When innocent children laugh and play, I see Thee standing by.
-Swami Vivekananda-
Man is the basic thing and man-making is the fundamental work. Every kind of works from personal life to society depends on the quality of the concerned people, which is ruled by their character. Again character can also be built through practice. So we should not lose hope and try to do practice for improvement of our life.
An individual may, of course, attempt at man-making with himself or others. But, to make a serious attempt everywhere and not to leave it as casual endeavors of a few, an organized effort that will cover all parts of the country is essential. And that is the idea behind the Mahamandal.
Vivek Vahini is the children’s wing of the Mahamandal, organized by many units of the organization, to inculcate life-giving ideas into the children. The Mahamandal believes that proper growth of the body, mind, and heart must start from a very tender age, but that requires a special programme particularly suitable for children. The scheme of Vivek Vahini is a comprehensive approach to materialize this idea. Boys and girls from the age of 6 can join the Vivek Vahini centers. Girls continue to be its members till the age of 12, boys till the age of 14. They are divided into several groups depending upon the numerical strength.
The programme is conducted mostly at playgrounds and includes prayer and patriotic songs, recitation, story telling, parade, physical training, yogic exercises, gymnastics, games, and so on. It is ensured that every activity has some educational value, and special games have been designed for this purpose.
A weekly study circle is regularly arranged and attention is given to the development of qualities like honesty, self-confidence, discipline, and cleanliness. Here they also learn the meaning and method of mental concentration and to love India and her people. Team spirit develops through disciplined social work and short tours in and around the locality of the unit.
Guardians are involved throughout the process by arranging regular meetings between them and the organizers. The children take part in various cultural programmes that sometimes involve the community. Many units run free Coaching Centers which cater to the academic needs of students including the children of Vivek Vahini.
The organizers are specially trained at the Annual Vivek Vahini Trainers’ Training Camp of the Mahaman- dal. Usually, the camp is of four days and organized in the month of March or April. The aim of the camp is to infuse in the minds of the instructors of Vivek Vahini, the children’s wing of the Mahamandal, the ideas of self development and the methods of balanced development of character qualities in children fol- lowing the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. The training programme included prayers, physical training, parade, yogic exercise, games, rhymes etc. and classes on mental concentration, child psychology and the role of instructors, leadership in the context of the children’s wing in the Mahamandal scheme of work. Discussions in question-answer form helped the campers to clearly understand the subject. The trained organizers return from these camps with greater understanding of how to work with children for their development.
Swami Vivekananda
