As a part of celebrating the priceless contribution of the tourist sector in building a better world encouraging inclusive and sustainable growth; the UN General Assembly had declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism. To enlighten the students about the hospitality industry of Tourism and the significant role it plays in contributing to India's economy, certain activities were carried out in Podar World School, Sherkhi. These activities were spread across three days.
On the first day the Principal and Co-ordinators, as Career Counsellor guides enlightened the students with the various job prospects in the Tourism industry which included not only land tourism but also Aviation and Aqua tourism( Cruising). The students were also informed about allied jobs with respect to tourism like Tourism Content Writer and Freelance Photography....etc. The students were informed that Tourism industry is the highest economic benefactor with respect to enhancing the GDP of the country.
On the first day, classes I &II displayed objects that represented art, culture and legacy of Gujarat state. They brought artistic things like decorated clay pots, turban, handloom saree, wall hangings, puppets etc and displayed them in an eye catching manner on tables in the atelier. While classes III to V brought things made out of old materials like T-shirts, caps, bottles, bracelets, bands and wrote slogans and taglines promoting their own state. They also prepared badges and posters depicting global unity. Classes VI to XII promoted states and Union Territories like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, the seven sisters and Daman & Diu respectively. Besides chart presentations of the area, population and the relief features of each of these states were also presented. Students created collage and pictorial blogs, brochures and even walk and talk session to promote the places of tourist attraction and heritage sites.
On day 2, students of class I&II dressed up representing India before Independence and presented a skit on Dandi March carried out by Gandhiji. Other students dressed up as great heroes of Indian Independence like Mangal Pandey, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, Kasturba and as British officials. Students of class III to V dressed up representing India after Independence and highlighted the idea of ‘Unity in Diversity.’They dressed up as Maharashtrians, Gujaratis, Rajasthani, natives of the seven states of North East, Kashmiris etc and talked about the art, artefacts, the language and the food of their states and showed PPT’s to get an exclusive knowledge of each of the states. Infact the students had prepared delicacies of the states that they were promoting and even talked about its nutritional values and the occasions when it is prepared. Students enacted to advertise the beautiful land of Seven sisters and even promoted wildlife of the states.
On the 3rd day, students of class I&II, dressed up again as natives of different states of India and presented a collage depicting the environmental uniqueness and rich wild life reserve of their states and even performed a dance where all joined hands and swayed to the lyrics of the song, ‘Hum ek hai, ektha me hai shakti hamari.’ Students of class VIII to XII too were dressed in the attires of the states they depicted and presented scrapbook, story journal and PPT’s promoting different aspects including human life and animal life of their states. Students of Middle school and Sr.Sec section were so enthusiastic that it seemed as if they have been presented with an opportunity to give vent to their creative pursuits. They did everything right from making a collage to advertising and making blogs depicting their states. Details regarding the states were researched in a threadbare manner and presented in the most dynamic and vibrant manner including manual and virtual depiction.
Thanks to the Management for such a wonderful idea of putting up a tourism fair of such magnitude and vibrancy as everyone involved right from the Principal, Ms Preeta Pillai to her team and the students participated wholeheartedly to make this event a great success.
