The sun shone brighter in the compound of Sunrise Public School as a queue was formed for the picnic day with faces blanched in excitement on 24 October. Soon the queue moved forward and occupied the bus standing outside the school, commencing the journey at 8:00 AM.
Laughter, giggles, chuckles, smiles, and cheerful banter occurred with happiness hovering high inside the bus, which soon reached the first destination of the picnic—National Bal Bhavan, ITO, New Delhi.
National Bal Bhavan is an educational and recreational center for children, founded by India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1956. The center today acts as a platform for children where they develop creative skills, build scientific temper, and learn through play.
As the students of the Sunrise Public School stepped inside its iron gates, they found themselves engulfed in not one but all the arena of the Bhavan. Starting with the Indian Air Force Pavillion, the students unfolded aspects of the Indian Air Force. The Pavilion is a unique, technologically advanced setup broadly consisting of a flying simulator, a self-interactive career information kiosk, a selfie point with a fore drop of points in G-suit, and flying overall mannequins with special clothing. LED displays running videos related to IAF exercises/operations, models of IAF aircraft, digital flexes, etc., all laid out in an appealing manner.
The Pavilion helped students engage in several interactive and educational experiences. They experienced flying through a dedicated aircraft flight simulator, explored career options through self-interactive career information, and posed at a special selfie point with mannequins in G-suits and specialized glacier clothing alongside watching operational videos.
Soon after this the queue headed towards the library, where they waded through an interactive, nonformal learning ecosystem where they explored their creativity and potential through a storytelling workshop. The highlight of which was the question, “How many eyes does a spider have?” and the answer ‘eight’ left the students astonished. At Sunrise Public School, we believe in learning beyond textbooks, and activities like these help us incorporate our beliefs.
After exploring the library and attending sessions, students inclined toward fun games, so the grounds and compounds were explored, where fun games occurred, letting students create memories of their childhood. Hunger too crept in soon, urging children to enjoy their lunch, but for that the school had a different plan. A visit to Nehru Park!
The bus was filled again; laughter, giggles, chuckles, smiles, and cheerful banter occurred yet again, but this time the destination was Nehru Park. With scrumptious lunchboxes, students sat in the park, passing their boxes to one another, eating, and bonding together.
Running, falling, singing, and floriking are what marked the visit.
“I am loving this place a lot. This indeed has to be the best day of my life,” said a student with a box of noodles in the hand.
After spending noon in the park, the students moved towards India Gate, a towering 42-meter war memorial honoring around 70,000 to 80,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who lost their lives during World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.
The students here sat in a circle and talked about history, struggles, and freedom, and the sun behind them set beautifully, marking the end of the picnic day.
About Miles2Smile: The Miles2Smile Foundation, established six years ago, is committed to making a meaningful difference in marginalized communities across India. From responding to the crisis during the pandemic to its continuous work in education and advocacy, the foundation remains devoted to fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. The foundation work for the survivors of mob lynching, communal violence, demolition, and hate crime, creating their lives better than their devastation.
About Sunrise Public School: About Sunrise Public School: Sunrise Public School in Loni, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, was founded by the Miles2Smile Foundation to support survivors of the 2020 North-East Delhi Pogrom. Over time, it has expanded to educate orphans, underprivileged, and marginalized children, successfully bringing 480 students back to school. The school encourages students to pursue their interests through various programs, competitions, and activities held throughout the year. With opportunities in sports, cultural events, and literature, every child is encouraged to participate and grow. The focus remains on creating an inclusive space where students can explore their potential and build a brighter future.
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