SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOL.

BI MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Instilling life skills in under privileged children through

activity based learning programs across India

EXCITING TIMES
Written by Vishal Mimani & Preetham Murva

We are delighted to share our thoughts for this very first newsletter of Fly Higher India -
FHI. It has been an incredible journey so far and we are excited for the future, with newer
developments and a deeper emphasis on instilling life skills.

We feel encouraged by so many schools and shelter homes across the country finding
value in the programs we are running.

Thousands of most amazing volunteers are working in teams in 30 cities and are reaching
out to over 6000 children from 80 schools/ homes.

List of articles We take this opportunity to thank all our 65 coordinators, 1400 volunteers, sponsors,
1. Message from Founders advisors & followers for their support. Special mention to Mr. Vivek Yadav for designing
2. July event – Bangalore our logo, thank you. International organisations like Canva & Salesforce recognised our
3. August event – Vadodara work and honoured us with special  benefits  as a non profit, we truly appreciate your
4. Volunteer experience  support.
5. Feedback –
Volunteer and Management We are ready to spread our wings further and reach out to more. Lets together continue
to make learning fun.
SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOL. 1
OUT OF THE BOX THINKING
BANGALORE - JULY 2019
Text by Nupur Shah, FHI Mumbai
On the 6th of July, 2019 FHI’s Bangalore
Team conducted an educative and fun-
filled event at Parikrma Humanity
Foundation on the theme ‘Out of the Box
Thinking’. This theme focuses on
nurturing innovative thinking and creative
problem solving abilities in children. This
was executed by introducing the children
to the concept of multi-directional
thinking and encouraging them to
approach problems in unique ways. The
event coordinators and volunteers planned,
designed and carefully selected activities
which would be apt for the children’s age
and interest. One of the most value-adding
activities was the Paper Plate Model &
Branding – here the students were divided
into small groups and were given paper
plates and few other basic materials like
colours, glue, etc., to work with. The task
was to use their imagination and convert
the given paper plates into something
innovative. At the end, it was elating to see
those young minds come up many useful
paper products out of scratch. The task
then continued where they had to brand
and sell the products they made to FHI
volunteers. praise worthy.
This motivated them to come up with
product names and impressive sales pitch
for their items.
‘This is an incredible
Another activity conducted was Make the
Best Out of the Waste. Here, the kids were
NGO Everytime I
provided with empty plastic bottles and the
aim as the name goes was to suggest the
have amazing
best way to make a resourceful item of it. experience working
Under the supervision of our enthusiastic
volunteers, the bottles were converted into with them. It's like
colourful pen stands, storage containers
and even flowering pots. This activity also contributing to the
proved to be the most liked one as they all
took their products with them after the future as we all try to
event to continue and use them.
Another entertaining activity was Spin a
instill developmental
Tale where students had to complete a
skills in
story by adding sentences to the initial
sentence given by the volunteers. This underprivileged
activity helped stimulate their ingenuity,
presence of mind and creative thinking. children. This work is
Many more of such value-adding activities
were conducted throughout the event and so full of
the whole room was filled with laughter
and learning the entire afternoon. The contentment.’
session was a remarkable one, by the end of
which the children gleefully shared their
learning takeaways with the volunteers and
Palak Sharma
the management. The enthusiasm and
excitement expressed by the kids of FHI Shimla
Parikrma Humanity Foundation is
undoubtedly praise worthy.
SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOL. 1

SEEKING SOLUTIONS
‘ It’s been great VADODARA - AUGUST 2019
working with such a Text by Truptimayee Das, FHI Bhubaneswar
team. It was my first The Vadodara event took place on 18th This activity helped the children understand

volunteering August 2019 at Friends Colony, Fatehganj. the power of team effort in solving
The theme for the month of August was problems and the importance of
experience with these ‘Seeking Solutions’. The emphasis was on articulation. 

wonderful people and the process of identifying and The third activity was the Problem Charade
understanding a problem, analysing the where the teams were given topics relating
the way all of us made situation, evaluating different solutions for to general problems that young children

the event happen it, choosing the most apt one, and finally face at school. They had to work with their
implementing it in an efficient and effective respective team members and volunteers to
makes me really manner. help us spread awareness about the issue
Contrary to the common belief that learning and suggest ways to handle the same. The
proud. I feel great to and fun don’t mix, FHI never fails to make topics covered by the teams included
be a part of this team. learning life skills absolutely entertaining. bullying and teasing, academic pressure,
The first of the decided activities was the materialism, education disparity, child
I hope we can keep up Solution Bee; here, a problem is read out to labour, learning disabilities, language
the good work and all the teams of children after which they barriers, etc., Many children and volunteers
brainstorm and write down all possible shared their personal experiences on how to
make a lot more faces solutions on paper. Each team then starts overcome these problems which were
smile. Thanks FHI!.’ discussing their solutions with the others till highly motivational. The other activities
one best decision is decided upon. This included a Scavenger Hunt and Rakhi
activity triggered the troubleshooting ability Making from waste materials.
among the children to come up with In today’s world, problems come in our way
multiple solutions for one problem. on a day to day basis and it is important to
Upasana Bhattasali The next activity conducted was Wounded develop the skills to tackle such problems.
FHI Kolkata Webs. One child from each team was Our theme ‘Seeking Solutions’ taught the
blindfolded and had to untangle the human underprivileged children, who often lack
web by that their team members were in by adult guidance and support how to solve
following verbal instructions from them. problems on their own. Such life skills are
What made this challenging was that the most essential as they turn them into
human web was to be made as per the confident, independent, and successful
directions given by an opposing team. individuals.
SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOL. 1

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Text by Neha Dalwani, FHI Surat
Fly Higher India is playing a vital role in Fine motor skills session included an
creating difference in the lives of activity called the Pictionary Dictionary. We
underprivileged children by organizing divided the kids into eight groups of seven ‘FHI is doing a great
educational events, awareness campaigns, each and a volunteer. In this activity, flash
health camps and inspiring them to explore cards were provided carrying different job by instilling life
their talents. FHI volunteers play an English words and the children had to draw
important part by making extra efforts the meaning of the given word to help their skills. I feel blessed to
towards children who are hardworking and teams guess the word. The initial plan was
willing to develop their life skills. All to have a single round; however as per the be a part of this
volunteers have the same purpose which is children’s excited request we did several
to create bright smiles and share their more making each round harder with more
organization where
stories, experiences, and ideas to help guide complex words. 
the little efforts are
the children.  Artistic skill session included theme based
In this article, I have described my very first drawing. The theme was to draw about the counted and
amazing volunteering experience with FHI. famous festival of Gujarat – Makar
In the beginning of 2019, the organization Sankranti (Kite Flying celebrations) which is appreciated.
scheduled an educational event at a school celebrated on the 14th January every year.
for the underprivileged in Panas Gam,  Required materials were provided and each It provides enough
Surat. The event turned out to be a student came up with interesting scenarios
fascinating one with a wide variety of and all drawings were made creatively.
exposure for personal
interesting activities which were both The activities in gross motor skills session
entertainment and educational. Each were solely oriented. It included lots of
growth.’
activity was unique and fun in its own way.  dancing, singing and the famous Lemon on
There were around sixty students of the Spoon race. Kids enjoyed dancing to
different age groups. The event was divided their favorite songs and singing them as Shivani Bhilwaray
into three sessions which were gross motor well. At the end of the session, to revive
skills, fine motor skills and artistic skills. The their energy levels, little mouth-watering FHI Delhi
session began with an active interaction treats were also distributed. On the whole it
consisting of brief introductions on what was a glorious day and our happiness had
was planned for the children that afternoon. no bounds. I have never missed an event
since!
 SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOL. 1

‘What FHI discussed about today is very important

and necessary. Thank you very much FHI! We hope
you come back with more such important themes.’

Annai Velankanni Orphanage, Pondicherry

Newsletter Team
Shivani Sridharan
Sharmishtha Hardas
Nupur Shah
Truptimayee Das

FLYHIGHERINDIA

FLYHIGHERINDIA.ORG