Change is the only constant – a lesson that has shaped the journey of one of our students, Manya Agarwal, through her project Sign-Verse. At CHIREC International school, we take great pride in nurturing an environment where inclusivity is not just encouraged but celebrated. Through our CAS program, we strive to equip students with the empathy, leadership and global awareness needed to create a more equitable and compassionate world.
When Manya Agarwal first envisioned her project “Sign-Verse”, she had a simple yet powerful vision: Creating a world where everyone can communicate regardless of whether they can hear or not. A world where students with hearing impairments feel included, valued and empowered. Through “Sign-Verse”, she aimed at building a bridge between the spoken community and the sign language community. With CHIREC’s support, she collaborated with Ashray Akruti an NGO dedicated to empowering hearing-impaired students.
Through this joint collaboration, students were taught the basics of the Indian Sign Language and our National Anthem. Additionally, platforms were also provided where students can showcase their learning. Students participated in the assembly by signing our National Anthem on International Sign Language Day as well as performing in front of parents. Upon participating, the students showcased excitement as they communicated with each other through signs, fostering a sense of inclusivity. Many of them expressed their strong desire to learn more about ISL (International Sign Language) and demonstrate their willingness to embrace and accept this new form of communication.
This experience not only educated them about the importance of sign language but also reinforced the values of empathy and understanding towards the deaf community. We also had some truly inspiring feedback from our parents, showing how much difference this project is making in people’s lives. Through her journey, she has been able to showcase how powerful communication can be – how it transcends spoken words and connects us on an emotional level altogether.
Inclusivity is about engagement, creativity & connection. To nurture these values Manya facilitated several activities including an Origami session where students connected through art, Chinese Drawing Whispers – a fun teamwork activity and a Bookmark Drawing Session that encouraged creativity & self-expression. These activities are representative of the fact that communication takes many forms.
At CHIREC, we believe that the journey towards inclusivity is ongoing. By supporting initiatives like Sign-Verse, we seek to empower every learner. We are extremely proud of Manya and remain committed towards nurturing change-makers, who will contribute towards creation of a world where communication knows no barriers.
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