The national wise silence in the mission of the Salvation Army Schools in India has been broken by an attempt of developing strategies for the Salvation Army Schools in India through a three days National Education Workshop which was organized by the Education Department, National Office, Kolkata, from 4th to 07th of August 2019 at UDS, Kovalam, Trivandrum, ISWT.
SAWSO, the USA and IHQ-Schools came in help of the Indian Salvation Army Schools through our National Office, Education Department, Kolkata which invited 19 participants representing 6 Indian territories who are involved in the mission of the Salvation Army Schools. The aim of the workshop, on the whole, is, to support, help, and understand the challenges and opportunities in each territory and eventually to further and inform program design and implementations by creating a tool of strategies based on the conversation on the ground reality of the Salvation Army Schools in India.
For the inauguration of the workshop, Colonel Nihal Hettiarachachi, Territorial Commander of India South Western Territory was invited as chief guest who graced his blessings with his inspiring and challenging keynote address who declared the commencement of the workshop by cutting the cake. Colonel deserves massive applause for employing his men, and material in help of the three days workshop.
Colonels John Kumar Dasari and Manikumari, the Leadership of the National Office, Dr. Patience Fielding, Technical Advisor from SAWSO, Mr. Howard Delziel, IHQ-Schools, Mrs. Anita Aidinyantz, the Founder, Secretary and Correspondent of Bethany Schools of Odisha, Miss Anisa of IHQ, and Captain Aseervatham Cheeli, Chief Financial Officer of National Office and in coordination of Captain Latha Cheeli, Education Secretary, National Office were the key resources.
For the first two days of the workshop, the participants actively in response outpoured the conversations to identify and understand the territories' strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats prevailing on the ground of the mission of the Salvation Army Schools in India. Dr. Fielding and Mr. Howard led the sessions and encouraged the delegates through the exchange of wider discussions through the education system of India, mission, and vision of the Salvation Army Schools, curriculum and teaching materials, community and stakeholder analysis, school governance, and eventually to SWOT analysis.
Dr. Anita Aidinyantz's sprawling experience, on the second day, in promotion of the ministry of education in communities was so inspiring. She led the participants through her personal testimonies of how God's anointing worked through her life in the field of education.
For the second day workshop, Colonel John Kumar Dasari began the day with his devotion in which he reminded of the purpose and importance of the Education Ministry in building the kingdom of God. Colonel by his words of wisdom, by quoting Paul's words from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 took the participants by explaining the power of God's word which is the breath of God and took the participants back to the ages where knowledge and education found its birth in ancient India. Colonel Manikumari, Secretary for Women's Development, National Office closed the prayer hours with her prayers.
Following the devotions, Dr. Fielding took the lead of sessions with her words of thanks to IHQ, and National Office for investing their hard labour to make things happened. In following, the participants were led through the brainstorming steps of SMART to develop a statement and tool of strategies for the Indian Salvation Army Schools.
In close, Colonel John Kumar Dasari emphasized Paul's words to Timothy on the development of spiritual personality, and mission priority which was so appealing and inspiring. Captain Aseervadam Cheeli's interventions in help of discussions and developing statement and strategy with the support of Miss Anisa of IHQ was so helpful for the participants to success the steps towards the end of the work.
For the organized beauty of the workshop, Captain Latha Cheeli's prudent coordination was evident in preparing participants through pre-conference work prior to the workshop, ordering things in the line of arrangements during the days of the workshop, and post-conference communications with participants. Also, the hand of Mr. Benchamin Dhaya, Director, CHDP, CB Hospital, Nagercoil, was there in helping to get the workshop done. Delicious food, comfortable stay and accommodation in UDS, Kovalam, Beach Resort furthered its strength for the participants to enjoy the entire work of workshop.
Reported by Major Santhi Babu, Correspondent, The Salvation Army, Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil, India South Eastern Territory
