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What is Social Media?

Social Media is just a reflection of who we are. It is networking or connecting to people. It is a dialogue, not a monologue. It creates communities. It creates a comfortable and entertaining atmosphere, helping people improve their social skills, providing interesting information for users to learn and expand their knowledge, and most importantly, to establish new forms of interpersonal relationships. Social media has created radical changes in the life of individuals. The emergence of the internet as a network for communication has brought profound transformation in society. We are always updated on the latest happenings of the world through it and become more socially aware of the issues of the world.

Positive Impact on Religious Formation

In this digital world, social media is a necessity, not a luxury. It is said, “Don’t use social media to impress people; use it to impact people.” It gives birth to a new way of learning, thinking and establishing relationships. Yes, our formees are coming from the Z generation, marked by the internet. Generation Z dominates online searches for information on the post-millennial generation. According to a study, people belonging to the Z generation are more accepting and open minded, pragmatic and creative, progressive and idealistic.

Sr Benny D’ Cunha UFS

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As an educationalist, with interest in women’s development ranging from grassroots to higher education, I believe that the possibility of women using and creating social media spaces is a progressive notion and a way forward towards the goal of women empowerment. The internet has emerged as a critical tool in determining ones’ identity, social status, career success and to stay connected in a globalized world. In this digital age it is essential even for women to be internet savvy in order to survive.

Positive Change in the lives of women

Social networking sites have played a pivotal role in groups, communities and the society at large. These innovations have ignited social change and changed the lives of women.

1. A space for Self-expression

The results of the rampant spread of social media phenomenon also saw women who have had limited access to education, employability, barriers such as caste/class/gender, language and mobility, have access to social media. Encountering multiple forms of discrimination, it became an important space particularly for assertion of identities. It enabled women to express their ‘voice’ in more suitable, convenient, appropriate and in largely uncontested spaces.  Women like Meena Kandasamy, award-winning writer, Christina Dhanraj, co-founder of Dalit History Month project, Ginni Mahi, famous pop-singer, Meena Kotwal, award-winning independent journalist, Kiruba Munusamy and Disha Wadekar, human rights lawyers, amongst countless others use social media as a space for self-expression.

Prof. Sandra Joseph

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The New Year is a time to make a fresh start. It is a time to renew our thoughts, minds and souls, because it is a reminder that though all things are transient, we can still reinforce the good of the past and plan as far as we can, for a better future.

The last year has been bleak. The looming threat and the continuing fear of the Corona virus and the outbreak of war in Ukraine, all things that we had not expected, dampened our spirits and morale. These events of the past year have resulted in great damage to economies, waning employment prospects, disrupting supply chains, rise in commodity prices and inflation. The poor and the children, many orphaned by COVID have been the worst hit by these developments. Children have had tremendous learning setbacks, by missing out on school.  The average household has had to cope with unbearable hardships leaving lasting pain. Not to speak of the social disorientation and problems created by the time spent in social isolation.

The start of the New Year does not seem promising either. Yet, we have to learn to adapt to changing circumstances and learn to cope with pain and hardship. The news today is all very negative. In the midst of all this, can we retain our sanity and somehow manage to cope, with stress, mental anguish and emotional imbalance, as we negotiate the new difficulties we will meet with in the New Year?

Janina Gomes

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Aha! A fresh and lovely morning! Teena (name changed) threw her hands up and down in the air as she came out into the courtyard to relish the newness of the morning. She had slept well that night and that was a great success for her!  It is a year and a half since she is suffering from depression and is under medication. Her need to take medicine itself aggravates her helplessness and anger. At the age of 56 she misses her children who are settled abroad. She feels too tired to get up in the morning, to cook meals or to do any work. All her skills and education seem to be a mere waste.  She doubted if her husband loved her at all with those wrinkles appearing on her face and hands.

I have been reaching out to Teena for a while now.  Also, with a few other women in their late middle age and older, who go through immense stress; a battered wife even at the age of 63 years, a mother with a 22-year-old daughter with Down Syndrome, a widow struggling to bring up her children, families with heavy bank loans and some others submerged in loneliness and fear as they are left alone at home. If only one could touch their lives in some small ways!

Women at this age group became a priority for the two of us Good Shepherd Sisters as we found them as a stuck, hidden and ignored group in the so-called developed society in Kerala. This awareness paved the way for a new beginning. A Day Care Centre was initiated to accompany the elder women.  This new venture in consultation with the needy in itself was empowering for all. We welcome them cordially; have a lot of games, sing-songs, dance, creativity session, relaxation besides counseling and group work. Just three months since its establishment, this Centre proves to be an effective forum for unconditional support, wellness and empowerment for the attendees.

Sr. (Dr) Shalini Podimattam RGS

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The phrase ‘New Beginnings’ denotes that there were old starts. This may mean that one is not satisfied with the earlier beginnings and would like to have a new beginning, or a new situation.  New challenges in life require new beginnings in order to move forward in one’s life journey. New beginnings have hope, expectations and have certain goals. New beginnings are the result of certain understanding and insights such as—Self Evaluation, Situational Evaluation, Mission Evaluation and so on. Certain events and certain seasons motivate one to a New Beginning. This Christmas season may we be motivated to have resolutions for New Beginnings. The need to have a new beginning will differ from person to person and from group to group. One such need for a new beginning is shared in this article.

Extra Money – A Persistent Slogan

Today the focus, the goal of the people in general is— ‘Make Money.’ Is making or earning money a bad thing? No, it is not; rather it is an essential one. But today there is a craving for ‘Extra Money.’ A salaried person wants to have some ‘Extra Money,’ a business person wants ‘Extra Money,’ a Producer of a commodity wants ‘Extra Money,’ a consumer wants ‘Extra Money,’ people involved in social work want ‘Extra Money,’ people involved in spiritual activity want ‘Extra Money,’ people’s representatives from grass root to the top want ‘Extra Money,’ the voters want ‘Extra Money’ and in short, given the chance, it appears that every one of us wants ‘Extra Money’ which is not ours, which is not legal and which is not right.

This ‘Extra Money’ is usually in the form of bribe, adulteration, cheating, duplication, low quality, buy one get one free, lottery, donations, corruption, horse trading, operation, selling the votes, freebies and so on.  But every one of them justifies the ‘Extra Money.’ This increasing craving for ‘Extra Money’ is one of the main causes for many of the evils that are found in society. This is one of the biggest hurdles in the way of change—be it Social or Political Change.

K. John Don Bosco

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Christmas, for me, symbolizes a season of new beginnings, inviting us, to be hope to those who have lost hope and to restore dignity to those who are marginalised at every front.

My Great Desire

It has always been my great desire to do something for women’s empowerment. God placed me in Gujarat through my congregation to work with the most underprivileged Adivasi women. Since 1999, I have been involved in making efforts for empowering Adivasi women through skill education, leadership training and wider outreach to the village communities.

WEST – For the Underprivileged

I was happy, during this academic year, to collaborate with a Jesuit centre in Rajpipla, Gujarat in developing a programme called Women’s Empowerment for Social Transformation (WEST). It is a training programme for young women from the marginalised sections of the society, especially Adivasi women, to become lawyers and social workers. It is a five-year programme and in the first year, language and computer skills are given along with the training for transformation based on Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of education – self and social transformation.  Our outdated education systems have not contributed to the socio-economic development of Adivasi women.  And so, the WEST programme envisages a paradigm shift from the traditional education system in creating situational changes. Through this programme young women are trained to develop an ideology of change and value formation so that they are equipped to work for the transformation of their own society, to assert their rights and gain a rightful place in the society. As trained women in their respective professions, they will be the decision makers. This will provide them with space and expertise and thus they will break traditions and taboos in a non-threatening manner. It will become a naturally nurtured and accepted women leadership in the community. It will promote gender equality.

My Contribution

I taught life skills to these young women to develop their confidence and be focused. I could notice a positive change in their attitude and perspective after conducting a series of sessions with them. The common notion is that Adivasi women are not ambitious and are not  motivated to persevere in their career. It was an uphill task for me in the beginning to motivate them and get them on track. I was happy that I could help them to persevere in their studies.

Sr Magy Allessu DHM

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St. Francis of Assisi was the first to create augmented reality of the Christmas event as he made the 4D Crib which the Franciscan history vouches was a living crib, wherein the Christ-Child came alive.  It was the beginning, a beginning that set to flame the saga of many a Christmas event re-enacted in every believing heart.

The humus-effect—The Humility-Effect—of Jesus, is so overwhelming an experience that Francis of Assisi who had dwelt on it, became so Christ-intoxicated, hence a transformation so complete.  Tradition says that the early Christmas Cribs were made with mud and clay. I am certain many of us who belong to a different generation, blissfully different a generation, have had some experience of actually creating the idols and figures from the clay and mud. The Second Adam who is the Creator of the first Adam decided to be born as a human being in extreme humility and poverty. A humble person is known to be down to earth.  The word humility originated from the word humus which means soil, dark soil, fertile soil, earth etc. St. Francis saw the humility of God in the Christ Birth and the entire Jesus event.  He marveled at the sublime humility of God – The humility of God in the Eucharist, and at every Christmas event celebrated in the shadow of the Cross.

The Christmas event, the greatest of all events marks the beginning of the God-Man, Jesus, teaching us the story of humility, the humility of a God who was born on the earth, down to earth to raise the down-trodden to heights.  The path to Christ’s birth was not an easy one, no comfort was provided to the parents of the Divine Child. Jesus Himself from womb to tomb lived outside the comfort zone.  It was humility in its highest superlative, life in its extreme margins lived by the Lord Himself, as an itinerant, barefoot traveler, preaching and reaching out.

Sr Babitha Abraham FMM

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Christmas for me symbolizes a season of new beginnings; a new beginning when all hope is lost and suddenly, God shows up in the situation and changes all things around for our good.

A Blessing & Privilege

It had been a blessing to work with underprivileged students in St. Mary’s community College, Jharsuguda, Odisha. I had the opportunity to understand their difficulties, comfort them in sorrow, accompany them in their pain.  Their study is adversely affected by family problems such as alcoholic parents, family disputes, deceased parents, death of siblings and loved ones. Some of them are being brought up by a single parent.  Parents are mostly farmers and daily labourers. Most of them are school and college dropouts, young widows, those who were once involved in begging, have had bad relationships, part of child labour, and have experienced homelessness and suicidal thoughts, and many have also been victims of domestic violence.

The job that they are offered after their training, seems to really help them, this enables them to have a reason to believe in themselves, to feel accepted, and take control of their lives in a respectable manner.

I Made a Difference

Working with the underprivileged has helped me realize that I made a difference in their life. Sometimes it was difficult for me to handle them, or manage the finance. Many times I felt helpless. I simply brought all my anxiety and worry to the Lord during the holy hour from where I drew immense strength.  However, through a series of divine intervention, the God of new beginnings showed up and gave me grace to understand and love them and support them emotionally and financially. I felt proud that I was able to involve myself in the life of young people.

Sr.Ranjita Tirkey HM

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Recently while browsing through the internet, I came across the life stories of two ordinary children who became extraordinary persons because of what they did, the new possibilities they envisaged for themselves, others, the world and creation.  The first child is Gauravi Kaushik from Jaipur.  The second one is Ranjitha from Orissa.  The theme for this issue of the Magnet, New Beginnings, was inspired by them.   This in addition to the fact that Christmas always has a spontaneous delight which leads us to a recommitment of our selves.

Gauravi’s Little Steps

Gauravi Kaushik is presently a 16-year-old teenage high school student.  She is the Co-Founder of NGO R-4.  What does the 4 Rs of this NGO stand for? – REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE and RESTORE.  Where did Gauravi get her vision? What was that extraordinary event that pushed her on to something new?

In fact, there is nothing extraordinary.  When she was ten years old, she saw her elder sister collecting and storing kitchen waste for a few days and converting it into manure for plants. She was thrilled.  That day, says Gauravi, ‘I found my vision.  I realized I will embark on a journey towards making this society, this country and finally this world a better place to live in.’

Gauravi along with her sister first started a number of environmental initiatives in their school in Jaipur. In 2013 when Gauravi was 7 and her sister 13, they started R-4.  Initially they managed the project together and gradually they developed a network of 200 volunteers and 650 followers on Facebook.

What is their mission statement? – Reading and preaching about conservation is not enough. We have to act, and act now.

What did/do they do?

• They started with waste management projects which spread throughout Jaipur.
• They worked for sustainability along with volunteers.
• They helped with planting trees, made people aware about the importance of segregating waste through waste collection marathons, theatre festivals like Jairangam and other events.
• Presently, they organize annually a campaign called Meri Bhee Diwali event for which the vision is to see every child happy on the festival of Diwali. In view of this vision, they organize a collection drive for old festive clothes and foot wear every year – since 2016 to date.  They are then washed, packed and distributed to those in need.

Pushpa Joseph

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INTRODUCTION

The Union Government of India approved the National Education Policy 2020 on July 29, 2020. The first National Education Policy came into force in 1968.  It was replaced by the National Education Policy 1986, which was modified in 1992.  The 1992 policy was in force till 2020, and we now have the current National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aims and objectives of this policy and the stages by which the policy projects to achieve the goal seems impressive at the outset. The stated aim of this New Education Policy is:

“India to have an education system by 2040 that is second to none, with equitable access to the highest-quality education for all learners regardless of social or economic background and thus to universalise education and make India a Global knowledge Superpower.”

On the face of it, any Indian would be proud of this aim.

STRUCTURE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION

The process to achieve the high aim and objective set for this policy also looks impressive, for it replaces the existing school education structure of 10+2 with 5+3+3+4. In this structure the first 5-year stage, which is called Foundational Stage, is a welcome one because it aims at concentrating on children from the age of three—the right to have education begins from the age of three. The pedagogy that is proposed for this stage will definitely enable the children to learn to write, read and understand basic numbers by the time they reach grade 2, which would be the basic strength for children to go to the Second Level of Preparatory stage from 3 to 5, where the children learn languages and basic mathematics. If these two stages are really implemented in its letter and spirit, the children will certainly be equipped with the strength to continue their studies in stage three from the 6th grade to the 8th grade and will be in a position to face the fourth stage from grade 9 to 12, where students would be free to choose the subjects they like and be in a position to learn vocational skills as well.

K. John Don Bosco

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