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Thursday, Mar 11 2010
Objective of Katong Parent’s Support Group (KPSG)
Swami said that if all the devotees have enthusiasm to work in the Organization, then it is easy to make the whole world come to Swami. But He said that the task before the devotees is not only their individual transformation, but also their individual spiritual exercises. The devotees have to involve the family as part of their spiritual exercises. This is called family transformation and is part of the Nine Points Code of Conduct as points number four, five and six. The first three points are for the individual and the next three are for the family.
The home and the family is the basic institution everywhere in the world. When the home improves, the whole world will be better.
To achieve the above objective it is imperative that KPSG put every effort in encouraging as many parents to participate in all the activities of the centre. Only when we have parents, students and gurus working together, can we inculcate human values in the hearts of our children.
The parents are to blame for three- fourths of their children’s behavior. When parents allow the children to go astray, sometime or other they will suffer the consequences. It has become fashionable in the Kali Age to let the children have their own way; The parents give a free rein to the children instead of controlling them. - Swami
Only when parents participate together with their children in the SSEHV programme can family transformation take place. It is with this objective that the Katong Parents Support Group (KPSG) hopes to achieve maximum participation from all parents, only then will we be able to plant together human values in the hearts of all our children through our own example.
 The atmosphere in the home should be such that it should nourish and develop the values inculcated in the child during SSEHV classes. Parental co-operation and encouragement are vital for the program to be effective. So often you see the difference in a child whose parent is actively involved with the program. This interest should be encouraged by SSEHV Gurus, by bringing parents into the program from the very early stages and using their skills to further enhance the children’s potential. Children learn a great deal by observing and copying what their parents do. Thus it makes it imperative for parents to plant the right ideals in the minds of their children by the example of their own conduct. – Swami
KPSG Aims:
- To facilitate the SSEHV program by actively participating in the activities conducted by the Education wing
- To promote in the understanding of the concept of parents being “SSEHV Gurus” at home and to develop a tripartite relationship between Parents, Gurus and the Children
- To conduct topics of interest relating to Sai Parenting skills based on Swami’s teachings through study circles and sharing sessions
- To organize seminars and workshops to increase the awareness in the field of Educare parenting skills, role of parents in mental and emotional health, balancing love and discipline and other relevant topics of interest
- To support in all the other curricular activities of the centre from family outings, spiritual retreats to monthly SSEHV combines sessions
KPSG Focus Areas:
KPSG will focus on “value adding and supporting” the SSEHV programme. Some of the key focus areas where KPSG will be playing a role are as follows:-
Weekly Parents Study Circles – This is a simple satsang to create awareness amongst parents on Swami’s teachings. It is currently being conducted with the help of some parents of our SSEHV students. We would like to see more parents coming forward to share their experiences during this study circle
General Admin Support – We would like to off-load some of the routine and non-core teaching duties from the gurus so that they can concentrate on teaching the children. This will also help parents to participate and be part of the SSEHV programme indirectly.
Participation in Monthly Combined Session – This session which is held once monthly provides a platform to showcase the talent amongst our SSEHV children. We encourage parents to be present in full force to support the children and cheer them on during their performances. We also would like to see parents involve in helping out during these monthly combine sessions.
Parents Feedback – This avenue is important to get feedback on how the programmes undertaken by the centre are benefiting the devotees and to seek areas where we can re-address things to be done in a better way. We seek parents who will take charge and implement the feedback survey on regular basis and to ensure questions in the feedback forms are relevant and pertaining to the centers activities.
Sai Link Newsletter – This monthly newsletter is for the whole family and will include articles and reports (on combined sessions or events) written by the children and parents. This is yet another avenue to reach out to parents in promoting and propagating Swami’s messages from his discourses.
Organize Workshops /Enrichment Sessions - (e.g. Public speaking sessions, visit to Buddhist Exhibition etc) on a quarterly basis. – We would endeavor to conduct various seminars and workshops for parents, children and gurus by inviting various speakers. Objective here is to provide additional help and techniques to the participants besides what is being discussed in the SSEHV classes. Workshop objective is to value add and topics covered should be relevant to the centers objectives.
Improve Parents Participation & Attendance for Centre Events & Activities - The KPSG will encourage all parents to attend the center’s monthly activities. Help publicize SAI Family Day (July) and Spiritual Retreat (Feb) to parents. Encourage as many parents and to actively support all the programmes of the centre.
Parents Dramas/Choir – Encourage parents to take part in various plays staged by KPSG to help convey pertinent messages from Swami’s teachings to the children. In addition, to participating in plays there is also the choir group that parents can take part in.
Parents In Action:-
Select and double click the image to see a gallery of photos taken during the various activities organized by the centre. These include Annual Sai Retreat, Annual Sai Family Day, and Monthly Combine Sessions. It is all fun and fulfilling for both the parents who are all out in numbers as well for the children.
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