- Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus MIT, The Father of Modern Linguistics
A program like NIRMAN actively intends to shape and sharpen the thinking process of the individuals who become art of it. Vague, fuzzy thinking about the problem at hand clutters the mind, complicates the situation and blocks clear reasoning. Hence, one needs to cultivate appropriate vocabulary that aids comprehension and (mental) resolution of the situation and challenges in one’s internal and external environment. Simultaneously, in order to sustain one’s pro-social motivation over long time, there is need of a lexicon that serves as a constant reminder, and one that is collectively experienced and evolved as a community thereby rekindling the spirit every time one comes across or uses those specific words/phrases.
Through the work with thousands of youth over the years, NIRMAN has systematically developed a rich vocabulary that caters to the above needs. It includes variety of domains like the developmental assets for youth, their moral imperative, the criteria for decision making, the process of self-learning and experimentation, the yardstick of assessing success, the why-what-how of effective social changemaking, etc.
The infographic below illustrates this multifaceted NIRMAN Vocabulary that together constructs a thought framework for the budding social change agents in the NIRMAN community. We hope this will aid in the creation of a vibrant youth culture in our country engaged in a joint pursuit of purpose and social impact.
