JOIN USDoing their bit for the society
The Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College (BCWCC) organised a National Service Scheme (NSS) special camp for its NSS volunteers for seven days recently.
The camp was held at The CSI Vocational Centre in a village named Muthasandra in Tumkur. With the theme ‘Towards a peaceful world’, the camp was headed by the camp director, Dr Joyce Sunder, principal, BCWCC; camp advisor, Dr Sundara Raj, NSS co-ordinator, Bangalore University; Manonmani, NSS programme officer and head of the department of Kannada, BCWCC; co-camp officers Leena Karnth and Joyce Metilda Irudayam from the departments of English and Economics of BCWCC respectively.
Each day in the camp began with a flag hoisting and prayer session at 7 am followed by a few exercises. During the outreach programmes, the students taught at the government, Kannada primary and middle schools. The teachings were mainly about cleanliness, good habits and art. They played games and told moral stories to the children as well.
They also had guest lectures every alternate day. These included speeches from Dr Chethan, psychiatrist, Manovikasa Kendra on healthy personality; T R Puttaiah, district fire safety officer on fire safety and Shiva Kumar, rural health officer, on national rural health programme. The students enjoyed these interesting sessions and clarified their doubts as well.
In the evenings, the volunteers conducted a few games and cultural programmes and encouraged the children in the village to take part in the activities organised by them.
Those who took part in these activities were given prizes as well.
“The students were very enthusiastic and responsible. They were extremely cordial with each other as well,” said the NSS programme officer. The students also went on a trek to Devarayanadurga, Jinke Vana and two temples. They were also taken to Beeranakallu, a hill in the village, on top of which there was a Shiva temple. It was a tiring yet exciting trek for the students. “It was an unforgettable experience to stay and eat meals together besides teaching at schools,” said a volunteer of NSS.
On the last day, there was a flag retreat along with some cultural programmes. There was a meeting as well, post which the students wrote a brief report of the day’s activities. All the volunteers were thrilled to be part of such a camp and wished that the college would hold more such camps in future.