Development of life skills is considered a key part of the programs at Mirra. In addition to life skills, skills imparted at Mirra are aligned towards pre-vocational skill development so that the students are ready to get trained on an appropriate vocational skill. Activities are designed to enable the students to achieve proficiency on the required pre-vocational skills. Currently, we focus on Multimedia skill development through our Ability Enhancement Multimedia Programme in collaboration with AIMS Media. We also impart pre-vocational skills pertaining to hospitality, handicrafts and horticulture industry.
Malarchi
Malarchi – “Blossoming of our young adults to empowered, confident and independent individuals”, is a certificate course launched by Mirra in January 2021. The modules covered in this program are Self-care and self-awareness, Communication, Independent living skills, Financial literacy, Thinking and problem solving, Anxiety management, Empathy, Work etiquette, team work and time management, Personal and cyber safety.
The program at every step focusses on fostering independence in students and ways of empowering them to achieve the same. Independence comes with responsibility and with proper guidance, the students are encouraged to shoulder responsibilities both at home and as a part of the program. Parents play the crucial role of stepping back and giving their wards space and time to adapt.
7 students took up the course in the first batch and and 8 students in the second batch sat through 110 hours of online sessions, completing assignments, meeting deadlines and participating in several “on the spot” activities for achieving necessary life skills. Multi-modal learning techniques such as role-plays, games, hands-on activities, audio-visual streaming etc were adopted to make the learning diverse and engaging for the students. The Grand Finale was a Jury presentation made by every student. Each student captured the essence of the 3-month program in their own style – presenting not just what they learnt but also how they intend to take this forward. Interesting anecdotes were also shared by the students to share how they applied their learning during the 3-month program. The transformation during the course was evident in the way they confidently shared their learnings with almost zero prompts.
Our third batch comprising of 6 students attended this course in person and went through the rigor of learning and practicing over a period of 6 months and finally culminating with a jury presentation.
Our fourth batch had 7 students enrolled. Offering a hybrid model, the sessions happened both in direct and online mode.Not stopping with learning and practising in the classroom, students also took the opportunity to practise the skills in a work setting through internships with partner organizations.
Practise makes it perfect, isn't it!!
Overall, this program worked on various aspects of communication, self-care, managing oneself, independent living skills, safety aspects and work-related skills. Despite challenges, the students worked hard to complete the program not only on time but have demonstrated team work in helping each other to reach this milestone. Malarchi has brought in a great sense of bonding and friendship in all of them.
Unnati
Unnati - Level 1, our digital literacy diploma course for the current batch came to a conclusion on 17-4-2024.
8-month long journey in which students learnt to operate laptops safely, learnt to transfer their ideas for arts from paper to digital medium. They learnt the various tools and techniques to get the digital art right in the most efficient way. They explored and created digital designs for cards, invites and products such as mugs, mouse-pad, t-shirts etc.
They also learnt to engage safely and happily with small challenges in terms of online puzzles and word games with their peers. Students were introduced to MS office software and created their resume and portfolios with what they have learnt. Do watch the video to get a glimpse of the work done by our students in the following link: https://youtu.be/lCYcO1VFoEY
Students followed their classroom routines, executed their responsibilities and bonded amongst themselves.
AEMP
At Mirra, we have always been working towards not just independent living but also bringing out the creative mind in a child. We have taken a step further in our endeavour to create a sustainable environment for our children by signing up a MoU with AIMS Media for the AEMP (Ability Enhancement Multimedia Program). Under this program, the children will be trained in the usage of specific multimedia tools. This program helps in identification of creative and imaginative skills of a child. The child is given exposure to new working environment which aids in boosting their knowledge and confidence level.
AEMP program is a unique blend of creativity, art and craft which help children learn through play. It promotes the development of ‘Thinking skills’ in students. Children get to work on illustrations and design, modelling and crafting, camera and photography, graphic designing, cinematography and animation.
Our first batch has completed their 18– month diploma program and some of them have finished the next level (Project Based AEMP - 24-month Program )where their learning is further enhanced in addition to gaining experience on real time projects. They are working under the brand name "Atulya". Our second batch of students have completed the 18-month Learning Based AEMP (LBAEMP) Program and some of them have moved on to Project based AEMP (PBAEMP). The third batch has also completed their 18-month LBAEMP program.
Some of our second batch of PBAEMP have joined mainstream workforce. A few others have formed a sheltered employment organization "Sigaram" with the support from their parents. Our third batch of LBAEMP have completed their course successfully.
Handicrafts
Engaging in hands on activities that are artistic and creative introduces participants to a range of skills. It allows the learners to use and understand the properties of a wide range of tools, machines, materials and systems. Handicrafts provides young people with regular opportunities to think imaginatively and creatively and develop confidence in life skills.
At Mirra, students engage in making products made from paper, the basics of sewing, weaving and jewelry making.
Horticulture
Horticulture training at Mirra addresses therapeutic needs as well as a pre-vocational skills. Hands on training in growing and maintaining microgreens, vegetable and flowering plants are the present focus. Students will also learn the various types of tools to be used in gardening. Students will be taken to visits to nurseries, farms and outdoor spaces that cultivate green produce so as to provide them with real-world experience and engage in all the processes that are part of horticulture as a vocational pursuit.
Mrs.Kalpana, a parent volunteer, offers her precious time to nurture our little garden with some of our children at Mirra. She diligently tends to the garden, ever ready to try her green thumb with our wards and coaxes them to plant a few seeds and wait to see them sprout.Growing microgreens, making seed balls as well as making a coconut stick broom right from scratch were some of the efforts she led from the front with our children. She was enthusiastic about a visit to a terrace garden in the locality to inspire and motivate children and parents alike and continues to be committed to the "green" cause.
Hospitality
At Mirra, we currently cover the pre-vocational skills needed for House keeping and Food and Beverage industry. Activities range from sorting, arranging, cleaning, organizing, raw material procurement and preparation activities such as peeling, cutting, kneading for cooking. Students are introduced to activities and move gradually from simple to complex ones. Students make beverages such as tea, coffee, panagam. They are also involved in cooking healthy dishes. Emphasis is laid on task preparation, task execution and closure.