The boy is nervous. By an effort of the will, he manages to look animated as he tells a four-member panel that he offers his seat, while riding on crowded buses, to senior citizens and women carrying children.
The panel facing him ask him several questions to ascertain that he is speaking the truth. Arun Iyyappan, a class VIII student from Gopalapuram Boys Higher Secondary School, is one of five students for the school to have been short-listed for the Human Values Award (HUVA), organised by Values India, a Chennai-based start-up that promotes value education in schools. As part of this initiative, it conducts a range of activities, including essay competition, role play, storytelling and screening short films.
“We are not testing the participant’s language or creative skills, but his level of involvement. Students can write the essay in any language and analyse how each of them demonstrated an outstanding human value. Following this evaluation, three or more students are honoured,” says Shekar Subramanian, one of the founders.
The not-for-profit organisation was started by four professionals in 2013 to help children and adults rediscover what it means to be humane, through education. The team has individuals from various backgrounds, including management consultants Preeyush Arya and Shekar Subramanian, social entrepreneur Vikas Arya and educationist Umesh Bhardwaj.
They are helped by a team of volunteers and advisors.
The team supports teachers by designing a curriculum and conducting a range of activities, both during and after-school hours. Through HUVA, their flagship programme, they want to reach out to as many schools as they can.
Nearly 165 schools across India have participated in the Human Value Awards with the help of NGOs and local coordinators. In Chennai, 15 schools, including government and private schools, have partnered with them.
Convincing schools to allow them to take classes is not easy as some institutions use moral science period to complete their syllabus.
“We approach schools through references,” says Vikas Arya. He says their next plan is to promote the website www.valuesindia.org as one of the top 100 portals.
“Here, parents, children and teachers can discuss a story and take up activities.”
The team is looking for volunteers who are ready to spend few hours a week. For details, email huva@valuesindia.org
