Group of Rural Activities (GRA)
A few enthusiastic students felt a need to have a group which could help familiarize, the students of IIT, with the village life and would generate enthusiasm for working in this field. Hence Group for Rural Activities(GRA) was formed with the guidance of many other social organisations. The basic purpose of GRA is to generate awareness within the students of IIT about the present rural scene and to learn and participate in developmental activities as far as possible.
It was a decade since it was started.
Philosophy:
- The special focus of this team is on Rural Bharat.
- GRA is one of the many small efforts to motivate IITians to become active agents of change. Though not very big, GRA still is a conscious part of concerted and concerned efforts to canalize student-power for National Reconstruction by continuous, constructive efforts.
- The members of GRA are not passive bystanders. They actually act as agents of social change.
Activities:
- Visits and camps
- TEACH ME
- Lectures/discussions/study circles
- Wall magazine
- Questionnaire
- Meeting
Events:
- They encourage students to get involved in informal activities like folk dances, many games, picnics etc
Feelings and opinion of a volunteer working for "TEACH ME" activity
- He said that there will be barrier between the volunteers and the students, and he said that to reduce this barrier they sometimes goes to the child's house and drink some water and talk with their parents. So, that they can get close to the teachers or volunteers.
- People in Teach Me also teach samskara to the students. So, that once they got benefited out then they will contribute to their society.
- He told that some volunteer will go to the place and collects the students and brings them to IITB. Then the volunteers will teach lessons.
- They also make them play some games after the classes, to make them interested in turning up to the school
- Also he says that the number of people that come on some occasions is higher when compared to the other days. So, they conduct some special games on those days to make them interested in coming to the campus for the next time.
- The volunteers also give enough motivation to the students.
website: GRA Home Page