in a critical yet supportive manner and spare time to attend meetings. It needs a commitment for at a minimum of 4 -5 years (required to attain all essential registrations and approvals). Ideally, not immediate family members or politically engaged persons (PEPs) and preferably living in close range, to ease the process of verifications.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">3. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">A concrete plan of activities & finances:</u></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">A definitive plan, initially, is vital. The reality is that people contribute to impactful endeavours. While initial resources for one’s efforts will come from self, friends and family, the public will contribute to activities that have a tangible and visible impact. Also, tax exemption approvals and 2-3 years track record are needed to get substantial donations from individuals and corporates. So, having a structure of activities that score both on immediate impact and limited financials is important to gain primary momentum.</span> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">4. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Documentation:</u></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commencing from the first activity of the non-profit, methodical documentation should be maintained. Date stamped pictures, cataloguing of all reports, having all expenditures plans discussed and approved by the board, expenses vouchers/invoices with payment proofs signed, receipt issuance within 24 hours for all donations assures the public of the longevity of the organization’s work. A current updated website, social media posts and articles are a source of online documentation as well.</span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">5. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Financial & Compliances know-how:</u></span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A basic knowledge of finances and easy to learn accounting is a must. Categories of funding, types of accounts to be opened and operated, basic compliances, proof of monetary transactions, financial records, Income Tax applicability etc. should be understood. Do not get mislead by the “imposter syndrome” as there are many experts in this field. Such fundamental concepts are straightforward and easy to comprehend. This helps prevent any subsequent complications as organisation grows.</span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">6. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Registered Address /Place of operation</u></span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Setting up a suitable address for commercial activities, preferably one that remains unchanged, is crucial. As rental properties require many tangled compliances, starting the work at any permanent address, even a friend’s is more desirable. A small office with a legitimate board of the organization’s name must be established. This is helpful with getting your bank account opening, payment gateway etc.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">7. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Prepare for foreign donations</u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One should surely aspire towards gaining foreign contributions. When collected legitimately and utilized with transparency, foreign contributions can greatly assist a non-profit as foreign donors are easier to convince and many favours supporting smaller charities. This is exhibited by the fact that over the last 4 years, Rs. 51,000 Cr have been received by non-profits in the country as foreign donation. However, it takes a minimum 3 completed years with over Rs. 15 lac spend in charitable activities plus many other requirements to be eligible. Preparing for it from Day 1 makes it a lot easier.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> There will be obstacles that are not anticipated; however, one is able to overcome all obstacles due to the commitment one has to the cause and purpose of why one started. No obstacle is bigger than the purpose has guided us in this journey. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> </p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-54694250372887396522021-05-25T08:11:00.003-07:002021-05-25T08:11:56.770-07:005 trends in the urban poor's response to the pandemic have seeds of solution for the future.<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kvKUxmXTUFDEoyNqIIdVi1EsCyaoaIfaMbPmZvUG6UfaEv3q0y5xW_zONarMyExkCX5BxGxjOaIT7TMAjEjPJ-9MFGHxdRK2WpuQiBtKxKT7ow6zAcyEImZTPJPlVeKnPYO_ZHOIy0s/s1009/Image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="1009" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kvKUxmXTUFDEoyNqIIdVi1EsCyaoaIfaMbPmZvUG6UfaEv3q0y5xW_zONarMyExkCX5BxGxjOaIT7TMAjEjPJ-9MFGHxdRK2WpuQiBtKxKT7ow6zAcyEImZTPJPlVeKnPYO_ZHOIy0s/w640-h282/Image.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);">With almost 17% of the urban population across India living in informal settlements, the question arises, has the pandemic impacted us all the same way? What are the particular trends and characteristics that have been seen in the urban poor over the last year and how has the second wave been different?<br /></span>We decided to seek answers to these questions with a survey of the urban poor from amongst our beneficary base of over 2000 families. Some of the findings reveal interesting trends which must be seriously explored as they hold the key to solving many age old sticky problems.<br />1. <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Education: schooling in the time of Covid19</span> for underprivileged children. In an endeavor to keep learning ongoing, across the nation, the attempt has been to transition rapidly to online education. Where this has happened successfully, it has led to a long overdue transformation of day to day learning. It has resulted in enhanced learning outcomes for the students by amalgamating learning modules, pupils and technology. Physical location of the tutor and tutee has become inconsequential. Equipped with a simple operative device, given the incentive of data pack recharge on attendance basis and provided appropriate instruction regarding the workings of the device, any child can access quality education across the nation. Be it in a metropolitan, or in the village. This truly is the best way forward to a knowledgeable and empowered India.<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Digitisation of education and its delivery through hybrid models which incorporate online modes must be explored in all seriousness as solution of providing access to quality education in rural India.<br /></em>2. <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Daily nutrition: the criticality of access.</span> Per latest reports, the pandemic has left the urban poor in India more bereft of nutrition than their rural counterparts. A large section of rural residents could cushion the blow of pandemic-driven economic disruption due to food grain via the public distribution system (PDS). The urban poor’s access to such ration, however has been minimal. Having provided the parents of our students with dry ration boxes on a monthly basis with the help of our donors, we were able to gauge the difference this basic food security has made to their day to day lives. A majority of destitute families lost their primary source of income due to the lockdown. This has led to tremendous emotional and financial stress. In the words of Naushad Alam, father of Aftab, a student of Pratishthan Learning Centre at Lotus Petal “The boxes of rice, grains, oil, food ingredients helped us out a lot. They prevented our family from going to bed hungry, which we would have had to do as I lost my job as a cook and had suffered a severe hand injury in the early days of the lockdown and was unable to find alternate employment.” Lack of income due to the lockdown may result in further dependency on food from government or charitable organizations and if this is not taken seriously, this may result in a bigger outbreak of multiple diseases caused due to nutritional deficiency.<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The provision of supplementary nutrition in the form of dry ration provides a dignified source of food to those from low income families who otherwise would hesitate to stand in the queue for cooked meals boxes.<br /></em>3. <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Migration: an unfortunate reality</span>. In wave one of the pandemic, migrant workers, who are anchors of the underserved population, started returning to their native villages due to fear, anxiety and hunger. Most of them were daily wagers and did not maintain a financial buffer for such an unprecedented, uncertain situation. The unorganised sector in India accounts for over 90% of the workforce and the majority of them are inter / intra state migrants. As normalcy returned towards the mid of last year, reverse migration commenced. There seemed to be hope that once things get back to relative balance in cities, they would be able to find employment again in these low paying yet foundational jobs in society. As the second wave rages, the migrant informal workforce, after having faced a year of deprivation and uncertainty, is better prepared and are depicting relatively well thought out exit strategies from cities. In ceratin cases migration has happened to areas which are not under lockdown. A wage support plan for the vulnerable may be a possible solution to this mass exodus to and from cities.<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This may involve mapping their skills in a verifed database which can help them have a wide market access opportunties.<br /></em>4. <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Financial vulnerabilities: Inability to avail relief. </span>Informal sector workers have suffered the maximum financial brunt of the pandemic. Job loss and monetary insecurity has been a harsh actuality for most in the marginalised communities. This has catalysed a new pattern of acquiring help. With bottlenecks in disbursements of loans and financial support for poor urban dwellers, a majority of the underserved are turning to family and friends for help in the form of informal loans at high interest rates. Want of financial assistance from government and employers, insufficient awareness about low interest loans and absence of necessary documents to access these benefits have all compelled the vulnerable to turn to their kin in other cities/back in the village. A prolonged effort to raise awareness and reduce pointless red tape in these moments of crisis is needed.<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is an area already being tapped by multiple financial entities but there is a long way to go in terms of access to urban migrant workforce.<br /></em>5. <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Healthcare: vastly different for those on the fringes of society</span>. High population density is the truth of life in urban slums. Least prepared for the pandemic due to a dearth of basic facilities such as clean water, drainage, waste collection, and secure and adequate housing these areas are potent grounds for the spread of communicable diseases. It has been observed that in the second wave, the marginalised communities are showing better awareness about communicable diseases, the importance of handwashing and maintaining social distancing. How practical these practices are in such close quarters, is of course, an area of discussion but learning from what has transpired in the nation this time around, it is critical to mainstream health in the urban development agenda in the future. Formation of slum emergency planning committees, stopping evictions, equipping PHCs with proper infrastructure, empowering community health workers, plans for mobility and healthcare access are some concrete steps that need to be worked upon.<br /><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Assisted Telemedicine is one of the experiments which has seen a steady adoption by the urban poor to access healthcare. Awareness and adoption of asssited telemedicine centres can also provide quality and timely medical access in semi -urban and rual areas as well.<br /></em>At the Lotus Petal Foundation, our focus has been <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Education</span> - two successful online schools for our underprivileged students; <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nutrition</span> - dry ration and cooked meal box distribution to the impoverished and <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Healthcare</span> - medical access through our telemedicine center. We have also intiated programs like <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bluekhoj.com</span> to provide market access for informal job seekers and tied up with social sector NBFCs to <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">provide interest free loans</span>.<br />This pandemic has raised a pressing need of united reform towards holistic inclusiveness to develop a more responsive framework for mitigating urban inequality in future.</span></div>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-41070300772910841372021-05-25T01:20:00.014-07:002021-08-05T01:30:24.578-07:005 trends in the urban poor's response to the pandemic have seeds of solution for the future.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TIRT9JiDoa2wHC1HriXaAcq8QXlWJxoQDzO1c4dd2PaV_qQvhL4aLBXNWvuQ_RcP-HRA1eGWh60yqPT9ZilQ2dlGLsD1nwmYAzvRUxzJgGdfZ2a3DgpbHSQy4K-kPPwHGJhyphenhyphen4CoRnik/s1009/image+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="1009" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TIRT9JiDoa2wHC1HriXaAcq8QXlWJxoQDzO1c4dd2PaV_qQvhL4aLBXNWvuQ_RcP-HRA1eGWh60yqPT9ZilQ2dlGLsD1nwmYAzvRUxzJgGdfZ2a3DgpbHSQy4K-kPPwHGJhyphenhyphen4CoRnik/w535-h268/image+5.jpg" width="535" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">With almost 17% of the urban population across India living in informal settlements, the question arises, has the pandemic impacted us all the same way? What are the particular trends and characteristics that have been seen in the urban poor over the last year and how has the second wave been different?</span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">We decided to seek answers to these questions with a survey of the urban poor from amongst our beneficary base of over 2000 families. Some of the findings reveal interesting trends which must be seriously explored as they hold the key to solving many age old sticky problems.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">1. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Education: schooling in the time of Covid19</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"> for underprivileged children. In an endeavor to keep learning ongoing, across the nation, the attempt has been to transition rapidly to online education. Where this has happened successfully, it has led to a long overdue transformation of day to day learning. It has resulted in enhanced learning outcomes for the students by amalgamating learning modules, pupils and technology. Physical location of the tutor and tutee has become inconsequential. Equipped with a simple operative device, given the incentive of data pack recharge on attendance basis and provided appropriate instruction regarding the workings of the device, any child can access quality education across the nation. Be it in a metropolitan, or in the village. This truly is the best way forward to a knowledgeable and empowered India.</span></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Digitisation of education and its delivery through hybrid models which incorporate online modes must be explored in all seriousness as solution of providing access to quality education in rural India.</em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">2. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Daily nutrition: the criticality of access.</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"> Per latest reports, the pandemic has left the urban poor in India more bereft of nutrition than their rural counterparts. A large section of rural residents could cushion the blow of pandemic-driven economic disruption due to food grain via the public distribution system (PDS). The urban poor’s access to such ration, however has been minimal. Having provided the parents of our students with dry ration boxes on a monthly basis with the help of our donors, we were able to gauge the difference this basic food security has made to their day to day lives. A majority of destitute families lost their primary source of income due to the lockdown. This has led to tremendous emotional and financial stress. In the words of Naushad Alam, father of Aftab, a student of Pratishthan Learning Centre at Lotus Petal “The boxes of rice, grains, oil, food ingredients helped us out a lot. They prevented our family from going to bed hungry, which we would have had to do as I lost my job as a cook and had suffered a severe hand injury in the early days of the lockdown and was unable to find alternate employment.” Lack of income due to the lockdown may result in further dependency on food from government or charitable organizations and if this is not taken seriously, this may result in a bigger outbreak of multiple diseases caused due to nutritional deficiency.</span></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The provision of supplementary nutrition in the form of dry ration provides a dignified source of food to those from low income families who otherwise would hesitate to stand in the queue for cooked meals boxes.</em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">3. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Migration: an unfortunate reality</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">. In wave one of the pandemic, migrant workers, who are anchors of the underserved population, started returning to their native villages due to fear, anxiety and hunger. Most of them were daily wagers and did not maintain a financial buffer for such an unprecedented, uncertain situation. The unorganised sector in India accounts for over 90% of the workforce and the majority of them are inter / intra state migrants. As normalcy returned towards the mid of last year, reverse migration commenced. There seemed to be hope that once things get back to relative balance in cities, they would be able to find employment again in these low paying yet foundational jobs in society. As the second wave rages, the migrant informal workforce, after having faced a year of deprivation and uncertainty, is better prepared and are depicting relatively well thought out exit strategies from cities. In ceratin cases migration has happened to areas which are not under lockdown. A wage support plan for the vulnerable may be a possible solution to this mass exodus to and from cities.</span></em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This may involve mapping their skills in a verifed database which can help them have a wide market access opportunties.</em></em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">4. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Financial vulnerabilities: Inability to avail relief. </span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">Informal sector workers have suffered the maximum financial brunt of the pandemic. Job loss and monetary insecurity has been a harsh actuality for most in the marginalised communities. This has catalysed a new pattern of acquiring help. With bottlenecks in disbursements of loans and financial support for poor urban dwellers, a majority of the underserved are turning to family and friends for help in the form of informal loans at high interest rates. Want of financial assistance from government and employers, insufficient awareness about low interest loans and absence of necessary documents to access these benefits have all compelled the vulnerable to turn to their kin in other cities/back in the village. A prolonged effort to raise awareness and reduce pointless red tape in these moments of crisis is needed.</span></em></em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is an area already being tapped by multiple financial entities but there is a long way to go in terms of access to urban migrant workforce.</em></em></em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">5. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Healthcare: vastly different for those on the fringes of society</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">. High population density is the truth of life in urban slums. Least prepared for the pandemic due to a dearth of basic facilities such as clean water, drainage, waste collection, and secure and adequate housing these areas are potent grounds for the spread of communicable diseases. It has been observed that in the second wave, the marginalised communities are showing better awareness about communicable diseases, the importance of handwashing and maintaining social distancing. How practical these practices are in such close quarters, is of course, an area of discussion but learning from what has transpired in the nation this time around, it is critical to mainstream health in the urban development agenda in the future. Formation of slum emergency planning committees, stopping evictions, equipping PHCs with proper infrastructure, empowering community health workers, plans for mobility and healthcare access are some concrete steps that need to be worked upon.</span></em></em></em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Assisted Telemedicine is one of the experiments which has seen a steady adoption by the urban poor to access healthcare. Awareness and adoption of asssited telemedicine centres can also provide quality and timely medical access in semi -urban and rual areas as well.</em></em></em></em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">At the Lotus Petal Foundation, our focus has been </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Education</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"> - two successful online schools for our underprivileged students; </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nutrition</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"> - dry ration and cooked meal box distribution to the impoverished and </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Healthcare</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"> - medical access through our telemedicine center. We have also intiated programs like </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bulekhoj.com</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;"> to provide market access for informal job seekers and tied up with social sector NBFCs to </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">provide interest free loans</span><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">.</span></em></em></em></em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal;">This pandemic has raised a pressing need of united reform towards holistic inclusiveness to develop a more responsive framework for mitigating urban inequality in future.</span></em></em></em></em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em></em></p><p><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em></em></p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-73234238321846645332021-03-31T00:59:00.001-07:002021-08-05T01:18:05.327-07:00Hybrid Schooling : The emerging reality of school education<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlULEmRNKbJ6Ry5WN7rEuEJaJh1AStaMRpAhQ4e300nTGVb3AcKulaglNNo6UlhyphenhyphensV-2TeJZHMflDwAqXgRtOFJsFfABjQ18YqMu2_MkUP4G99UJiRDopzifNksC2faq1DAkCnVkUwlE/s1173/image+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="1173" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlULEmRNKbJ6Ry5WN7rEuEJaJh1AStaMRpAhQ4e300nTGVb3AcKulaglNNo6UlhyphenhyphensV-2TeJZHMflDwAqXgRtOFJsFfABjQ18YqMu2_MkUP4G99UJiRDopzifNksC2faq1DAkCnVkUwlE/w576-h317/image+3.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br />A year has elapsed since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, wreaking havoc and bringing with it unprecedented disruptions. The education industry was significantly impacted due to closures of institutes, leading to an increase in the school drop-out rate from 4% to 5.5% in the last year, with over 6 million students dropping out.</span></div><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Hitherto resistant to change, the education industry had to evolve overnight. Now, with Covid threatening a resurgence and school closures announced in many states, what we need is a long-term sustainable approach to education, or face the long-term implications of children not receiving adequate quality education.</span> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">The way forward is to move into a modus operandi that combines both online and offline approaches to education i.e. Hybrid Learning. A coalescence between both and a malleable model that grants the freedom to switch between the two is essential.</span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">With hybrid learning properly implemented, limited resources can be dispensed across more students, online content can be better leveraged, workspace can be utilized in a more flexible manner, costs can be reduced and the whole process can be made more inclusive. Difficulties found across a majority of schools in India such as dearth of infrastructure and paucity of qualified teachers can be assuaged.</span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">In conjunction, all these factors will ensure the most critical aspect of the endeavor – the continuity of the child in the education process.</span> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">The benefits of quick acclimatization, prior investments in technology and keeping the beneficiaries’ interest central have been experienced first-hand at Lotus Petal, where the year commenced with 644 students enrolled in the educational programs. Today, 612 (~95%) students have been successfully retained and have received uninterrupted learning. This has been encouraging for many other children too, who now seek admission at Lotus Petal.</span></p></blockquote><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4FdPJO5sMawNBkD-0J_cI6tqF3JguYCTOi2_VBiqy-yGR2MhbZlq3jZf4AW81JLbHoZMYuFueSD8Id-22jpgc6BMM2xm4iEpHMzIGMWpcYxOnZjJRa69xvEpVVkC18J9oX6ZexmljKM/s1280/image+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1280" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4FdPJO5sMawNBkD-0J_cI6tqF3JguYCTOi2_VBiqy-yGR2MhbZlq3jZf4AW81JLbHoZMYuFueSD8Id-22jpgc6BMM2xm4iEpHMzIGMWpcYxOnZjJRa69xvEpVVkC18J9oX6ZexmljKM/w581-h368/image+4.jpg" width="581" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"> Hybrid schooling infrastructure has been operationalized. Inspite of less than 50% occupancy in every classroom due to social distancing, we have all students attending classes every day.</span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">The reality of education has shifted from the child being physically present in school each day to holistic hybrid learning. This seems the way forward.</span> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /> <p></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 2rem; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></blockquote><p> </p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 2rem; line-height: 3.2rem; margin: 3.2rem 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></blockquote><p><br /></p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-85724773985837036452021-03-27T00:44:00.001-07:002021-08-05T00:54:32.523-07:00Defining curriculum without textbooks.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ImkEbkaFYTbYeMq3qoDYWilBK4cf5z6bhYEQigSoBejO5GVuiKQsaEoxh9R-_Re82MTmlPG8EnA8htEy1KMpRjAy03-CEmC6XUKngbFyL-u5a2bal3PBdIcy7FdFQNeTPq4rD8hZwC8/s1014/image+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1014" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ImkEbkaFYTbYeMq3qoDYWilBK4cf5z6bhYEQigSoBejO5GVuiKQsaEoxh9R-_Re82MTmlPG8EnA8htEy1KMpRjAy03-CEmC6XUKngbFyL-u5a2bal3PBdIcy7FdFQNeTPq4rD8hZwC8/w467-h331/image+2.png" width="467" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Theater, drama, theatrics often mistaken as a distraction from real life or considered as mere entertainment, has the power of expressing and accepting reality in the most potent way.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">The origin of theater in ancient Greece was a way of expression by individuals, where all forms of art were used. Singing, dancing, body movements and acrobats were tailored together to explain rights, law, deep emotions, social issues, religion and rituals in an easy-to-understand way; yet the impact on the viewer was long-lasting. To be able to do this- the artist had to be aware, rehearse and feel the emotion at the deepest level. There were no books to learn or explain, yet the learning was realized at the inmost level, making changes to the artist's own personality and also created ripples across the onlookers.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Such is the power of theater.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">The form has evolved in various dimensions and in some forms, is considered a frivolous form of entertainment or an opportunity for fame. But theater in the truest form rules supreme as a wonderful teacher. Thereby, rightly should acquire a prominent place in modern school learning.</span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”</em></span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"> – Aristotle </span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Even in the mildest form, theater allows us to feel things with the heart. Helps become more aware and reflect on actions- both as introspection and as observance. It helps one understand the issues better and look at points of view if expressed well. When practiced as an exercise or a part of the curriculum, theater has proven to help self-esteem and confidence. As a group activity, it further promotes compassion and empathy. Even for the spectators, it acts as reflective learning to understand issues better and leaves an imprint on the mind. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Such a powerful medium should hold a prominent place within the classrooms, where everyday learning should go beyond the theory of life but delve into the sentiment of living a whole life, where your rights and duties are in harmony with your interpersonal and emotional well-being. </span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will understand."</em></span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">It would be highly fruitful if the aspects of theater are included in everyday learning where the teacher uses various aspects of theater to improve the listening and problem-solving skills of the pupil. Working together as a team, rather than in a classroom would enhance interpersonal skills and make collaborative learning a part of a child’s personality. Since theater engages all types of learners, it includes voice modulation, role play, dialogues, enacting scenes, the learning can be more rounded and wholesome. </span></em></span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">The use of props and puppetry adds a fun dimension to learning that stays with the child forever. Many of the behavioral problems of children can be addressed without naming them. Many social issues and injustices can be highlighted for awareness building of growing up children. </span></em></span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 0.975em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">Theater, a play it may seem but it may help a child play life better, may make them play safer, play it right, or just play a role that is best suited for them. </span></em></span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-75009527814618770962021-02-23T23:38:00.001-08:002021-08-05T00:44:22.122-07:00Digital Divide in Education<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9jLMqrtJd3Lg05mpSP3VQs9UFn1ZX5ApJkwpUkbGLYWQl7NinPxVypcIDpVPbizGZJiPqmfZkxTX2YXbPhTmpIjS9R5TeR7bScL5U1pQF2voJtCAeLlbWylJH1fnHuAPEKLHlcRh64k/s960/image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9jLMqrtJd3Lg05mpSP3VQs9UFn1ZX5ApJkwpUkbGLYWQl7NinPxVypcIDpVPbizGZJiPqmfZkxTX2YXbPhTmpIjS9R5TeR7bScL5U1pQF2voJtCAeLlbWylJH1fnHuAPEKLHlcRh64k/w492-h369/image1.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">Plagued by structural problems like lack of infrastructure, electricity, books, qualified teachers and clean drinking water, the condition of public schools in India was already dire before the pandemic hit. Children from underprivileged backgrounds were suffering from the consequences of an inadequate education system when exacerbating the situation, the pandemic brought with it severe disruptions to every sphere of life. The situation revealed the deep-rooted fragilities of the education sector in particular. With the mandated closure of all institutions, the education sector had to transform overnight. Along with it, the problems too have transformed.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">A lack of school infrastructure has now become a lack of digital infrastructure. This shift to digital learning has brought with it a new category of divide, the Digital Divide. With all educational activities being carried out remotely, the disparity between the haves and have-nots in society is more perceptible than ever before.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">The poorest students are facing challenges such as lack of digital devices like smartphones and laptops, poor net connectivity and inadequate power supply. The absence of digital infrastructure for both the teachers and students is becoming more and more evident in disadvantaged communities. As social distancing norms do not allow classes to be conducted physically, the increasing learning gap is pushing these underserved children further back. Concerned parents are trying to help their children, but can only do so much. They do not know how to operate the devices, are helpless at stopping the misuse of devices, and have the added pressure of financial strains and providing childcare and meals for their children. Many have decided to keep their children out of the education system altogether. It is estimated that missing out on school for six months would reduce pupils’ lifetime earnings by 5%.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 20px;">The EdTech remodel of the education system is here to stay. It is now the new normal. What needs to be done now is to reinvent the thought process to ensure that the most vulnerable children in society get their right: their right to equal access to quality education. </span></p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-38857178631603622922020-12-28T01:24:00.003-08:002021-07-13T02:36:20.940-07:00Restoring the year.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ_Bw6E0lEOKSKAuf1U6JokWKATrq7u2ZQwMERO7L6miNvyRNN0D4DCLt8yE9TMhaVUV7nT0-XDos4qMqGKAYUFsLvNf5Qbi-ctQ7Vznx1FqO8JIn8w8thfxea0_1ii0EHhTMeSi9IbY/s1013/1609142611964.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1013" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ_Bw6E0lEOKSKAuf1U6JokWKATrq7u2ZQwMERO7L6miNvyRNN0D4DCLt8yE9TMhaVUV7nT0-XDos4qMqGKAYUFsLvNf5Qbi-ctQ7Vznx1FqO8JIn8w8thfxea0_1ii0EHhTMeSi9IbY/w369-h262/1609142611964.png" width="369" /></a></div><p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The story of 2020 has to be written in a
language that has never been deciphered before. What we knew of and that what
we now know may have a common continuum thread, it may seem familiar but to say
it is what it was may be misleading.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every boundary & every limitation that
we had constructed around us has been questioned. Each contraption that the ego
had built is in the process of being dismantled. We could not drive the big
cars to announce we have arrived, travel to fancy locations to feel good, our offices
may not be big and sprawling anymore & our support system cannot be just a
presence in a big social gathering. We had to be honest. Delve deep within to
see how we can cope. Be in closed doors with people & relationships that
could not be left unresolved. Be with our own selves to work on the
transformation that had been long impending.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why did we reach where we did? Where to go
from here? And how to find the way when no one has really been here before? It
is different yet much seems familiar.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">To be able to withstand the year and to
continue to face what today brings- We have had to get real. And in many ways
go back home. To where it all started.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">At Lotus Petal we came at the crossroads of
where to go from where we were in March 2020. There were no books written, no
search engines devised to solve what we were facing- the need to keep the
organization alive & going, to ensure jobs are secure, children in the
education system and to be of service at the most critical time. Before the
external, the internal had to be nourished. Each fear addressed and allowed to
pass until it was surrendered to the ocean of service. Everything that we were-
had to be re-looked to remain who are.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without wasting a single day, each of us
went deep within ourselves. Into the values that were common while growing up
in middle class homes. The values that built the foundation of Lotus Petal.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Service to the nation and humanity before
Self- as a team we came from different homes, faiths and background but our
spiritual calling remained aligned. Service.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The stepping stones were- sharing,
conserving, listening to one another, reaching out to what needed most
attention, trust the intuition, faith in the leadership- reassuring each other
that we are together & will get through this- Our faith in the intrinsic
goodness of people strengthened and the belief of One World One Community
reassured; all this while we stared at the common vision, a common goal that
really has no finishing line. Child in the centre. Dignity to all.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everything that we were doing was
reinvented- finding novel ways to ensure that the student is able to attend
their classes every day. Even in the slums of India. Under the hot tin roofs of
those shanty`s where there was not electric supply & no running water. We
ensured that a device was in their hand, a data pack, a noise cancelling head
phone was available to them & most importantly food in their kitchen. The
emotional wellbeing was looked after, the jobs of their parents restored,
monthly allowance instated & healthcare extended.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was possible because we went home. To
those familiar inclusive values that we grew up with. Of simplicity and of
care; of building a community and not a wall. Where food always tasted better
when shared & where there was always enough. In the values that restored
communities there was little competition and more support. Where there was
patience, wisdom and a steady pace.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">The values that we left behind in the decade
before 2020 needed to be restored. For us 2020 healed, transformed & continues
to mend.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="321" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kOGrSraRrms" width="386" youtube-src-id="kOGrSraRrms"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">We relook, innovate and improve so we can
grow. And we grow together, with each other within thriving communities of hope
& courage based on the web of resilience.</span><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">We welcome you to be a part of our
restorative journey of building flourishing communities where there is dignity
for all.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><br /></div></div><p></p>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-57237252195538311972020-08-19T02:49:00.029-07:002021-07-15T03:18:16.540-07:00Zero Hunger Food Bank - An initiative of Lotus Petal Foundation for underprivileged<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS-FlWlBooYjEVF2Bl8N3CvINLnozTM8-0tM1xzL9CBmOM5uYJuk_j1WQ7W0I9dqSen2CZY8bFkN_pN9UKmjXutdKsX3SBlYh1fecc8nSNssOfj_tYw1gFa8WzrzunQe1TxPYi6cJUGQ/s1122/ZHFB1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1122" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS-FlWlBooYjEVF2Bl8N3CvINLnozTM8-0tM1xzL9CBmOM5uYJuk_j1WQ7W0I9dqSen2CZY8bFkN_pN9UKmjXutdKsX3SBlYh1fecc8nSNssOfj_tYw1gFa8WzrzunQe1TxPYi6cJUGQ/w359-h230/ZHFB1.jpg" width="359" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">As Lotus Petal delved deeper towards the education
of the underprivileged in 2013, a striking learning emerged<b>- Food before
Education</b>. An empty stomach, sick body or a hungry-dehydrated child- made
for no classroom learning in spite of the child being present for the tutorial.
Over the years, we forayed into providing two, freshly cooked balanced meals-
supplemented by protein & DHA enriched milk & fruit for breakfast. The
pre-primary children were served fortified meals, with higher iron content to
make them ready for a rigorous classroom experience. The use of seasonal
produce, less spice content & high protein made for better immunity which
ensured better attendance & better cognition. All this was supported by
training the children to wash hands, an in-house medical OPD for primary care
and regular orientation to parents & children about nutrition and
hydration.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over the
years, as the reach of the organization expanded through Sahyog (An initiative
of Lotus Petal Foundation that provides education & infrastructural support
to Government Schools), the tragedy of everyday hunger in the remote locations
of Gurgaon became stark. Poverty, unemployment, lack of primary healthcare and
low level farm incomes stared at us. What we knew of & had read was visible
in the everyday.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Covid
Crisis gave Lotus Petal an unfortunate opportunity to serve similar nutritious
meals across various locations to the displaced work force across Gurgaon
during the lockdown. The meals were diligently packed in the kitchen of Lotus
Petal Foundation by women workers. As the lockdown lifted, the hope that the
need for food boxes may shrink did no see the light of day. Hunger &
unemployment persists & continues to rage, merging effortlessly with the
new normal.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">India stands
at 102nd position out of 117 countries on Global Hunger Index 2019. Unable to
match the steps of Pakistan, Bangladesh & Nepal, we fall below them as the
second lowest-ranked among the South Asian countries. 90.4% children between
the age of 6 and 23 months in India do not receive adequate, acceptable
nutrition that results in stunting, wasting, anaemia resulting to poor
cognition and lifelong learning delays.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ4Kx9BCeJVPeV5l29CpLULezaafcj-6U-vg2ckSmbMYwJ3qAcyYi6asMImc_ZjzlLENBPfytdY2G_7Fi27OeuQ8QCDvhMPXFCXSnF2PA9qyRwCdTTG7RQAmQv4Eloq8pvv5mSFenKWo/s957/ZHFB2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="957" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ4Kx9BCeJVPeV5l29CpLULezaafcj-6U-vg2ckSmbMYwJ3qAcyYi6asMImc_ZjzlLENBPfytdY2G_7Fi27OeuQ8QCDvhMPXFCXSnF2PA9qyRwCdTTG7RQAmQv4Eloq8pvv5mSFenKWo/w395-h229/ZHFB2.png" width="395" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Covid
Crisis has only magnified the dismal alimentary situation. A substantial part
of the underprivileged population around us is still severely malnourished,
poorly fed every day and many go to sleep hungry. During the crisis, the
Central government of India, under its Atmanirbhar Bharat economic package,
sanctioned 8 lakh metric tonnes of free food grains to 8 crore migrant workers
who were displaced during the lockdown- 2020. The families were offered 5 kg of
grain per person and 1 kg of pulses per family every month- even to those who
did not have ration cards and were not covered by the Public Distribution
System. The execution of the same has not been easy and the present data
reveals only 13% of the 8lakh metric tonnes of food grains have reached migrant
workers so far, benefitting approximately 2.13 crore workers. 5.87crore are
still in dire need.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">The epidemic
of Hunger continues. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">To satiate
hunger and it`s various unseen dimensions, aligned with the SDG #2 Lotus Petal
Foundation has launched the <strong><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">Zero Hunger Food Bank.</span></strong> The learning of deep
engagement with the beneficiary forms an integral part of building the Food
Bank. Food, nutrition and hunger cannot be seen without- the availability
of potable water, employment opportunities, women’s empowerment, increasing
farm level incomes & providing sustainable local level incomes. The various
facets of Hunger will be the building blocks of the Zero Hunger Food Bank.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaCNZePmV65vLYvrcMw1U0VhUSN0HRKc_nbTy0WKnCrJqFS0TvrCwkwF1E4rywHq0c8JPXXY7NL6KCRznXnkoMRT_0Ox-mSYXPQsMG3DRB384Uh7zhXCCmI6m9wpOOf8iep0asWjOj8g/s952/ZHFB3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="952" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaCNZePmV65vLYvrcMw1U0VhUSN0HRKc_nbTy0WKnCrJqFS0TvrCwkwF1E4rywHq0c8JPXXY7NL6KCRznXnkoMRT_0Ox-mSYXPQsMG3DRB384Uh7zhXCCmI6m9wpOOf8iep0asWjOj8g/w391-h219/ZHFB3.png" width="391" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As ambitious as it may seem- the intent continues
to be the same, </span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">a life of dignity to the underprivileged- Hope
to a family that will ensure education to their children.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a team we resolve to provide an individual the
comfort of being able to earn a living that would enable them to organise a
safe shelter for their family, have access to a basic medical facility &
the availability of clean drinking water. This would in turn provide them the
luxury of being able to cook themselves a meal which over rides the provision
of boxed food from the kitchen of Lotus Petal. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Objectives of the Zero Hunger Food Bank-</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Provide immediate relief of food supply &
essentials during calamities and humanitarian crises.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Identify areas of extreme poverty & deliver
cooked boxed food.</span></span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Continuous provision of nutritious meals to
children in non-profit schools.</span></span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Run age- appropriate, supplementary nutrition
programs in Government schools.</span></span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortified Supplementary nutrition to address long
term malnutrition issues in children from 0 to 5 years in various government
schools, anganwaadis, slum areas, identified low income cluster & non-profit
schools.</span></span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHzJ5tAAMAIQfbPIVtzhFaPDIvK27n1OGy5vugQV1s1bJU7AKfjB_ZGMeaWgCYlb-zfSl0gxSuCH39UEnYsmzL1CWgx9q7_WoIC1kH7oRMvDR1k_YgArJ3PAqo5PXrVFOPspfzfYgkL4/s942/ZHFB4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="942" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHzJ5tAAMAIQfbPIVtzhFaPDIvK27n1OGy5vugQV1s1bJU7AKfjB_ZGMeaWgCYlb-zfSl0gxSuCH39UEnYsmzL1CWgx9q7_WoIC1kH7oRMvDR1k_YgArJ3PAqo5PXrVFOPspfzfYgkL4/w410-h232/ZHFB4.png" width="410" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Extensive use of technology, consultation with a nutritionist
& support of local administration will ensure the right kind of food
delivered to the areas in dire need.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw828KOJbbIwnVrXuDgMhnIpg5UOBbjkLbkN8x1_XUxuITgEhUFeW6bKQrpEJimKrdGRGBrWolMENE3-pegtW1apmSBtDBj6HFtWKz8z9Tffv2GqXLO5bZ5F_N4dIz-st9TNuDt3D1Q8/s946/ZHFB5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="946" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw828KOJbbIwnVrXuDgMhnIpg5UOBbjkLbkN8x1_XUxuITgEhUFeW6bKQrpEJimKrdGRGBrWolMENE3-pegtW1apmSBtDBj6HFtWKz8z9Tffv2GqXLO5bZ5F_N4dIz-st9TNuDt3D1Q8/w400-h227/ZHFB5.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the design of solutions and to provide a stable
delivery mechanism for the above, imperative supplementary issues will get
addressed as well which include:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Sustainable local income sources</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Improving farm level incomes</span></span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Women's empowerment</span></span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">WASH</span></span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Primary health care</span></span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nutrition for women during pregnancy</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: -24px;">The attempt to provide better life to many in the underprivileged community continues to find novel ways at Lotus Petal. Be a part of the timeless journey of paving a path of hope through wholesome meals & ensuring a life of dignity to all in need.</span><p></p><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span></div>Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-18232436405693971472016-08-16T22:10:00.000-07:002016-08-16T22:10:17.406-07:00Magic into reality by Haimanti Mitra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">On a blistering, June afternoon, this year, I received the eagerly
anticipated news. All six Lotus Petal aspirants for the Class 10<sup>th</sup>
Board examinations had passed and performed exceedingly well too! Initially I
could not believe my ears when my colleague called up and I asked immediately
to see the scorecard. Within a few
seconds the scores arrived on my phone via the modern miracle we call
‘whatsapp’ and there they were...magic translated into reality. The numbers
were not scores. They were individual stories of battles fought and won with
grit and determination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was transported back to the summer of 2014
when I stepped into Lotus Petal to teach English and Social Studies. Kushal- founder
of Lotus Petal and visionary extraordinaire told me on my first day of work,
“When you think positive, the outcome is invariably positive.” The scorecard of
the students, the evolution of Lotus Petal and the flourishing institution that
I see now, is a tangible validation of those words. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgC-RuYth4M7LM791Jub0h64CdmlhKYv_qbwpbAMTfg_kV3v5mAk85P-Eq0cD_Zd4-30_pQyi26e-aBWo2wnxpiA_EAGHdjEfbBxVUwQ70YaBN6xQRWxcbYKU2HK7HFY3Jz8sGEnO9PGU/s1600/Blog+16+Aug+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgC-RuYth4M7LM791Jub0h64CdmlhKYv_qbwpbAMTfg_kV3v5mAk85P-Eq0cD_Zd4-30_pQyi26e-aBWo2wnxpiA_EAGHdjEfbBxVUwQ70YaBN6xQRWxcbYKU2HK7HFY3Jz8sGEnO9PGU/s320/Blog+16+Aug+2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As a teacher, mentor and
guide I had to wear multiple hats...of a counsellor, a singing teacher and it’s
difficult to believe but yes, the director of an English play! Each event was a
learning experience and I have grown along with my students. <i>Their</i> milestones have been <i>my</i> milestones. In fact the entire team has evolved with the
children.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">While the senior children
of Pratishthan Learning Centre prepared for the ‘battle of the boards’
Vidyananda students were emerging from the chrysalis. I was privileged to
mentor Vidyananda for a while and it was an adventure every step of the way. The
exact time of a special moment is always difficult to pinpoint and it so
happened that one day we looked out and saw neat well-groomed students studying
maths, carving intricate clay models, standing in a queue- perfect models of decorum and grace. The
butterflies were out! Vidyananda evolved as only children can with their
infinite capacity of hope, joy and energy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Challenges are a part of
the lives of each Lotus Petal student and individual anecdotes would fill a book. Often in our country,
circumstances and not heredity is what hinders the growth and development of a
child. What makes Lotus Petal unique is that, children are given tools to chip
away at the obstacles around them. There are organisations which take care of
children...plenty of them. But how many extend support to the entire family of
that child, consequently guaranteeing an ambience at home where the student can
study and pursue his or her career plans in peace? Nutrition, health,
confidence building skills and exposure to the current corporate system are
just a few of these tools. I like to think of them as hammers and chisels
chipping away at invisible barriers empowering a child to dream big, go
forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I wrote of ‘magic’ at
the start. Magic does not happen without hard work and when it yields a moment
of wonder, we define it as magical. A perfectly formed answer, a confident
morning assembly pledge, an intelligent and thoughtful discussion, Vidyananda
students outdoing their seniors in multiplication tables...just a few instances
of hours of hard work transformed into ‘magic’-the intangible rewards of every
teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-IN">The ever evolving story
of Lotus Petal can be summed up in the words of a beloved poet, Maya Angelou: </span>“We delight in the
beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to
achieve that beauty.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Haimanti Mitra </b>is a teacher at the Pratishthan Learning Center, the secondary school of Lotus Petal Foundation. She teaches English and Social Studies.</span></span></div>
</div>
Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589354072614150706.post-600488143057172682016-05-16T04:50:00.000-07:002016-06-06T05:35:32.934-07:00The Everyday Hero by Saloni Bhardwaj<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Every
morning I wake up feeling inspired about the opportunities that lay ahead of me
to serve more” Says Kushal Raj Chakravorty, Founder Lotus Petal Foundation. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjuS8RmPUUoiJAL6cVe-yfG9rT0YKt7acOCCKUBrBjrOtZcZczVSD4w0FJCcCLOs_jrKI4kiitn2qauEN6Izc-UlxNER8W6IdCnBw4vEtj1lFWZpZDh9AS5U_vL85rvYkYy83PlB19h0/s1600/1.+Blog+Home+Page+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjuS8RmPUUoiJAL6cVe-yfG9rT0YKt7acOCCKUBrBjrOtZcZczVSD4w0FJCcCLOs_jrKI4kiitn2qauEN6Izc-UlxNER8W6IdCnBw4vEtj1lFWZpZDh9AS5U_vL85rvYkYy83PlB19h0/s320/1.+Blog+Home+Page+pic.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The innate desire to serve others became so strong that at
the age of 38 Kushal started the Lotus Petal Foundation, an organization that
provides free food, education and healthcare to the children living in the
urban slums of Gurgaon. A regular IIM graduate, working full time for IKEA, a
stable career with excessive international business travel, a simple family man
with two daughters and a dog, really isn`t enough to some up Kushal. In the
mundane he imagined the extra ordinary. In the cracks of living life in India,
he saw opportunity to serve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After forming the Lotus Petal Foundation in 2011, Kushal
started doing small, organized acts of charity. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He used his skills and business
acumen to make the life of boys in Mother Teresa`s Deepashram more comfortable.
Deepashram is mother`s home for the destitute. It houses orphaned and abandoned
boys who have cerebral palsy or are from various special needs background. Kushal,
introduced technology and new age systems to the home to make daily operations
more efficient and life for the boys comfortable. He still considers the boys at Deepashram his friends and runs
an art therapy program for them twice a week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As his path progressed, Kushal considered serving the people
living in the slums around his home his personal responsibility. He wanted to
provide the children on the streets similar opportunity of education and better
life like he did to his own daughters. It became increasingly difficult for him
to realize that there were quite a few children around him going to sleep
without having eaten a single morsel during the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kushal modestly sums up the first few years of Lotus Petal
as ‘random acts of charity’ but in the scheme of things there was very little
left to chance. Every step taken was thought out, each project was meticulously
executed, events were documented and what did not work, was reflected upon and
redone. In his pursuit to reach out to many for doing good, he also unknowingly
laid a strong foundation for a transparent organization where each system was
meticulously put in place after a lot of thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Soon Kushal had developed a strong rapport with neighboring
NGO`s and was running some kind of programs with most to benefit the
underprivileged. In his interaction with the organizations running primary
schools he identified a gap that he felt was the cause that most children were
unable to break the poverty ceiling. Free education in most schools is until
grade 5. He often times wondered what happened to the students after that? For
the fear of loitering on streets or doing their parents job, most children
stayed in grade 5 for a few more years until they eventually dropped out to
earn a living at a very tender age. Once this golden period of education was
lost, the child would always be a menial worker and be stuck in the cycle of
poverty and hardship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This need gave birth to the Pratishthan Learning Center. This
program helped students to complete their grade 10 and enter a vocational
course depending upon their aptitude. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">While working with the teenagers he realized the degree of
unrealized abuse that was meted out to these teenagers in their younger years.
He wished if Lotus Petal could take care of children from the start. Two years
later, Lotus Petal started the junior section called Vidyananda School. A Kindergarten to grade 5 primary school for children living in
the slums. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">All education, stationery and uniforms provided in the
school are free. Besides education, Lotus Petal Foundation provides children
with fresh breakfast and lunch every day. An in house doctor takes care of all
their primary healthcare needs and various community doctors facilitate
secondary healthcare as well. The organization is a surrogate family to the
students.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kushal was born and raised in a simple Bengali home in
Ranchi, Jharkhand. His humble roots, modest family lifestyle and a shoe string
budget of a single salaried household left an indelible impact on his youth.
The lessons learnt while growing up of managing in little and being grateful for
the abundance are carefully incorporated in Lotus Petal Foundation. He ensures
that the requirements within the school are kept low and constant and should be
met strictly with donations. His team is very fastidious about cost cutting and
managing the systems that are laid down by him. Accountability, transparency
and integrity are the cornerstones of Lotus Petal Foundation. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Service helps me to do everything better, whether it’s my
job or family responsibilities or just managing my personal time. It has
completely transformed my life towards the better. I am more aware that I have
to make every minute count. I need to keep my focus on the most important
things in my life for which I have to prioritize judicially” says Kushal on
being repeatedly asked about how he manages his life and keeps a sane balance.
He`s a man of few words, vegetarian & a tea totaller, Kushal leads a disciplined
and regimented life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To most of us he`s unique, to him it comes naturally. He`s
not the only one but for sure he`s a special one. Some call him a torch bearer
others address him as the beacon of light- but to the ones who know him or have
met him, he`s really the nicest guy who was born to do what he`s doing- and
that too very well. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Written by Saloni Bhardwaj, writer, journalist & Trustee at Lotus Petal Foundation</span></div>
</div>
Lotus Petal Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567493457248539994noreply@blogger.com3