UNICEF Applauds National Stamp Designs for Child Rights...

The Department of Posts, in association with UNICEF on the occasion of Children's Day in India (Nov 14) announced the winners of the 2019 Stamp Design Competition, whilst also commemorating thirty years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The top two winning entries have been adapted as stamps.

More than 14,000 children from across India participated with stamp designs in the annual competition run by the Department of Posts, this year in partnership with the Ministry of Communication, the Government of India and UNICEF. The theme for this year’s competition was child rights.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations on 20 November 1989, and is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. India ratified the CRC in 1992, committing to protect and promote all rights of children. In partnership with Government, civil society, communities and children across India, UNICEF is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the CRC and 70 years in India working for the rights of every child. 

Speaking on this year’s stamp design competition, a senior official from the Department of Posts said, 

“Every year, the Department of Posts holds a Stamp Design Competition on Children’s Day inviting drawings, paintings and sketches from children on a particular theme. The theme of this year’s Children’s Day Stamp Design Competition was ‘Child Rights’.” 

On the partnership with UNICEF, the Department official continued, 

“The partnership with UNICEF this year has served twin objectives: on one hand, it is generating awareness about philately and on the other hand, it is creating awareness about child rights. Children have sent us excellent art work on what the CRC means for them. Today, children clearly identify new challenges facing them as well as available opportunities. Young people are speaking out for their right to education, demanding an end to discrimination, calling for end to violence, striking for action on the climate crisis, campaigning for digital reform and calling on leaders to protect their future.”

The winning entries – three winners and five consolation prices – will be awarded at a national event in New Delhi on 20 November 2019, World Children’s Day. While the top two designs on child rights are adapted as stamps, the remaining are used for preparing various philatelic items including first day cover, brochure etc. The 1st prize winner will win a cash prize of INR 50,000. The 2nd and 3rd prize winners will receive INR 25,000 and INR 10,000 respectively. The five consolation prizes are worth INR 5,000 each. 

Congratulating the winners and all children who participated, Foroogh Foyouzat, Deputy Representative for UNICEF in India said, 

“Indian children have brought the Convention on the Rights of the Child to life with their inspiring and beautiful stamp designs. Every child who participated is a winner in our shared responsibility to work tirelessly so that every child in India realizes all of his or her rights. In their entries, we can see girls and boys dreams for themselves and for all children. At a time when children and childhood itself are faced with new challenges in a rapidly changing world, these powerful images by children are a great reminder that we must all do more to put child rights at the heart of India now and for all future generations.” 

The following children have been declared as Winners:

First prize winner              :     Ms. Nidhi Rahul Mhatre (15), Boisar, Maharashtra

Second prize winner          :     Ms. Vibhushi Agarwal (12), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Third prize winner            :      Ms. Deepali Midha (17), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Consolation prize winners:      (i) Master Rupam Mahanty (10), Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

                                                 (ii) Ms. Vaidehi Vikas Shirsath (17), Bengaluru, Karnataka

                                                 (iii) Ms. Arya Thapa (14), Tadong, Sikkim

                                                 (iv) Master Sarvesh Suresh Joshi (07), Parbhani, Maharashtra

                                                 (v) Ms. Kratika Chittoriya (14), Nagra, Rajasthan

It's All Child's Play At PlayBox...

PlayBox, one-of-its-kind kids play facility catering to children aged 2-9 has set base in Gardens Galleria Mall, Noida, whilst being spread across a sprawling 14,000 sq. ft. area.

Emulating an interesting maze with dedicated play areas for specific age groups, PlayBox is an interactive environment and children play by themselves in a secure, clean and safe space under the watchful supervision of well-trained staff.

PlayBox is divided into five distinct zones dedicated towards specific activities:

My Burrow is a play area catering to 2-4-year-olds. 

My Maze is a play area catering to 5-9-year-olds. 

SnackBox is a Cafe focussing on nutritious as well as yummy food. 

ShowBox is a Studio that will host a series of workshops and events targeting toddlers, kids, parents and in many cases parents and kids together also, from time to time. 

PartyBox is the pseudonym for two dedicated party rooms that are perfect for hosting memorable birthday parties that have an individual capacity of forty pax, with a sliding partition that can be utilized to combine the two rooms. 

With age groups being intentionally demarcated in order to mark two distinct play spaces i.e. My Burrow and My Maze, a play maze for kids aged between 5-9, there is also a height chart sported by J - PlayBox's playful fox mascot - at the entrance, in order to ascertain whether a child is allowed into a certain play area or not, thereby facilitating the separation of stronger older kids from the tender toddlers thus ensuring safety and a certain uniformity among kids of the same physical stature. 

Within My Maze, kids can bounce around on trampolines, try out speed, spiral & roller slides, glide on Tarzan Log, indulge in foam ball battles, crawl through tunnels and tangled webs, as well as cross rope bridges, etc.

The toddler play space, My Burrow, is a completely foam-padded environment with lots of play panels, rotating climb frames, swings, slides, play kitchen for girls, play garage for boys, a construction area for kids to build using foam bricks, etc.

Parents can be with the toddlers within My Burrow, while they can watch their kids explore the space from a distance in My Maze. The play area conforms to the strictest standards of hygiene, safety, and security as per European Norms for Playground Facilities.

The entry and exit points in the facility are controlled and manned by security personnel and the entire play facility is completely monitored by CCTV. The space is well managed by the child-friendly crew who have been handpicked and trained to cater to children in the most efficient way possible.

PlayBox has been designed as an all-encompassing parent-child facility and thus both adults and kids can spend quality time together while feasting on some delicious savories and desserts at SnackBox. the Boutique Kids and Parents Café, that boasts of sumptuous healthy treats for toddlers, kids as well as parents too.

Based on the philosophy of community engagement and parent-child bonding, PlayBox has been built with painstaking attention to detail, that engages toddlers, kids and parents alike.The facility aims to foster and promote social and peer interaction, co-operative play, cognitive development, creativity and imagination through its play activities.

Apart from the crew, another exciting aspect of the facility is its energetic and adorable mascot - ‘J’ the Cool Fox and his inspiration for creating the facility, which is to provide an engaging, enriching and exploratory play area that offers Fun while ensuring Safety. The mascot is visually depicted as an anthropomorphic fox who is clever, caring and intuitive and yet street smart - qualities children of today ought to imbibe.

Right at the entrance, there are photos of J's family and his playful antics, with signages signifying the five respective zones. Also, there is the provision of lockers for safe keeping of personal belongings while parents enjoy with their kids.

ShowBox has a series of interactive sessions lined up over 52 weeks i.e. a unique session every week. From workshops on building paper rockets to Zumba to good parenting to sensitization towards recycling and environment, there are a lot of learning avenues for children.

“PLAYBOX is a community concept that specifically targets the 2-9 age group and their parents with an emphasis on parent-child bonding. Through Play as a medium, we aim to infuse our young guests with values, thinking and skill sets that are essential for their formative years which will eventually help them develop into responsible socially & globally aware individuals”, said Ms. Neha Gupta, the General Manager of the Facility.

“Today, India is a dynamic and lifestyle indulgent demographic with an immense appetite for novel fun concepts. However, this demographic has limited options for quality, safe and well-operated facilities to choose from, especially when we address the 2-9 age group. We, therefore, chose India to launch PLAYBOX as we think the concept is ideal for the demographic and we will be fulfilling the gap that exists in the market”, said Ms. Rosanne Fernandes, the Corporate Business Development Manager at Amusement Services International, the Company that created the concept and owns PlayBox.

PlayBox also aims to foster an environment of sharing and giving as working with several NGOs and foundations is on the cards in order to create awareness for their activities and to share contributions with the less privileged.

Of The #Hextraordinary With Tata's #HexaExperience...

A new definition of lifestyle has been introduced by Tata Motors at their ‘Hexa Experience Centre’. The new-age lifestyle SUV Tata Hexa is the embodiment of opulence. It was a fabulous #HexaExperience while test driving the brand new Hexa at EO HUDA Gurgaon II, Sector 29, Gurugram on November 26. The three-day mega event spanning November 25-27 was all about experiencing the much-awaited Tata Hexa first-hand and meeting the teams behind this superb creation.

In fact, the on-road and off-road experiences were more than enough to provide an adrenaline rush. In addition, the off-road experience gave a taste of the various tough conditions that the Hexa could face with aplomb, while the on-road one was #Hextraordinary and beyond imagination. While the official launch of Tata Hexa is slated for January 2017, people were excited to go ahead and do an advance booking during this three-day bonanza.

The Hexa Experience Centre has been designed in a very professional manner for prospective customers to gain a first-hand experience of the powerful and beautiful Tata Hexa. Heaps of entertainment was on offer in the lounge area. A separate dining area was arranged for, to satisfy one’s appetite during the day, because once an individual has entered, it is difficult to leave the place without getting the complete picture on Tata Hexa. Also, there were other Tata brands showcasing their products at various stalls within the huge setup.

While driving, we had full liberty to make the Hexa reach its limits. That is what, in fact, I call as a fulfilling #HexaExperience. In addition, there was a special kids’ zone that was engaging enough for kids and their parents. A pet adoption zone also was there where you could play with pets, take them for a round donate for their cause, and adopt one if you wished to.

This centre was the first Hexa Experience Center at EO HUDA Gurgaon II, Sector 29, Gurugram. The event was a grand success. Similar setups are under progress in various cities viz. Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. I feel this is a wonderful concept as far as Tata loyalists, customers, and automobile enthusiasts are concerned.

The off-road experience needs a special mention here because in real life we might not face all such scenarios as bumpy tracks, ramps, and rails but experiencing them and Hexa’s response to them gave a unique feeling and great fulfilment. We experienced inclines, twisters, rumbles, slopes, mud, and a lot more. It was the sheer power of this sturdy vehicle that was showcased untiringly.

Tata Hexa clearly embodies a superior class of power, design and technology. It is a symbol of dynamism and modernity.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that I am feeling #Hextraordinary after this #HexaExperience. Best wishes to Tata Hexa for outperforming its contemporaries in the Indian market in 2017.

Sweet, Silly, Fun...

It is Holi today. 

But as much as the title may read like or sound like the sweets we have, the silly things we do, and the fun we have on this festive day, this post is not centered around a festival.

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This post could as well be about babies and their sweet, silly and fun mannerisms, couldn't it? :)

I'm sure, each of us must've have played with a baby, at least once in our lifetimes.

I say at least once because for some of us, playing with a baby might be a routine affair.

Why?

There is a good chance that you may be a baby's parent or a close relative.

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A baby is a blessing.
A gift from heaven above.

A precious little angel.
To cherish and to love.

~~~

I myself, have seen two kids grow up, right from the crawling, to the baby talk, to the walking and the prim and proper conversations.

First to arrive was my brother's daughter.

Second to follow was my own daughter.

Two angels.

~~~

Each kid has their own mannerisms.

Some are happy, some cranky, some hyperactive, some adamant, some picky.

But kids are kids.

~~~

They have a certain glow, a certain aura brimming with purity, and a blissful outlook.

Kids love to explore.

At least our angels did.

What made them happy, was the fact that we were always by their side.

Tackling their curiosity, with us, at our wit's ends.

~~~

Making bubbles with them, during those warm water baths, and admiring the amazement in their eyes on witnessing something which could fly without wings.

Marvelling at their belief of us being truly startled by their 'You see me, You see me not' antics.

Whiling away time, playing with their favourite toys.

Be it the role - playing games, the puzzles, jigsaws, the doll which would clap at the spin of a key, or the makeshift Tower Of Hanoi.

All of these would light up their adorable faces with contentment.

Teaching them their ABCs and 123s and rhyming away with their special ways of recitation of rhymes.

Accompanying them as toddlers ourselves, by responding to them in baby talk! ^_^

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Above all, making sure that they are blessed with good health, by providing them with the best baby-essentials.

Be it the soap, the oil, the moisturizing cream, or the soft towelettes, or the diapers with the surety of being dry and rash-free all day long, thanks to Magic Gel.

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Teaching them to establish kinship with and become nature's comrades.

Observing them jumping with joy, at the sight of a curled up snail, amidst those plants in pots.

Noticing them observe the intricate details of the honeycomb, when a queen bee had indeed come with her comrades, to establish her workforce in our terrace garden.

Relishing the divine sweetness of truly natural honey, together at the dinner table, as dessert.

Respecting my daughter's meticulousness in reviving a fallen baby sparrow, and feeding it thinly sliced watermelon skin.

~~~

Such episodes deserve to be remembered till posterity.

It is these episodes, which shower pearls of joy, laughter, amazement and surprise, when we ponder on them, later in life.

It is these episodes which knock on our heart's door, to unlock the child within, every once in a while.

~~~

This post has been written as a part of Indi Happy Hours' Dry Baby, Happy Baby in association with Pampers India and IndiBlogger.