Ukhrul: The Department of Social Work, 3rd Semester, at Don Bosco College (Autonomous) Maram, conducted a week-long rural camp in Ngari Lishang village, Senapati District, from October 19 to 25, 2024, with the theme “Community First: Working Together for a Better Tomorrow.”
Forty-two students were guided and assisted by two Assistant Professors, Dr. Evergreat Wanglar and Ms. K. Saza. The rural camp begins on October 19, 2024 with the flag-raising ceremony conducted by Village Chairman L. Elijah. In his address welcoming the educators and students, he urges the pupils to exert effort and contribute to societal improvement.
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The primary aims of the Rural Camp were to enable Social Work students a deeper comprehension of rural existence and to facilitate the enhancement of their professional competencies through the establishment of need-based programs and awareness in collaboration with local communities, in addition to aiding students in the integration of essential life values.
Furthermore, it seeks to enhance students’ capacity to cultivate both personal and professional skills while promoting self-improvement through the processes of decision-making, planning, organizing, coordinating, documenting, and report writing. Moreover, it seeks to enlighten the villagers regarding their own challenges and to empower them to take meaningful steps towards enhancing their circumstances.
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The students, aided by the villagers, conducted numerous activities including Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) utilizing methods such as Social Mapping, Resource Mapping, Scoring and Ranking, Pie Charts, and Seasonal Calendars. Additionally, the students engage in soft skills classes covering topics such as Assisting Others, Goal Setting, Communication Skills, Self-Discipline, Curiosity, and Inquiry at Kishio English School in Senapati, with 71 children participating.
Furthermore, the students conducted a survey to examine the socio-economic situation of the village, gained practical experience through fieldwork, and organized a cleanliness initiative alongside a tree plantation effort. On October 25, 2024, the rural camp comes to an end, and Yaruingam R, the village secretary’s chairman, serves as the chief guest and lowers the flag. He urged students to never give up on their aspirations and to always work hard throughout his speech. Students had the chance to consider the rural concerns they had studied and discussed in class during the Rural Camp. It helps students develop their professional abilities, including teamwork, leadership, responsibility, management, and planning.
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The Department of Social Work at Don Bosco College (Autonomous) Maram expresses sincere gratitude to the village Chairman, Secretary, Women President, Youth President, Secretary, and the residents of Ngari Village for allowing the camp to be hosted, their hospitality, and their invaluable support during the event. The Department also conveyed its gratitude to the Principal, Teachers and Students of Kishio English School for permitting the implementation of the soft skills class.