The concept of Mission Sunshine applies to all students; from Junior KG to Standard X. Prior to implementation, Fr. Magi explained the concept to all parents and received positive feedback from them. “Many welcomed such a novel concept and gave me their support,” says an elated Fr. Magi, who also began a makeover of the School by installing CCTV cameras all over the campus, high-end projectors in each classroom and painting the Mission Sunshine theme in public areas of the School.

Fr. Magi started out with a solarium – a ‘coun-solar’ to appreciate and encourage the students. “Many youngsters are wary of meeting a counsellor. Their first thought is that they are being reprimanded and advised in a very stern manner. The coun-solar has two priests from the Parish, who attend to students’ needs on a one-to-one basis without parental interference. They instil positive thoughts and appreciation for the student before solving their problems that may range from personal issues to family pressure.” The School also boasts of a Mission Sunshine multiplex, a film-based learning module, which aims to influence young minds through value-based films.

For those who wish to spend a few quiet moments in meditation, Fr. Magi has given them space in the ‘Gratitude Chapel’ that spells out the word ‘thank you’ in multiple languages. There is also an Appreciation Bank in every classroom; reserved for classmates’ interaction and appreciation within the same class. Fr. Magi hasn’t forgotten his teachers and has created a Pat Book for them. But what about the lower rung, the peons and ayahs who help mop the school floor? “Taking a cue from the movie ‘Munnabhai MBBS’, we also have a page for them in our ‘Book of Revolution’; that tracks the deeds of these people through a simple formula, ‘Appreciation equals Acknowledgement and Personal Action’. This page is for the support staff to appreciate one another.” informs Fr. Magi.

Implementation

Fr. Magi has now revamped the goodie bag into an easy-to-carry attractive school wallet which has a lot of the Mission Sunshine goodies in it. The black-zippered carry case has a stylish handle and can double up as an iPad cover. And talking of iPad, one of the items in the case is a Thank Pad – a gratitude journal. The Pad also doubles as a diary for 2018 and has space to list all the good deeds done each day as well as the ones planned for the next day. Don’t miss out on some beautiful and thought-provoking quotes by famous personalities, at the top of each page, that make you ponder life’s realities. One such touching quote goes, “Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but none have a right to expect.” (Jean–Jacques Rousseau). The Pad also helps develop the practice of recalling the people who cross your path everyday and to whom you must be thankful for each and every day. Says Fr. Magi, “Any work done out of goodwill for the other is a good act and should be appreciated; but very often it goes unnoticed. This book reminds us to appreciate others.” At the end of the book are 8 TanQ notes to be filled in with a personal message and given to someone who has meant a lot to you.

Ever thought you’d handle a cheque book at school? The ‘Wow Bank’ issues a cheque book from which you can actually tear out and gift your friends and teachers a Cheque of Appreciation. And to keep a track of the cheques you also have a PAT Book; a Passbook which holds entries of all the Positive Attitude Transactions you have carried out. To brighten up each Monday morning of the year, you have the blue-coloured message board tags to pin up near your study table, to show how special you are in the eyes of God. ‘Exquisite, Phenomenal, Stunning, Beautiful, Super duper’ are just some of the many inspiring words that best describe who you are even if you think you are not. Be positive and feel the Wow Magic engulf you throughout the day with these little one-word thoughts!

Lastly, the kit contains a smart pen which has an eye-catching message that reveals itself as the pen is used.

Fr. Magi’s publicity material is catchy and speaks volumes about the concept. He explains, “The Mission Sunshine logo has a black background resembling a black board with the inscription in chalk, because appreciation has to be learnt and imbibed by everyone. The ‘@’ sign is adopted as the symbol of appreciation. It is artistically designed to shine like the sun. Every time, a participant comes across @, he/she is reminded of Mission Sunshine’s objectives. The red smile in the word ‘Sunshine’ is the smile that appreciation generates. The ‘Wow’ aspect extols wonderment; the willingness to be surprised by life. It is from wonderment that appreciation springs. Mission Sunshine exhorts: the ‘WOW’ MAGIC...spread it!” smiles the fifty-year old Salesian product, who has spent the last seventeen years of his twenty years of priestly life in the role of education.

But doing good work doesn’t come easy. Initially, Fr. Magi found it difficult to start; but everything fell into place when he received help from every door he knocked on. Surely, the ‘WOW Magic’ that has ‘Magi’ in it worked for him. Fr. Murzello is confident that the concept will work not only in the School but also in the students’ homes. “If you instil something good in a child in school, the same will be replicated at home. We cannot have appreciation on one track; it has to be two-fold. Appreciation has to be ‘dil se’… from the heart… otherwise it’s just not appreciation.”

Feedback

Fr. Magi is wary of too much sunshine reflected on his students. As an Arab proverb rightly states, “Sunshine all the time makes a desert”. Keeping this in mind, Fr. Magi has prepared Sun Signs and Sun Spots; wherein, the former acknowledges good behaviour and the latter, negative behaviour. Fr. Murzello, with the help of the teachers, personally checks students’ Mission Sunshine books regularly to stay abreast of how the concept is working with his students.

We cannot forget the golden words of St. Teresa of Calcutta who once said, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in the world, than for bread.” Mission Sunshine seeks to remind that everyone wants a day in the sun – to get attention and be appreciated. It seeks to make a difference... make appreciation ‘dil se’.