Friendship Day 2003

Purpose: To celebrate the completion of the Balavihar "school year".  To share our culture, religion and roots with our friends. And more importantly, a day to have fun playing games which are played in India.      

Click on the below links for more information:

Children's Presentations	Food
Format	Games
Guests	T-Shirts
Cost	Input
Contacts

Format

10:00 - 11:45	Children's Presentations
12:00 - 12-45	Lunch
12:45-5:00	Games

Guests

Each Balavihar child is encouraged to invite one friend (of a different culture or faith) to take the stage as his/her individual guest at the morning presentation. We ask that only one friend per child participate in the presentation. Families may also invite as many friends (adults and children) as they wish to make this a wonderful chance to share our cultures and faiths with each other. All other guests are welcome to watch the presentations, share lunch and play games.

RSVPs are mandatory for planning purposes. Please send the names of all confirmed guests to Sudha by May 9.

Presentations

All Balavihar Children attending the event are encouraged to give a presentation on any topic ( for a sample list of topics covered during Balavihar sessions, please contact Sudha).  If any child (or their parent) needs help with a topic, please ask any member of the Friendship Day committee.  Presentation topics need to be approved by the Friendship Day committee to minimize duplication of topics.  This is to ensure that a variety of topics will be covered and there will be plenty of diversity.  Individual presentations should be between 1 to 2 minutes.  Children can also decide to give the presentation in a group/team (up to a maximum of 4 children).  Group presentations could be in any other creative way, like a skit, poster, etc.  Such presentations may run between 4 to 8 minutes (multiply the individual time allowed to each child by the number of children in the group).  To give all the children an opportunity to participate, we ask that each child participate in only one presentation – solo or group.

Each Balavihar Child’s friend is also invited to talk about his / her culture, religion or heritage as well for the same duration of time (1 to 2 minutes).  They also have the option of teaming up with the Balavihar children (if possible) to make a group presentation.  The same rules of participating in either a group or solo presentation apply.

Food

Lunch and light snacks will be provided.  There will be a sign up sheet for all attendees to sign up for Food, Drinks, and / or Disposables.

Games

Games played at the event will be ones that are played in India.  Games such as (but not limited to) Sitolia, Kho Kho, Kabadi, Langdhi Taang, Gilli Danda, Marbles, Flying Kites etc.

There will be individual game stations for each game.  Two to three parents will manage each game station.  We will need parent volunteers for these game stations and there will be sign up sheet for each game station.  Children are encouraged to sign up early on (though not required) for the games of their choice.  This will enable that all children get a chance to play as many games of their choice as possible.

For fun and added challenge, children will be divided into random teams for the day.  Children of various age groups will be evenly divided in such teams.  Scores will be kept on how members of each team do in the games during the day (individually and collectively).  At the end of the day, the team with the maximum score will be announced.  All other teams will get “honorable mention”.

T-Shirts

Arrangements are being made to get T-Shirts with Balavihar Friendship Day logo to commemorate the event.  All participants are highly encouraged to buy these T-shirts.  At the present time, we are not sure of the exact cost, but as soon as we find out the exact cost, such information will be made available to you.  Those who wish to purchase such T-Shirts will need to place their order with Radhika as early as possible. Since order for T-Shirts has to be placed by the middle of May, please rsvp to Radhika by May 11th. 

Cost

In addition to the cost of the T-Shirts, there maybe some nominal costs (cost of renting the venue, kids’ giveaways etc). We don’t have a final figure on such costs (though we believe it will be minimal). We will let everyone know as soon as we find out.

Input

Please feel free to provide your comments / input / suggestions to make this event as enjoyable as possible for the children.

Contacts

Friendship Day Committee:	Ashu, Radhika, Sudha
Children’s Presentation Topics/rsvp:	Sudha (415-479-1811)
T-Shirts/Food signup:	Radhika (415-472-5881)
Games signup/ideas:	Ashu (415-924-3450)
General questions/Input:	marin_balavihar@yahoogroups.com