Learning Links Foundation along with Education Quality Foundation of India conducted
A Physical Education Cards (PEC) Deliverers Training Workshop
At Mewat, Haryana
on 22^nd and 23^rd February, 2011

This workshop was conducted by a qualified lead trainer, Ms. Chandeep Marwah. These schools come under the SRF Foundation which has taken up the Mewat Rural Education Program (MREP) after considering the challenging situation in Mewat and its motto to reach out to the needy in remote areas. It runs the MREP in partnership with the Department of Elementary Education of the Government of Haryana, and focuses its efforts in the Nuh block of the Mewat district.

MREP officially commenced in December 2009 in 19 villages, covering 25 primary schools and 15 middle schools. It covers 12,500 children enrolled in schools, and 3,000 others who are not.

The Program was specifically done by SRF to promote sports in this region

This program was conducted at SP Nagli for 18 KidSmart Vidya Volunteers and 9 Bridge School Facilitators. This program is supported by MHRD, UK Sports, CBSE , British Council and UNICEF.

PEC Cards are a set of colorful cards with instructions on delivering fun, safe and inclusive PE sessions at the primary level. Through games and activities, the curriculum aims to develop teacher's expertise in teaching and honing children's Agility, Balance, Coordination, Speed and Strength (ABCSS)

During the two-day training program, participants were given hands-on experience to conduct PE sessions using the cards and equipments. They were also encouraged to understand the principles of inclusion through Space, Task, Equipment & People (STEP).

By the end of the program, participants showed positive feedbacks as the cards introduced new teaching methodologies and activities at the primary level. The interactive training sessions, filled with discussions and activities made the program enjoyable for everybody.
It also provided them with the necessary hands-on skills and experience that they need to conduct the activities in their own centers.

Visitors from British Council at the workshop

A sharing session was held on the last day with participants. Apart from the new knowledge and skills they learnt, personal takeaways such as increased motivation and desire to help students' progress and make learning a fun process through the use of activities was cited. Participants also highlighted the importance of incorporating ABCSS and STEP into the curriculum as before PEC India, activities were usually conducted without giving much consideration to the skills or values that will be delivered to the children.

To find out more about the program and how it impacted our participants, an interview was conducted with five of our attendees.

Ms. Rajwanti is a Bridge School facilitator in Rehna village. She has five years of experience in the education sector, previously working as a facilitator and teacher, teaching vocational skills to female students. Being a local residing in SP Nagli, she is delighted with the training opportunity that SRF Foundation has given her. She finds her experience in PEC India useful and interesting. In those two days, she has learnt a lot of new activities and methods to provide interesting experiences to her students, and is ecstatic about passing on what she has learnt.

Mr. Mohd Salman is a Vidya Volunteer at Salaheri village. A local here, he completed his education till class XII in Salaheri, and pursued a diploma in Computer Studies. After graduation, he decided to educate children from his own village and help them progress. He enjoyed PEC India tremendously and thinks that it is an enriching experience, being able to educate through play and making lessons more engaging and interactive.

Ms. Babita Sharma is a Vidya Volunteer at Salambha village. A former Mr. Mohd Salman national wrestler, she is no stranger to physical education. Even with her extensive knowledge on sports and training, she still learnt new things during the program such as the need for cooling down exercise, which she was not aware of before. During the hands-on experience session, she began to realize how crucial patience is. According to her, having all the necessary equipment and instructions is futile if one does not have the patience to execute the activity.

Mr. Mohd Mustak was the only Bridge School facilitator chosen to be a Vidya Volunteer. He was selected because of his extraordinary performance in Ms. Babita Sharma community mobilization and his engagement with the children in his Bridge School. Currently doing his final year in Bachelor of Arts and Humanities, he believes in continuous learning and is committed to the progress of the children he works with. As his first time attending such workshops, he has gained plenty of insights that he can't wait to put into place. Through the program, he has learned a range of new activities that he can do with his students. With creativity, they can be adjusted to suit different needs and made tougher or easier. Adhering and structuring of rules is also another takeaway that he got.

Ms. Sanjeeda is a Vidya Volunteer at Rithora. Only 18 years old, this is her first job after completing class X. Being a local and educated in Rithora, she has decided to give something back to her community by teaching the children of her village. PEC India was the first workshop she attended and it was a good experience. Not only did she have the chance to interact with people of different backgrounds, she also had the opportunity to pick up new skills and values, apart from just academics.