The workshop, attended by about 16 members, was conducted by Sheeba Nair (Managing Trustee, O.A.S.I.S. and Oasis Facilitator) who created a very friendly and encouraging atmosphere for the participants to share many things. It was indeed an eye opening workshop for all of us.

It was so shocking when we came to know the fact that even though we spend 45% of our life in listening we were never taught listening in our entire life. In childhood we were taught how to speak, how to read and how to write but never how to listen.

The entire workshop was participatory. She taught all things by exercises. She taught us many difficult things about listening in such a simple way and that too by exercises.

She made us do many role plays to understand which are the different wrong habits usually we practice in listening.

We also learnt difference between hearing and listening, stages of listening. As if we all once again found ourselves in the kindergarten of Listening school.

Many a times during the workshop we all felt that she herself is such a wonderful example of good listener! It was so inspiring to witness her immense patience while explaining to some of the participants about some concepts.

She also made us do the role play to understand and implement the learning of listening. It was once again we found oh how difficult listening is…

We are very grateful to Sheebaben for sharing very important and essential knowledge of life.

Be it a role of mother/father, son/daughter, teacher, wife/husband, the science of listening is crucial to understand other person and bring happiness in our life. In fact we also learnt that Listening = Understanding = Loving

On the whole the Sheebaben has left Oasis-Bangalore members eagerly waiting for her next session.

Report by Neha Vakharia
Asha Oasis, Bangalore
oasis_rtu_blre@yahoo.co.in

Oasis Valleys rearing 1200 plants

in its Nursery project

Last month plantation of 400 saplings has been carried out at Oasis Valleys. We are happy to share that almost all the plants have survived and bloomed with new leaves. At Oasis Valleys, we try to treat sapling as valuable as grown up tree.

During the month of March/April, we bought 900 more saplings from nurseries and started "Oasis Nursery Project" at Oasis Valleys. The concept is to nurture saplings up to 2 to 3 years at nursery only and thus maximize the survival rate of plantaion. We bought 1 year old saplings from nurseries of Baroda and started growing them in big bags at one single location, so that proper care can be taken. It is easy to water them, add natural manure etc. By monsoon, these saplings will be quite grown up and much stable. So, when we will plant

them into soil, they will get settled easily. Thus we can bring down the failure rate of plantation.

At present, more than 1200 saplings of various trees are being grown in the "Nursery Project" at Oasis Valleys.

Some of them are medicinal plants, flowering trees, bamboo and creepers useful for soil conservation, vanishing species of trees like Banyan, Pipal etc. Some of these saplings will be planted during coming monsoon and others will be planted next year.

Alkesh Raval

alkeshoasis@yahoo.co.in

As you saw, here is the special announcement for the Rural Development Seminar to be organised on 13, 14 May, 2008. This seminar is for the people who are working towards Rural Development, but in their own way. Is there any possibility to create a collective vision about Sustainable Rural Development from these various efforts and insights?

Like Oasis, many organisations and individuals know the importance of Rural Development and are putting their efforts to bring change from the very core of our nation. Through this seminar we invite all these people to gather on one platform and maximize collective efforts. If you are one of them, call Dr. Pallavi Raulji or Dr. Maya Soni at the numbers shown in the leaflet, because your inputs are valuable to us and the Rural Development sector as well.

With this issue, its now easy to go through the past issues of alive as we are introducing 'Alive archives' as a permanent feature.

Hope it will link us better. Write your feedback/response on oasis.alive@yahoo.co.in

-Team Alive

Oasis Calendar 2008

The Calendar of Oasis Workshops at Surat and Mumbai as well as the Calendar of Oasis Events during the year of 2008 is given below.

Calendar of open Oasis Workshops at Surat

Calendar of Oasis Workshops at Mumbai

Calendar of Oasis Events 2008

Note :- The dates can be changed due to unavoidable circumstances. Please check the dates of the program in advance with respective coordinator of the activity/Oasis centre.

Oasis invites all NGOs, individuals who are putting their efforts for Rural Development to the seminar on 'Sharing collective vision for sustainable Rural Development'. The seminar will take place on 13-14 May, 2008 near Ahmedabad as per the address mentioned in the leaflet above. It's a two-day residential seminar. For registration, kindly contact Dr. Pallavi Raulji on 9924343088 or Dr. Maya Soni on 9904342159.

Pocket books

Great Principle Series

Oasis has published a series of pocket booklets known as Great Principle series (Mahan Siddhant Shrunkhala). These thought provoking, introspective tiny booklets make the most suitable and valuable gifts for your loved ones. All booklets are Gujarati.

Jeevan Mushkel Chhe

Author: Sanjiv Shah

No. of Pages: 16 Pages

Price: Rs. 4.00

Je Dubhave Chhe Te Shikhave Chhe

Author: Sanjiv Shah

No. of Pages: 16 Pages

Price: Rs. 4.00

Prem E Lagani Nathi, Karm Chhe

Author: Sanjiv Shah

No. of Pages: 16 Pages

Price: Rs. 4.00

Maru Jeevan Mari J Jawabdari Chhe

Author: Sanjiv Shah

No. of Pages: 16 Pages

Price: Rs. 4.00

For more information and to book orders please,

Contact :

Pallavi Raulji

Publication Co-ordinator, Oasis Publications
Mob. No. 99243 43088

the OASIS shop

Vadodara, Gujarat
Ph. No. 0091 - 265 - 2351862

For more information about Oasis Publications

Click Here >>

For past issues of ALIVE please click on the link:

ALIVE issue 9- Apr 1, 2008

ALIVE issue 8- Mar 15, 2008

ALIVE issue 7- Mar 1, 2008

ALIVE issue 6- Feb 15, 2008

ALIVE issue 5- Feb 1, 2008

ALIVE issue 4- Jan 15, 2008

ALIVE issue 3- Jan 1, 2008

ALIVE issue 2- Dec 15, 2007

ALIVE issue 1- Dec 1, 2007

I have used my time and energy for the first time in such good work and I am very happy that I did...
The experience of ASHA project was so much pleasant and unimaginable.
I was so much afraid in the beginning; will I be able to handle 60 children at once? Will I be able to deliver the right message?
..I could do it.
Children were almost eagerly waiting for us. Their inquisitiveness, eagerness to learn and implement immediately, have infused enthusiasm and joy in us.
Children’s unselfish and innocent Love for me was the most touching experience. I have used my time and energy for the first time in such good work and I am very happy that i did.

-Minal Shah

I like this Praksha – of last 1 year, so much more then, Praksha of last 11 years
When the ASHA project was launched, I decided from the deep of my heart to join. When we wish to do something, from the heart genuinely, we get so much support from all around, that is what I experienced. In spite of so many odds, my husband and my family supported me.

I have working for last 11 years as a teacher in a school. But, this 1 year of being an ASHA teacher was so different. I like this Praksha – of last 1 year, so much more then, Praksha of last 11 years. Their inquisitiveness, eagerness to learn and implement immediately brings tears in my eyes.

- Praksha Desai

All of us always have a desire to do something… We must fulfill it
I got the opportunity to do something on my own strength for the first time in my life and I feel I have done good job.
We all ASHA teachers learnt how much valuable our body is. It is the best friend we have. Often, we used to ignore to take care of our body, but, I feel that any person who is once attached to ASHA would never do it.
I also learnt what team work is, what punctuality is, what co operation is. We are almost like a family.
I have heard that to gain something, we need to let go something. But, I feel that in ASHA, I only gained so many things.

I would like to add that all of us always have a desire to do something. We must fulfill it. It is good for us and also for our city (nation).

- Sabnis Badami

(In academic year 2007-08, ASHA project was launched in 12 classes of 5 schools of lower income group in Surat. Around 600 children underwent the first year of ASHA – Adolescent Students Health Education Alternatives- education programme.)