AICUF Rural Camp 2014

The desire to know and get a firsthand experience on the ground reality of the complexities of our Indian society and culture, and the varied challenges that develop from it, brought the 21 members squad of the AICUF unit of St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore, to Amalagondi; a village in Tumkur District, for 5 days (10-14 November) to learn, explore and experience what a village life is like?

The AICUFers were led by Mr. Elanko Stanislaus, a former lecturer of BSW in our college and Mr John Shant Kumar, a Josephite, led the group through various activities; like involving in the work of the villagers, educating them through awareness programme, mingling with the school children, conducting surveys and social analyses, which were eye-opener for most of the participants of the camp.

The AICUFers stationed themselves in an old dilapidated convent and took turns to cook their own food; basically samber and rice. During the five days live-in experience, they went around the villages and joined the villagers in their work; mainly peeling beetle nuts and planting saplings. They laid their hands almost on everything that the villagers were doing to experience for themselves thehard lives the villagers have been living for ages compared to that of a luxurious city life.

In the evenings the AICUFers’ job was to go around the neighbouring villages conducting surveys and presenting it to the group. Though the programme was hectic and challenging, yet everyone felt satisfied at the end of the day. Many came to the camp with great expectations of being the savior or the heroes of the villagers, but left the place with rich experiences of fellowship and a sense of satisfaction after living among the simple village folks. Darimioo Susngi, a 2^nd year HEP student said, “I felt enriched by the experience and deeply touched by the generosity and openness of the people.” Not only one or two participants had rich experiences, everyone have their own story to tell. Wilson Kujur, a 3^rd year EPS student also said, “I like the simplicity of the people. In the villages, people know who their neighbour is. It is not so the case in the cities.” Everyone is eagerly waiting for the next year’s camp. 
                                        (Reported by Sr. Fultimary Sun, I Yr EJP )