Jammu, Jan 03 (KNS): As a significant effort to reach out to student community for mental health awareness, a two-day workshop titled ‘the Mann Talks’ was organized by American Center, New Delhi, in collaboration with Lead India (Leadership for Environment and Development) in Jammu today.
The Workshop, part of their Youth Leadership and Engagement in Social Action (YLESA) initiative was attended by selected 20 kids in the 13-17 age group.
Led by Simran Kour, YLESA participant and a French teacher at Banyan International School, the primary aim of the project is to provide mental health care support to adolescents in Jammu region. Hemani Singh, mental health counselor and Janvi Kour, a student of BA Psychology are among the Core Team of the project.
"As the first initiative of this project, alongside the workshop to cater to the needs of 20 selected kids, a needs assessment was done in Shomalli Mohalla of Village Old Satwari," Sirman Kour said. Hosted by the Friends Café, Karanbagh, the participants learnt about self introspection, emotional wellbeing, positive self image, self acceptance, joyful living, cultivating gratitude and non- violent expression through experiential and interactive fun activities, facilitated by a professional mental health counselor Ms Hemani Singh. Malvi Gupta, a Yoga therapist and fitness expert who was the special guest at the workshop, led a practical session on the link between yoga and mental wellbeing.
Arun Sharma, Founder, French Club Jammu and Sakshi Gupta also graced the occasion with gifts for the kids. Riya Sharma, student at Govt. SPMR College of Commerce and Shivam Slathia, digital entrepreneur provided resource material for the workshop.
Jasmine Kour, General Secretary Kirpal Sewa Foundation and Shewani Singh volunteered during the event.
Art work created by participating kids is on display at the workshop venue. "In order to sustain the impact of this initiative, Core Team will stay in touch with them and facilitate their communication with the counselor as and when needed," the organisers said.
The team of ‘Mann Talks’ expresses immense gratitude to all those who supported this project and made its first workshop so productive and impactful.
LEAD (Leadership for Environment and Development) India is the India chapter of a unique, ever growing, live national and international network of professionals committed to the cause of– “development that is environmentally sustainable, socially equitable and economically viable.” YLESA is a one-year-long virtual initiative, a collaboration of ACND and LEAD India that envisions providing an opportunity to youth across India to enhance their leadership capabilities for a cause, through multi-dimensional inputs, mentoring support from experienced national and international faculty. All this is a preparation for the youth to make a difference among vulnerable citizen groups during the difficult uncertain COVID pandemic. In 2021, over 70 youth leaders and changemakers from all over India underwent an intense training under YLESA that culminated in implementation of several social action projects in areas such as environment protection, sustainable development, Wellbeing (physical and well as mental), financial empowerment, gender parity etc. It is to be noted that all of these projects were led by the YLESA participants. While the planning and implementation of all these projects was guided and supported by the team of LEAD and ACND, it was designed to enable the trained youth to not only empower the beneficiaries of their respective initiatives but also to implement their learning from the year long training as project leaders. One such project is 'the Mann talks' for implementation in Jammu region.
Besides the particular learning of each session, workshop participants became aware of practical tools for working on their mental health including healthy ways of expression. Art work created by them during the two days is on display at the workshop venue. Participants have been given fun activities to practice at home. In order to sustain the impact of this initiative, core team will stay in touch with them and facilitate their communication with the counselor as and when needed. The team of ‘the Mann talks’ expresses immense gratitude to all those who have supported this project and made its first workshop impactful.
"To ensure growth and sustainability, we are welcome to ideas and suggestions. Seeking public support in the project, the organisers announced: We request those whose values align with the vision of the project to kindly reach out to us at simrankour0971@gmail.com, so as to work together." (KNS)