Students of St. Vincent's College, USA visit Seva Kendra Calcutta

Students of St. Vincent’s College, Pennsylvania, USA visited Seva Kendra Calcutta on Friday, May 17, 2013. This was the college’s sixth consecutive visit every year. They were primarily inspired by the life and works of Mother Teresa. Along with their visit to the houses run by the Missionaries of Charity they have always made sure to visit the slum project of Seva Kendra Calcutta. The members of the faculty and the students spent their entire morning of May 17 with the youth living in the slum.

Fr. Franklin Menezes, the Director of Seva Kendra Calcutta briefed them about the various projects and programmes of SKC. He also explained the various activities that are underway to celebrate the Ruby Jubilee Year.

The students pledged to raise when they go back to college, US $6000.00 for the purpose of funding the Solar Lighting Project in one of the boarding schools.

Mrs. Amy Meade, a member of the faculty, handed over two suitcases filled with children's clothes to Fr. Franklin Menezes for the purpose of distributing it to the poor. Her 12 year daughter Sarah Meade collected the clothes from her friends and neighbours. Fr. Franklin thanked Sarah for this wonderful expression of love for the poor children.

Seva Kendra is ever so grateful for these gestures of enduring love and commitment of these students for the less fortunate of our society. 

Students of Ave Maria University, USA visit Seva Kendra Calcutta

"Though extremely poor, with very little  to enjoy life with, I noticed the children in the slum we  visited, were beaming with joy, a joy so authentic " said Benjamin Ruefer, a student of Ave maria University during an interaction with the youth volunteers of Seva kendra after a visit of the slum on Thursday, 16th May 2013. 

Mr. Jim Towey, the President of the Ave Maria University, Florida together with 12 students visited SKC for an exposure programme. They were touched by the various works undertaken by this organization on behalf of the poor people.

When Mr. Jim Towey learnt of the Corpus Fund that SKC was planning to build for the poor old people, he readily donated US $ 1000.00 towards it and the students pledged to raise US $ 6000.00 to set up a solar lighting facility for one boarding school in the Archdiocese of Calcutta. 

SKC thanks the President and all the students of Ave Maria University, Florida. 

Ruby Jubilee Seminar 4
Awareness Programme on Tuberculosis at Loreto Day School, Entally

On May 7, 2013, Seva Kendra Calcutta organized an awareness programme on Tuberculosis for Class VIII to XII students of the Loreto Day School, Entally. Dr. Shiv Kumar Singh, District Tuberculosis Officer (DTO), Kolkata was invited as a resource person for this event.

Sr. Phyllis Morris, Principal of Loreto Day School, Entally warmly welcomed Dr. Singh and the SKC team and thanked the SKC team for organizing the programme for the students. She also made the students aware of the great responsibility they have towards the well-being of the people in our society.  

Dr. Singh began the session by giving an overview on Tuberculosis and the negative effects this dreadful disease can have on the society if it is left unchecked. He then informed the students about the many activities that are undertaken by the

National Tuberculosis Control Society . He specifically highlighted that the goal of the 'Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme' was 'Zero deaths from TB in my lifetime'. He also clarified the following:

-  Why is TB prevention a priority?
- Spread of TB bacteria and infection
- Symptoms of TB
- Services available in Kolkata (Free check   
  up, Medicine etc.)
-  How to avail of these services.

Students were challenged to reflect on what they can do to help prevent TB.  Many students interacted enthusiastically with the resource person and clarified many doubts and questions that they had in mind. It was an enriching experience for all of them. They were requested to use the knowledge they have gained for the welfare of their society.

Ruby Jubilee Seminar 3

"We need to start worrying about the future NOW if we hope to have one"

A day-long seminar on "Saving the Earth" was held on April 19, 2013 at Seva Kendra Calcutta. Fr. Robert Athickal, SJ, Coordinator of Tarumitra with his immense expertise and experience conducted the seminar and guided the participants to reflect on the global ecological crisis the world is facing now and the measures that could be taken to resolve it. 

He began with a brief introduction about the student movement, Tarumitra. This was followed by a discussion based on a few case studies of those people who have proactively engaged in spreading ecological sensitivity. One such example was of a girl named Shweta who made a huge impact on consumption of electricity in Patna and other parts of India. The participants were then helped to identify the reasons behind the global ecological crisis. The reasons identified were earth's unsustainable population, water and air pollution, erosion of fertile soil, pesticides, deforestation and depletion of biodiversity.

Later Fr. Robert engaged the participants in a discussion about electricity as the biggest source of pollution and a major contributor towards environmental degradation. The seminar helped the participants to develop insights about the importance of finding alternative sources of power and the need to cut down on the consumption of electricity as an important first step to save and protect the earth.

WORLD TB DAY

Seva Kendra Calcutta celebrated World TB Day on March 24, 2013 by organizing two big rallies in the Tangra unit of municipal ward nos. 57 and 58. The rallies were organized to create awareness about Tuberculosis with the message that Tuberculosis is curable if it is treated in time. Around 500 people from different walks of life including women and children participated in these rallies.

Both the rallies began at 9.00 a.m. from two different starting points and converged at Seva Kendra Calcutta Slum Office at Meher Ali Lane. The first rally proceeded from T-shed of Kulia Tangra and moved through China Burial Ground, Focus Club, Ananda Loke, Slaughter House, D. C. Ray Road before reaching Meher Ali Lane. The second rally started from Muslim Camp Ground and made its way through Mazer, D.C. Ray Road, Lanedhar, Mothur Babu Lane, 2^nd lane Kulia Tangra, T-shed of Kulia Tangra and reached Meher Ali Lane.

Children were the most enthusiastic participants. They wore caps, held placards and carried two huge flex banners- one in the front and the other in the center of the rally. Each rally also had a group of actors who enacted a street play during the journey with the aim of creating awareness about Tuberculosis and sending out the message to the people that Tuberculosis is a curable disease if it is treated in time. There was also a group comprising of 5 to 6 members in both the rallies who contacted the families along the way advising them about the symptoms related to Tuberculosis. Each member was assigned the task of contacting atleast three families. These members were able to contact 36 families during this journey. The programme ended at 10:30 a.m.