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.

Ruby Jubilee Seminar 2

Topic

    Right to Food / Work

Conducted by

Fr. Jyoti, Director of Udayani Social Action Forum

Mr. Saradindu Biswas, Right to food campaign -  Nation Coordinator

Venue and date

     Seva Kendra Calcutta, 28^th February  2013

Objectives of the training

     To generate awareness on Food security , right to food and work   

Participants details

     Participants 68 (students, professionals, social workers, volunteers and teachers,)

Topics covered

·                     Comparative study on food production and livelihood in Bengal

·                     Constitutional rights

·                      Food security

·                      Public Distribution Systems (PDS) and its functions

·                      Mass movement on food security in Bengal and Nation wide

·                      Case stories …

Ruby Jubilee Seminar 1: Tell Me Why?

Topic

Environmental Degradation

Conducted by

Dr. Haridas

Venue and Date

Seva Kendra Calcutta, 28^th January 2013

Objectives of the training

To create awareness on environmental degradation and its impact  

Participants details

72 Participants (Students, professionals, social workers, volunteers, Teachers,)

Topics covered

• ·        Environmental realities
• ·        “WATER” – the liquid gold
• ·        Water level fluctuation
• ·        Water pollutions and water borne diseases
• ·        Use of chemical fertilizer “poisoning of the food”
• ·        Deforestation
• ·        Plastics use – inviting a disaster

Training on Solar Lantern Assembling held from February 04 to February 13, 2013

1.    Objectives of the Training

·      To create awareness about clean energy and promote ‘renewable/solar energy’

·      To develop skills on solar technology for livelihood

2.    Activities conducted

Nine youths from Chetanalay (Social Service Centre of the Archdiocese  of Delhi) came to Seva Kendra Calcutta to learn the techniques of assembling solar lantern for 10 days from 4^th to 13^th February 2013.

Participants completed the training with great joy. They were all able to assemble 5 lantern each for their final test.

The process boosted their confidence to use this skill to earn their livelihood in this emerging field of using solar energy.

3.    Topics covered

a) Climate change (green house effect, impact on Earth and our life) cause, effect and    

    impact.

b) Natural resource identification (in relation with energy - Coal, Hydro, Wind and 

    Solar)

c) Solar Energy - Photovoltaic Basics

d) Basic Electricity and Electronics

e) Components of Solar Lantern

f)  Making/assembling Solar Lantern

h) Final assessment (practical test on assembling solar lantern)
j)  Marketing strategies / possibilities