Quizzes for kids

Here's a national-level quiz that's more interested in testing and enhancing the EQ (emotional quotient) of participants than just their IQ (intelligence quotient).

The air at the IIMC auditorium in Delhi for the finals on October 28 with quizmaster Derek O'Brien was charged more with the buzzing excitement of a fun-filled event than the tense atmosphere of a serious corporate quiz.

This was presumably because it was a trivia quiz where the aim was to build relations and contribute towards underprivileged children and their rights while having some fun.

For CRY (Child Relief & You), the motive to associate itself with Maruti Suzuki for its annual trivia quiz in its seventh year was to build partnerships.

From starting as a small trivia quiz by a handful of corporate volunteers in 1998 to raise funds for CRY, the participation for the Maruti Suzuki CRY FACT Quiz 2005 grew to 282 corporate teams, each contributing Rs 8,000 to participate across seven cities in India.

"Throw in questions about child rights and make people aware of them," said Gautam Bhimani, the quizmaster for regional rounds. The trivia quiz did not seem 'trivial'.

But to many participants, the inter-corporate quiz was a good opportunity to contribute in some way to a social cause. As Ashok Malik, the national winner from the Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) team, says, "It's a moving experience as one is helping children "" the most defenceless and vulnerable section of society "" in some way. In a relaxing atmosphere, one is competitive, having fun and contributing to a social cause."

It is not just the proceeds (Rs 22,56,000 from the Maruti Suzuki CRY FACT Quiz 2005 and Rs 80 lakh in total) that organisations like CRY are looking at, but according to Bondana Dutta, director, north & east, CRY, "The interaction helps people to connect with CRY, contribute to a cause and sometimes join as volunteers, even with their busy schedules."

As the Maruti Suzuki CRY FACT Quiz 2005 enjoyed an extremely good response from corporates, it also indicated the successful model where social responsibility and brand promotion were fused on a platform that was attractive.

As Shashi Kapoor, deputy general manager, marketing, Maruti Udyog says, "An association with CRY, through title sponsorship of FACT, is something Maruti is proud of, not only as a responsible corporate citizen but also in our personal capacity to help children."

With national-level quizzes happening at not-so-frequent intervals, the general buzz among most participants was the want of more good quizzes. Their paucity seems to disappoint many who are eager to participate.

For Admiral Johnson, advisor, CRY, such events "are an endeavour to bring together corporates, average citizens, grassroot partners and policy makers who believe that every child should experience a childhood".