Alumni Network – Samyam
Introduction
The Samyam event, initiated by Madhuram Narayanan Centre in 2013, has become an annual celebration held every July. The initiative aims to foster connections among past students, present students, and new entrants to the Centre, creating a supportive forum for present and new students to interact with alumni and for the latter to find guidance and reassurance from their teachers.
Objectives of Samyam
Fostering Healthy Interactions: The event promotes open dialogue among children and parents, allowing them to share ideas and perspectives for the betterment of children’s development.
Continuity in Guidance: The event serves as a platform for maintaining ongoing relationships with the Madhuram Narayan Centre, ensuring that families have access to guidance and counseling when needed.
Motivating New Parents: By connecting with alumni and educators, new parents gain inspiration to navigate the challenges of raising and training the children.
This year (2024) celebration
In keeping with the tradition of inviting parents of alumni as Chief Guest, this year we had invited Mrs. Revathi Sridhar, Parent of Sankalp, (alumnus 2001 Batch). Her address to the gathering was very motivating and well received by all parents who had assembled. She said that her son had cerebral palsy and she came to the centre when he was an infant. She took early intervention for 4 years which helped her know the nuances of special education and physiotherapy. They continued both for a long time at home and tutored the child to pursue his education. With physiotherapy the child’s motor level improved and he showed good results in academics too. They included him in all the normal activities of the family, going on picnics, taking him for pilgrimages, celebrating all festivals traditionally etc. It was very interesting when she said that out of the 108 Vaishnavaite Divya Kshetrams he has visited 100. There were temples where they had to carry him on their shoulders up a mountain or rough terrain but they took him all the same. Today he has a BA in English and is working in a private firm. The success story that she shared showed the part the parents had to play for a special child and how perseverance had is fruits.
The cultural show by the children was very well received. EIC children presented an action song on Flowers “மல்லிகை பூவே மல்லிகை பூவே” while the alumni children presented a action song “குளத்தின் கரை ஓரத்தில் கொக்கு ஒன்று நிக்குது” The parents presented a concluding dance which was a well appreciated by all.
The panel discussion among the parents focused on the difficulties of special parents and remedies for the same.
The function came to end with the National anthem and light refreshments.
