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Is it an office, is it a business house, is it a charitable institution?

No, Banjara is none of the above

Banjara Academy just happened, and its reach has grown over the decades. It currently touches more lives than it ever did before. The fact that the number of people benefitting from our association is ever increasing is what we would like to claim as our major achievement. The fact that we have made many people sit up and pay attention to many hitherto ignored or misunderstood issues involving human relationships, child upbringing, etc is what we regard as our foremost achievement.

Our efforts have been acknowledged by many organizations over the years. Our online short-term and long-term courses and classroom courses on counselling skills have been appreciated and recognized as very useful and at times indispensable in the understanding of human relations by many academic institutions, corporates, hospitals, etc. It has been very heartening to see that many of our students have been employed for their counselling skills in different organizations around the country, and the world. Here are just a few of them:

Rotary International, Kidwai Institute of Oncology, Institute of Human Resources Development, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, YMCA, Sudatta, Defence Institute of Quality Assurance, Navabharath Trust, the Indian Air Force, Acharya Patashala, Senior Citizen’s Clubs, various centres for disabled, most reputed universities and educational institutions have appreciated our services and have associated with us frequently in the conduct of our many programs. We would like to proudly and humbly acknowledge that some of the most prestigious institutions and organizations invite us frequently to conduct training, provide counseling, or train their trainers.

Mission

Banjara Academy wishes to be known as an institution with a heart. It is committed to improving the quality of life of the people it touches in its journey. We believe that every human being is unique, with immense untapped potential. Our mission is to open the doors for the flow of emotions, energy and release the potential. Do join us on this road less travelled.

We are playing, and we will continue to play, a role in helping human beings understand each other better, thereby helping improve interpersonal relationships. This significantly enriches lives through empowerment.  It is our constant endeavor to help individuals build their self-esteem, again a very crucial element in improving the quality of life.

The doors of the Banjara Academy are – and will always remain open to individuals who seek guidance in child, adolescent, family, and inter-personal emotional issues. We consider ourselves blessed whenever we make a positive difference to the well-being of anyone who comes to us.

We believe in the mission -
“Enriching Life Through Empowerment”

We not only provide free counselling to anyone who walks in, calls us, or writes to us, but also extend our services to nine public hospitals where patients and care givers need emotional support.

We believe that anyone can be trained in the vital fields of psychological counselling, life skills training and career guidance. Hence, we have constantly been endeavoring to train as many people as possible, so that the ripple effect reaches out to people at large. We have very convenient face-to-face part-time programs suiting people of all backgrounds and ages, and for those who cannot come and attend, we also have on-line programs.

Banjara Academy

We are available for you.....

This year has been exceptionally bad for many students in terms of exams.

Board exams for lower classes were announced, cancelled, held again, and then results have been withheld.  Those appearing for regular Board exams were told that they can appear three time to improve their scores – but many are feeling the stress of preparing and appearing multiple times for these Boards. Students have been complaining of pressure from their parents, and sometimes even teachers, to continue attempts on the hope that they will get better marks. Students who appeared for K-CET came out very distraught from the examination hall because they found many questions were not from the syllabus, and even now we are getting many phone calls of students who feel they may not score well enough to get into a good college.

The basic degree is only a stepping stone to lifelong learning & growth.  Rather than preparing only for exams, those who have a positive mindset, sharpen soft skills, and learn beyond the curriculum will succeed in the long run. They can sharpen the 10 Life Skills enunciated by United Nations, i.e.  Self-awareness Decision-making, Problem solving, creative and critical thinking, communication skills, interpersonal relationship skills, and empathy.

Learn to Enjoy Stress - By Dr. Ali Khwaja

I can communicate to you for any of the following purposes:

  • To inform
  • To entertain
  • To educate
  • To convince
  • To motivate & inspire
  • To gain control
  • To seek emotional support or catharsis
  • To manipulate

It takes courage and a lot of will-power to go against the tide.  You have taken the first step in the direction of true learning and understanding of children by plunging into CCAD.  Now, as you continue your journey, ask yourself a basic question – what is the purpose of your communication with anyone any time, particularly with children? We have tried to make this a true learning exercise i.e. empowering you to start your journey of further enriching lives.  The effect will seep in slowly, but surely.  No miracles promised or delivered.  But the slow miracle of CCAD will come like the seed hidden below the ground sprouts one fine day, and then goes on growing …. and growing.  But do remember that you need constant practice, like the plant needs watering. Don’t get overwhelmed by all the exercises and activities your Mentor is giving you, just give it your best shot – ali

Ali’s Notes:

There are so many people who you interact with regularly, some on a daily basis.  A few we give great importance to, and many others we take for granted.

If you are a middle-class person you may be having part/full time domestic help at home. Either you are lucky to have reliable continuous employees, or perhaps you have had to change them from time to time.  Either way, how much significance have you given to them as individuals, as humans?

Their experiences, and hence their priorities in life, are so different from ours. Even when we get exasperated sometimes with their behaviour, we need to understand certain issues from their perspective.  Do take time to do that and see if you can understand them better individually.  This will help you too.

We did a survey to understand them, and I presented it on Fb Live which is available on YouTube later also if you wish to watch.