Participants with Fr. Fred Mascarenhas, Mr. Cyril Vas, Mr. Jayaram and Mr. Palyam Suresh
Bangalore, Jan 24: There is no doubt that the Youth of our society will be our future leaders in various fields such as politics, bureaucracy, judiciary, economics, management, games and sports, religion, recreation, etc. It’s necessary therefore to build their capacity and train them to be good leaders.
Such a workshop was jointly organized for the Youth of Udupi district. It was an excellent opportunity for young men and women. Fifty students who are part of NSS movement were selected from across 10 colleges of 3 taluks of Udupi viz. Udupi, Karkala and Kundapura. The 2-day capacity building workshop on good governance was jointly organized by Public Affairs Centre (PAC) Bangalore, and Balakedarara Vedike Udupi in collaboration with Milagres College, Kallianpur at Milagres College, Kallianpur.
Fr. Fred Mascarenhas lighting the lamp
“It was a wonderful experience for us”, said the Principal of Milagres College Rev. Fr. Fred Mascarenhas in his address to the participants at the closing ceremony.
The unique nature of the workshop was everybody?s experience. The 50 plus participants were fully enthusiastic about the workshop and the various themes covered. They took active part in every activity of the workshop doing their own thinking and planning for the future of their district. The young students were guided to visualize the Udupi district with its strengths and weaknesses and come up with a vision for the future. The final day ceremonies were quite meaningful as students vied with each other to give expression to their impressions about the workshop and the impact it had on them. The highlight of the workshop was a solemn pledge taken by the students with lighted candles in their hands never to give or accept a bribe in their lives. The closing ceremony was impressive as it touched all those present. The youth sang community songs of motivation and inspiration which they had learnt in the workshop.
Participants with lighted candles in their hands taking an oath never to give or accept a bribe in their lives
Earlier Mr. Damodar Aithal, Convener Udupi district Consumers? Forum who inaugurated the workshop said that corruption had spread to all walks of life. He felt that the onus was on younger generation to fight corruption. He called upon students to have social commitment.
Pointing out that more than 50 per cent of India?s population today is below 35 years of age, Fr. Fred Mascarenhas called on the youth to play an active role in improving governance.
Fr. Fred Mascarenhas addressing the gathereing at the valedictory function(L);Mr. Cyril vas giving his concluding remarks at the valedictory function(R)
The inaugural ceremony was attended by the NSS district nodal officer, Prof. Nityanand Gaonkar, Mr. Jayaram Shettigar, the NSS Officer Milagres College Kallianpur who was also the convener of the workshop, Mr. Palyam Suresh, a Bangalore-based Consultant who was also one of the resource persons of the workshop and Mr. Cyril Vas Programme Officer PAC who was the main resource person of the workshop.
Mr. Cyril Vas, Programme Officer, PAC, Main Resource Person addressing the participants
The workshop achieved what was expected of the participants, viz. local empowerment. The students decided to use the Right to Information Act to find permanent solutions to some of their long-standing problems like bad roads leading from the main road to the college. They also expressed their desire to support the PAC-led election campaigns in the Udupi district under the leadership of Consumers? Forum Udupi.
Mr. Jayaram Shettigar, NSS Officer, Milagres College introducing and welcoming the resource persons and guests(L); Mr. Damodar Aithal during his inaugural address(R)
The Media gave wide publicity to the Workshop both before and after the workshop. The news appeared in leading dailies like The New Indian Express, Vijay Times, Vijaya Karnataka, Usha Kirana and Vartha Bharathi.
Students receiving their certificate of participation in the workshop from Fr. Fred Mascarenhas
Students receiving their certificate of participation from Fr. Fred Mascrenhas
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