Oct 25, 2010
We have moved!
Finally, we have moved to our new location and we re-started our batches from last monday (Oct 18th). We had to take a break of 3 weeks so that we could move into our new office and set it up. It was very tiring and we used to be exhausted at the end of each day but it was worth all that pain! The new office is in Mylapore, very close to Chitrakulam tank.
Please wish us luck in the new place!
Please wish us luck in the new place!
Sep 13, 2010
Aug 25, 2010
Aug 23, 2010
In the news - 4
It's very heartening to see the response being generated for our Golden Skills workshop for senior citizens. It is slowly gaining popularity among the masses and we are realising that now we have a reputation to keep upto.
Our workshop got featured in the Tamil weekly magazine Puthiya Thalaimurai on Aug 26, 2010. A heart-filled thanks to the publication's Jennifer Daniels for the beautiful write-up. Here is the article below. As a designer, I can't help but notice that it is a beautifully designed page. People have been calling from all over Tamilnadu and congratulating our venture. It's very heart-warming indeed!
Now to the more mundane aspects of life - we are still hunting for a new office space. The deadline to vacate the present premises is Sep 30th and we are yet to find a suitable place. We are hoping and praying to find a solution very soon. It's become quite a challenge because we are looking for a ground / first floor only so that it is easy for the senior citizens to attend the classes. But if it is a high-rise then the lift should be in good working condition. So, we are keeping our fingers crossed....
Aug 14, 2010
Love unlimited
It struck me that yesterday was Friday the 13th and we finished our 13th batch yesterday:) Just a coincidence? Maybe ....because it was a very nice day for us at Golden Skills, not the usual unlucky day as believed widely.
There was so much love from our students...unbelievable! They showered us with gifts, sweets and lots of blesings! And so have all our previous batches. Love definitely from all of them, gifts and sweets - from a few of them.
Every participant is enthusiastic because they are so glad someone is taking the pains to teach them computers. They are so thankful that we have taught them something which their own children and grandchildren don't have the time to teach. That is the common complaint that I have heard from most of the participants. They are either too scared to touch computers or no one at home bothers to teach them.
Heartfelt thanks to each one of my students for choosing Golden Skills! Really, it means a lot to us to take this opportunity to make some difference in their lives and see their smiles at the end of each day's class. When we say goodbye on the last day we feel very sad that they have finished their workshop. But we look forward to the new batch, eager to meet more such kind-hearted, loving people.
Keep coming because you keep us going:)
Aug 5, 2010
Jul 24, 2010
Jul 17, 2010
In the news - 3
Our workshop got featured in the Mylapore Times on Jul 17, 2010. A heart-filled thanks to the publication's Mariayn Jennifer for the write-up and Saravanan for the photograph. Here is the article below:
Jul 13, 2010
In the news - 2
Our workshop got featured in the Dinakaran suplement Vasantham on Jul 11, 2010. A heart-filled thanks to the publication's Vaidehi for the write-up and Pudur Saravanan for the photograph. Here is the article below:
We are conducting our 7th batch this week. And thanks to the media coverage a lot of people are aware of our workshop now. We are also planning a separate batch for women during the morning between 11 am - 1 pm. And also an interesting workshop for educators! Look out for more details in the coming days. Also hope to start advertising soon.
Jul 10, 2010
Jul 9, 2010
In the news - 1
Our workshop got featured in the Times of India today (Jul 09 2010). A heart-filled thanks to the publication's Priya Menon for the write-up and Pratap for the photograph. Here is the article below:
Took a scan of the article and sent to our well-wishers and all the past students. It is surreal getting featured in one of the top publications in the country! It is an exciting and happy day for us at Golden Skills. We are winding up this week's batch tomorrow and getting ready for next week's batch. Couple more interviews are expected in other publications some time soon. Will keep the blog updated on them too.
We are also planning a separate batch for women in the morning and also some interesting workshops for educators, design students and executives. We will be announcing the program schedule and details shortly.
We are also planning a separate batch for women in the morning and also some interesting workshops for educators, design students and executives. We will be announcing the program schedule and details shortly.
Jun 30, 2010
Winds of change...
We are now gearing up to shift to our new office. Should be through with it by the end of July.
Wish us luck in the new place!
Wish us luck in the new place!
Jun 19, 2010
Roller-coaster ride!
Yes, that's how the past 3 weeks have been. We started our first batch of workshop on 2nd June and today we are finishing the 3rd batch. The weeks have been filled with interesting people visiting our office to attend their classes, interesting insights into the lives of senior citizens, blessings pouring from them for our venture and a sense of a job well done for us:)
Thanks to one of our students, we even got to give an interview in one of the local vernacular magazines. We will post a clipping of it here soon.
Amidst all this happiness, the landlord threw a bomb on us!
Not quite literally but it definitely upset us quite a bit. We were given 3 months notice to vacate the office premises as they want to demolish it and build an apartment block. We were angry and upset because we had just finished setting up our classroom and were settling down to work. Out of nowhere this bolt of lighting strikes us and we are left smoldering in shock!
Anyway, we have now patted away the dust and are on an earnest hunt for a new office space. Hope to get one soon....we have to get one soon or else we won't have anywhere to work from.
We are keeping our spirits high and taking it in our stride. This may be just a minor upset and we want to get over it real quick. Will keep you posted on the progress we are making on this front.
Thanks to one of our students, we even got to give an interview in one of the local vernacular magazines. We will post a clipping of it here soon.
Amidst all this happiness, the landlord threw a bomb on us!
Not quite literally but it definitely upset us quite a bit. We were given 3 months notice to vacate the office premises as they want to demolish it and build an apartment block. We were angry and upset because we had just finished setting up our classroom and were settling down to work. Out of nowhere this bolt of lighting strikes us and we are left smoldering in shock!
Anyway, we have now patted away the dust and are on an earnest hunt for a new office space. Hope to get one soon....we have to get one soon or else we won't have anywhere to work from.
We are keeping our spirits high and taking it in our stride. This may be just a minor upset and we want to get over it real quick. Will keep you posted on the progress we are making on this front.
Jun 4, 2010
Net-savvy seniors!
Today was the 3rd day of the workshop and my students were gung-ho about creating their own e-mail IDs. They immediately dashed off e-mails to their loved ones!
They also learnt how to browse the net for information using Google. They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the amount of information that got displayed! Now I'm sure I have created some very serious net addicts:)
They also learnt simple calculations on MS-Excel.
Tomorrow is going to be the last day of the workshop and they will be learning more about using the Internet. Let's see how they react to that!
They also learnt how to browse the net for information using Google. They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the amount of information that got displayed! Now I'm sure I have created some very serious net addicts:)
They also learnt simple calculations on MS-Excel.
Tomorrow is going to be the last day of the workshop and they will be learning more about using the Internet. Let's see how they react to that!
Jun 3, 2010
Finally, we are on!
Last week was a roller coaster ride - electrical work, computer rentals, UPS, and all other essentials were put into place.
This week we stuck to our plan and started the 1st batch of our workshop 'GOLDEN SKILLS' on 2nd June. The 5-day workshop will cover basic computer & internet skills for elderly citizens.
We had advertised this workshop by placing a listing in the events column in The Times of India and The Hindu. And we were pretty impressed by the response we got from the senior citizens who wanted to join the workshop. The registrations are on for July now, as the June batches are full.
We have designed some posters for the workshop and here is mock-up of one of them:
The 1st batch has finished learning the basics of computers and now they are going to learn about the internet. The enthusiasm of the students is very impressive and their eagerness is very infectious:)
Hope to touch the lives of many more people in the future and share the knowledge that I have gathered from my many years of computer usage.
This week we stuck to our plan and started the 1st batch of our workshop 'GOLDEN SKILLS' on 2nd June. The 5-day workshop will cover basic computer & internet skills for elderly citizens.
We had advertised this workshop by placing a listing in the events column in The Times of India and The Hindu. And we were pretty impressed by the response we got from the senior citizens who wanted to join the workshop. The registrations are on for July now, as the June batches are full.
We have designed some posters for the workshop and here is mock-up of one of them:
The 1st batch has finished learning the basics of computers and now they are going to learn about the internet. The enthusiasm of the students is very impressive and their eagerness is very infectious:)
Hope to touch the lives of many more people in the future and share the knowledge that I have gathered from my many years of computer usage.
May 29, 2010
Work in progress
It's been a long and tiring day. The weather is a killer! It's hot and humid and it is worse when there is a powercut.
Anyway to continue with my electrician saga, he came this morning at about 10:45 (and not 9:30 as promised) and got down to work. He wanted extra materail. So I go home, pick up dad, go to the electrical shop, buy everything, come back to office, drop them off there, and go to the electronics shop to buy the networking material. Meanwhile I ask my designer to come and supervise these guys at work. She obliges thankfully!
While I'm out, my designer calls to inform me that the UPS guy has reached the office but since the wiring is not done he'll come back on Monday and do his work. I say ok.
I get a call from the furniture guy who informs me that the tables will arrive shortly and he'll deliver them by 2:00 pm. Though I cancelled the order, I think if he brings them I don't have to go hunting for them again. So I say ok. Afternoon comes and goes, no tables. I try calling him and finally reach him by 5:00 pm. He promises to deliver them latest by 6:30 pm. He does to call to confirm but also adds that he'll be charging me extra for each table as I had requested for a bill. When I objected to that another guy comes on the line and tells me to go buy them somewhere else. What audacity! I blast him royally and cut the line. Let him rot in hell, I couldn't care less!
Meanwhile the wiring was getting done and the work went on till about 9:00 pm. Tomorrow is another day and another update....will catch you then. Totally tired now and am gonna hit the bed!
Goodnight.
Anyway to continue with my electrician saga, he came this morning at about 10:45 (and not 9:30 as promised) and got down to work. He wanted extra materail. So I go home, pick up dad, go to the electrical shop, buy everything, come back to office, drop them off there, and go to the electronics shop to buy the networking material. Meanwhile I ask my designer to come and supervise these guys at work. She obliges thankfully!
While I'm out, my designer calls to inform me that the UPS guy has reached the office but since the wiring is not done he'll come back on Monday and do his work. I say ok.
I get a call from the furniture guy who informs me that the tables will arrive shortly and he'll deliver them by 2:00 pm. Though I cancelled the order, I think if he brings them I don't have to go hunting for them again. So I say ok. Afternoon comes and goes, no tables. I try calling him and finally reach him by 5:00 pm. He promises to deliver them latest by 6:30 pm. He does to call to confirm but also adds that he'll be charging me extra for each table as I had requested for a bill. When I objected to that another guy comes on the line and tells me to go buy them somewhere else. What audacity! I blast him royally and cut the line. Let him rot in hell, I couldn't care less!
Meanwhile the wiring was getting done and the work went on till about 9:00 pm. Tomorrow is another day and another update....will catch you then. Totally tired now and am gonna hit the bed!
Goodnight.
May 28, 2010
Going insane!
Yes, that's what I feel like today given the chain of events. Here's a glimpse:
Monday: Booked 6 computer tables for the office on Monday. Was told that they will be delivered the next day.
Tuesday came and went, no tables.
On Wednesday there was a murder in the shop locality. No tables again. That evening I go hunting along with mom to other shops for an alternative. We travel about 20 kms without any luck. Came back home totally pooped.
Thursday we planned to try other shops but couldn't go. We were told that the electrician would visit the office that day. Anyways he turned up only in the evening.
Today (Friday) I called the furniture dealer and cancelled my tables order.
Tomorrow (Saturday) we plan to go again to other shops.....have to go!
Coming back to Wednesday, we spoke to the electrician and he promised to come the next day and look at the office premises to figure out how much work needs to be done and what material we need to buy.
Thursday evening he comes at about 7:30 pm and has a look at the place. Promises to start work next morning at 9:30.
Next morning (same Friday mentioned before) he comes late at about 11:45 am. Gives me the list of material and says he'll be back in an hour by the time I'm back from the shopping. My dad acompanies me to the electrical shop and we buy everything, I drop dad back home and I go to office. I call the electrician and he cooly says he'll come tomorrow!
I throw a fit!!!! The guy who will fix the UPS came and left. The computer engineer came and left. Both wanted to give the electrician some instructions before he starts work. I ask both of them to return the next morning. I had chosen this guy over others and he wants to play truant now! I call another electrician as a backup, just in case. The fact that I need to get the place up and running by Monday is another thing! The fact that now I barely have 3 days to get all these guys to finish their jobs...THAT'S another thing!
Back to the electrician, he finally reaches in the evening at about 5 pm and starts his work. I heave a sigh of relief and let him do how much ever he can for the evening. Finally I close shop and go home at 8:45pm. He promises to be back tomorrow morning by 9:30. Let's see. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed!
Monday: Booked 6 computer tables for the office on Monday. Was told that they will be delivered the next day.
Tuesday came and went, no tables.
On Wednesday there was a murder in the shop locality. No tables again. That evening I go hunting along with mom to other shops for an alternative. We travel about 20 kms without any luck. Came back home totally pooped.
Thursday we planned to try other shops but couldn't go. We were told that the electrician would visit the office that day. Anyways he turned up only in the evening.
Today (Friday) I called the furniture dealer and cancelled my tables order.
Tomorrow (Saturday) we plan to go again to other shops.....have to go!
Coming back to Wednesday, we spoke to the electrician and he promised to come the next day and look at the office premises to figure out how much work needs to be done and what material we need to buy.
Thursday evening he comes at about 7:30 pm and has a look at the place. Promises to start work next morning at 9:30.
Next morning (same Friday mentioned before) he comes late at about 11:45 am. Gives me the list of material and says he'll be back in an hour by the time I'm back from the shopping. My dad acompanies me to the electrical shop and we buy everything, I drop dad back home and I go to office. I call the electrician and he cooly says he'll come tomorrow!
I throw a fit!!!! The guy who will fix the UPS came and left. The computer engineer came and left. Both wanted to give the electrician some instructions before he starts work. I ask both of them to return the next morning. I had chosen this guy over others and he wants to play truant now! I call another electrician as a backup, just in case. The fact that I need to get the place up and running by Monday is another thing! The fact that now I barely have 3 days to get all these guys to finish their jobs...THAT'S another thing!
Back to the electrician, he finally reaches in the evening at about 5 pm and starts his work. I heave a sigh of relief and let him do how much ever he can for the evening. Finally I close shop and go home at 8:45pm. He promises to be back tomorrow morning by 9:30. Let's see. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed!
May 26, 2010
Ribbit! Ribbit!
Welcome to my first blog post. I’m so excited that I keep leaping from one lily pad to another! I’m feeling so delirious…wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! There’s so much happening at my place that I simply had to share it with all of you.
My folks at Little Green Frog are planning to organize workshops in the fields of design, communication and art in the months to come.
The first event that’s gonna happen very soon will be the workshop for senior citizens on basic computer and internet skills. The classes will be held throughout the year, from Monday-Friday between 4-6 pm. A new batch will start every Monday and each batch will accommodate only 6 students. The number of students has been kept to the minimum as that it's easy to give personal attention and enable better learning.
We are running pillar to post to setup the classroom by the time the first batch starts on June 2nd. Today we are waiting for the computers and the UPS to arrive. Tomorrow the tables and chairs will arrive and the electrical work will get started(hopefully)!
Will keep you posted on the progress. Meanwhile here’s something for you to mull over:
"Destiny is ours to create. It is a living masterpiece designed by the heart."
My folks at Little Green Frog are planning to organize workshops in the fields of design, communication and art in the months to come.
The first event that’s gonna happen very soon will be the workshop for senior citizens on basic computer and internet skills. The classes will be held throughout the year, from Monday-Friday between 4-6 pm. A new batch will start every Monday and each batch will accommodate only 6 students. The number of students has been kept to the minimum as that it's easy to give personal attention and enable better learning.
We are running pillar to post to setup the classroom by the time the first batch starts on June 2nd. Today we are waiting for the computers and the UPS to arrive. Tomorrow the tables and chairs will arrive and the electrical work will get started(hopefully)!
Will keep you posted on the progress. Meanwhile here’s something for you to mull over:
"Destiny is ours to create. It is a living masterpiece designed by the heart."
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