Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2008 09 Pratishta Souvenior

Author(s): Jain Center So CA Los Angeles
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California

Page 187

Sailes Jain
Pathshala and Youth Programs
More than a quarter century ago, in 1979, thirty Jain families living in Southern California established JCSC with an
important mandate - to practice, promote and teach Jainism with no sectarian bias. A Pathshala program was initiated almost immediately with an enrollment of 25 children.
With the inauguration of the Jain Bhawan in 1988, the Pathshala activities shifted to the new facility. The classes were led by Mahendrabhai Khandhar and Girishbhai Shah and the enrollment jumped to almost 70 students. The curriculum was expanded to offer language classes: Gujarati taught by Sailes Jain, Hindi taught by Surendra Jain, and Jain Sootras taught by Savitaben Mehta. The enrollment continued to grow every year with the classrooms occupying practically every sq-ft of the Jain Bhavan.
The size of the Jain community in Southern California and the scope of its activities have expanded significantly since 1988. The Pathshala, with an enrollment of 70 students and a staff of three teachers in 1988, now caters to more than 300 students and is managed by a staff of more than 70 teachers (several whom are professionally qualified teachers) and volunteers. The Pathshala is now operated as a regular school with a structured registration process, attendance discipline, and graduation ceremonies. The new 60,000 sq-ft facility effectively serves the need of the growing Pathshala.
There are a total of 13 levels of Pathshala, starting with 'Mommy-and-Me' class for toddlers, to an advanced class for student above 16, in addition to Gujarati and Hindi classes. Every class has a unique goal and a separate curriculum. For example the class at the 2A level has the goal of "To learn Jain way of thinking and be a better human being", the 48 class has a goal of "Getting a deep understanding of Navtatva", and the level 7 class has a goal of "To help solidify Jain identity by reviewing the Jain practices and values; and by facilitating an open dialogue amongst students about the application of Jain principles and values in everyday life." While, discussion is encouraged at all levels, it becomes more formal and involved as the level increases.
All the children who attend the Pathshala are members of the Jain Center Youth Council (JCYC), an umbrella organization of JCSC. JCYC provides the children lessons in leadership as they plan and manage the affairs of JCYC. In addition to the structured Pathshala classes, JCYC members also participate in:
1. Youth/Parent Forums - to address the challenges of growing up in dual culture environment and to bridge the communication gap.
2. Interfaith Dialogs - to foster an understanding and respect for different religions by visiting places of worship (Church, Synagogue, Gurudwara, Buddhist Temple, Hindu Temple) and engaging in discussion with their counterparts. Students and visitors are also invited to visit JCSC.
3. Career Counseling Seminars - to learn about the multitude of career opportunities; an eye-opener for the youths and more particularly for the parents.
4. Informative seminars - to understand and learn about life skills.
5. Annual Winter Camp - to learn and have fun while spending time in the mountains with teachers and volunteers. The next camp, scheduled for December 26 to 29, 2008, will focus on Jain values.
6. Annual picnic, fun-and-game day, and the presentation of skits and plays during Paryushan and other important Jain festivals and celebrations.
7. Outreach activities - to serve as volunteers at the annual medical camp, JCSC functions, and temple cleanup day.
It is encouraging to note that the graduates of the Pathshala program have done exceptionally well in their educational pursuits, career paths, and involvement in local and international humanitarian projects. Their contributions in promoting the Jain principles of compassion, non-violence and vegetarianism have been outstanding. Several of the former graduates now serve as Pathshala teachers at JCSC, completing the full cycle.
Sailes Jain has served as the Director of Pathshala and Youth programs at Jain Center of Southern California since 1995. He can be contacted at sailesjain@aol.com.
During Pathshala, I believe that the students enhance their knowledge on situations of their lives more than anywhere else. Niraj Khona, 15