Playing with our Stammer

Meeting at Nehru Park, after a long time was nostalgic- the place
where we first started our SHG meets. Vikas, Dnyanesh and I met in the park,
and on this hot and humid afternoon, we took shelter on the benches under the
shade of a tree.

To start with, briefed Vikas and Dnyanesh about
discussion with Dhruv and our attempt to make SHG meetings structural, taking a
few tips from Toastmasters. I explained the various roles and the mentor-mentee
culture to be started.
And then, we got started with the agenda. The theme was “In
the nature’s lap”. I (Harish) was the meeting
coordinator
, Vikas was the real-life
master
and Dnyanesh was the activity
master
.
The first session was the real-life session. In this, the
real-life master (Vikas) had to throw a scenario, which would be enacted by all
members. First scenario was of a tough interview, wherein the interview panel
decides to corner the interviewee, and the interviewee should handle the
situation. I played the interviewee, and Vikas and Dnyanesh played the
interview panel. It was a real tough interview to face, I must say, as Dnyanesh
and Vikas planned a set of real tough questions.
Second scenario was a court case, where in, Harish was
accused of being the most corrupt bureaucrat. Dnyanesh defended the bureaucrat
and Vikas was the public prosecutor. We had real fun enacting this, and at
times, it felt like a very healthy debate.
Then, it was the time for the activity session. Dnyanesh
explained us the activity. He explained one activity which was practiced in the
Pune workshop- we take a sentence, and say it five times, each time we raise
the pitch of the stammer. In the final attempt, we had to practice stammering
with ease by bouncing.
In meetings to come, we also plan to have a third
session, in which we will do “projects” which are taken from AHJ (Apna Hath
Jagannath – the self help manual), and it will be evaluated by another member,
giving constructive feedback.
SHG meeting in the nature’s lap was indeed fun. Among
many other kids playing different games in the park, here were three kids
having a nice time playing with their stammer.

(We got so much engrossed in our discussions, that we
missed taking a photo) 

Post Author: Harish Usgaonker

Comments are closed.