Introduction

The Social work Department of Bishop Ambrose College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, makes serious efforts to make the curriculum more skill based and practical. Rural camp is the part of the curriculum for the 1st year MSW students. It gives them an opportunity to get rural exposure, rural life style, to understand rural realities like education status, health status, occupation status, social and political status of the village. We were a privileged batch to be placed under such professors, who made great efforts and put their heart and soul into making this experience fruitful for all of us. We were able to make the best of this opportunity. This report is an attempt, to pen down all the memorable moments and observations that were made. It is in no way sufficient to explain the real impact of the experience.

Rural social work Camp

Social work camp means the social work students remain in a rural village for experience and to make a study of the different elements and structure of the village. The students are expected to make an analysis of the living condition of the people in that locality. It helps the students in understanding the core of rural society life, their problems and needs, and to help them in preparing a plan for social work practice and community development.

The camps are unique in nature and scope and are organized by the students under the guidance of the faculty members. They visit the proposed places and identify the needs and interests of the people through professional interactions. The probable participation and cooperation of people is judged and preliminary information is collected to chalk out need based programmes. While preparing the camp programmes the faculty members keep in mind professional training and help to the community. Certain recreational programmes are also incorporated to ease the stress and strain that would otherwise result from the continuous mental and physical work that students will have to put in. It also motivates people to work more. To serve the purpose of the camps in a professional sense and to prepare the programmes well, the students should know the specific objectives of such camps.

Objectives of Rural camp:

The major objectives of social work camps are as follows: To make the students understand the rural social system with specific reference to a specific poverty group. To study the rural social problems and approaches, and strategies of intervention adopted To study the impact of technology and western culture on the lives of the rural community To study the rural organizations like youth groups, Mahila mandals, clubs, sports etc., and their level of intervention, specially for social development Analyze the regional, rural, social system, the approach and the strategies of intervention used by the organization. Understand the nature of Government intervention in relation to poverty groups in the region and the related structures of decision-making and intervention. Develop the capacity to undertake a critique the intervention of both the voluntary organizations and government agencies in relation to the specific poverty group. Through experience in-group living, appreciate its value in terms of self-development, interpersonal relationships, sense of organization, management and taking on responsibility. Acquire skill in planning, organizing, implementing the camp through conscious use of time, communication skills, team spirit, handling relationships, conflicts and differences of opinion, decision making, evaluation, appreciation, sharing of resources, tasks, coping skills in problem situations, co-operation and co-ordination. Develop knowledge of the socio-economic and cultural realities, and their impact on the client system with specific focus on marginalized groups. Develop beginning skills to analyze the impact of the wider social system on individuals, families groups, communities and organizations. Develop skills in identifying and utilizing community resources, both Government
2

and Voluntary.

Place of the Rural Camp

Kondayampalayam, Devarayapuram (post), Thondamuthur (TK) Coimbatore (Dist). 23rd Jan. 2012 to 28th Jan 2012 (Six Days).

Duration Period

Preliminary preparations for the Camp

The Principal and the Faculty members discussed together and came a decision on choosing the place. They also made a collaboration with the RHYTHEM a non-governmental organization working for the empowerment of women and youth in Coimbatore district. According to the discussion and understanding, a rural and remote village called Kondayampalyam near Devarayarpuram, in the Taluk of Thondamuthur was chosen for the rural camp. RHYTHEM director and the staff in charge were gave assurance to support the camp in all the possible ways. The duration of the camp also decided as from January 23 to 28th of the same month.

Meeting of the students and Faculty Members

After the preliminary preparation the Faculty members and the students had meetings together to draw the frame work of the camp procedure. The faculty members guided the students in arranging the programmes and activities. There was also a pilot visit made on 18th of January to have an idea about the village and the people over there. The Staff from RHYTHEM Mrs. Swetha guided us to the village and explained various details and structure of the village. The team visited the village and also met the local leaders and Councilor for the support of the camp. The social work Trainees with the guidance of the faculty prepared the invitation, Hoardings and invited the resource persons for the awareness programmes. The invitation also designed, printed and distributed to various members and institutions. The trainees also
3

practiced some awareness songs, skits and street plays with the help of a special trainee Mr. Krishna raj and the faculty members. Thus the department of social work was ready for the kick off of the social camp on 23rd January.

Programme Schedule
23 01 2012 : Inauguration and Environmental Cleanliness and Protection By Hand in Hand 24 01 2012 Awareness Programme on Child line 1098and Child Welfare By Don Bosco Anbu Illam 25 01 -2012 Child Rights and Child Protection by the Students of Bishop Ambrose College and short films by Power of youth hands 26 01 2012

Medical Camp for Eye and Dental health by Vasan Eye care and Dental Care

27 01 2012

Awareness on Naturopathy by Rev. Sr. Tharsita from Jyothiyagam

28 01 2012

Competitions and Valedictory Function. Chief Guests Mr. Peter Raj (Principal of Bishop Ambrose College) and Rev. Sr. Pauline Mary (Director of RHYTHEM).

Programmes and Activities

I Day : 23 -01-2012
Inauguration and Environmental Protection and Cleanliness
The social camp was started with the inauguration on 23rd January. The chief guests and special invitees were; Rev. Fr. Francis Jose the Secretary of Bishop Ambrose college, the faulty members, Local Councilor and prominent persons of the village. The inauguration started with a prayer song around 06.30pm. After the welcome speech the chief guests and the special invitees addressed the gathering and encouraged the social work trainees to have a fruitful social camp experience. The trainees sang few awareness songs and staged a comedy skit to keep the crowd alive and active.

Environmental Protection and Cleanliness

The first day of the camp was started with a programme on Awareness of Environmental protection and Cleanliness. The programme was given by an organization called Hand in Hand working in Coimbatore districts for the cause of Green environment and waste

management. The coordinator Mr. Jyothi gave an introductory talk on preservation of the environment. Then Mr. Rajan the chief Coordinator an awareness programme on different kinds of pollutions and protection of the environment through power point presentation. He also insisted the people to control the use of plastics which plays the major role of polluting and destroying the environment. The people were made to understand that misuse of the natural resources would bounce back with a short film. There was also a very short and impressive movie about rain water harvesting. The people and the children from the near by

villages were also present and benefitted through the inputs on environment cleanliness and protection. The programmes were got over around 08.30pm.

2nd Day : 24 01 -2012 Child Line 1098 and Child Welfare

The theme for second of the camp was awareness on child line and child welfare. To give a better understanding about the topic a team from Don Bosco Anbu Illam was invited to present programmes. The topic was chosen because of the ignorance of the people about the due rights and facilities for the children among the people. The staff from Don Bosco made some warming up activities with the children and the people as preparation for the programme. The programme started around 06.30pm. There were street plays about being united together and the rights of the child. It explained about various abuses caused on the children in the family and in the society. The message was very clearly imposed to the people about bringing up the children with all the rights. There were some awareness songs about the education of the children. Then the coordinator Mr. Thanga durai gave a clear outline of the child line activities and its functions for the children. He also insisted upon the features of the project in protecting the children at danger and in need of help. The children and the people were requested to make use of the Child Line 1098 to help the children at risk. The day was very useful for the children and the public to know about child line 1098 and different protective measures for the children at risk of various kinds.

3rd Day

: 25 01 2012

Child Rights and Child Education

The third day programme was also centered on the rights of the children. Keeping in mind the education and the gender equality of the female children the day was organized with street plays, awareness songs and some folk dances. The students from Bishop Ambrose college were present to give awareness on the topic through their talents with the guidance of their
6

principal Mr. Peter raj. There street plays on the themes of child education, valuable role of the parents in bringing up the children and about the gender equality. The students also gave a folk dance (kumi) about the life of the female children. To break the monotonous of the day there were some comedy act outs by the students. The girl students were also generous to bring their talent of dancing and gave a good recreation to the crowd. The social work trainees with guidance of the staff sang awareness songs. The children and the people at large enjoyed the programmes and understood the rights of the children and the duty of the parents in providing them in right time.

There were also some documentary films on child labor screened by Mr. Soloman from Power of Youth Hands. The film of a young girl working as domestic worker in a house brought out the sufferings and unfulfilled desires of the children who are forced in to child labour across the world. There was also another film which expressed the need of the child education in combating the child labor.

4th Day : 26 01 2012 Free Medical Camp for Eye and Dental Care
Health is the great and vital wealth of the human beings. Keeping in mind the importance health the social trainees decided to contact a free medical camp for the people of surrounding five villages of Devarayapuram panjayat. Since the 26th of January will be a government holiday the date was fixed for the camp. The trainees with the able help of the head of the department made arrangement with the Vasan Eye and Dental Care to conduct the camp at Devarayapuram Panjayat office. The previous day itself the trainees cleaned the hall which was allotted for the camp with the help of the RHYTHEM staff and the faculty. The trainees also made a publicity of the camp in the villages with the mega phone going by an auto. This was a very good effort made by the team to give news to the people about the importance of the camp. The team invited the people to participate and make of the camp.

The Medical Camp Started around 10.00am in the morning. The beginning was very dull but as the time passed there were children and people thronged in for the check up. There were
7

one doctor and five nurses for eye care. The dental care team consisted of one doctor and three assistants with a coordinator. The participants were registered their name and other details in the entrance and let in for the diagnosis. The doctors prescribed proper treatment and precautions for the people to follow. There were around 150 people turned out for the camp and made use of the physicians and the medical advice about the care of the eye sight and teeth. The camp ended at 04.00pm. The medical team was thanked and given a memento as token of gratitude and appreciation for their generosity and sacrificial service for the needy poor people.

5th Day: 27 01 2012 Naturopathy and Herbal Medicines

The dangerous use and side of the chemical drugs and medicine are very much in the present day life of the people. The soaring consumption of tablets and bills cause many unwanted diseases to people of all ages and even affecting the unborn. To avoid the chemical medicines and make the daily food as medicine is the need of the hour. So to impart the importance and ways of natural medicine Rev. Sr. Tharsita was invited to help the people of Kondayampalayam. She is a well experienced person in naturopathy which consists of

traditional herbal medicines, Pressure Treatments and Yoga. At present she is running an ashram called Jyothiyagam in Seerapalayam near Madukarai.

The various uses of normal vegetables and common food were explained by the sister very relevantly. She also displayed some posters explaining the systems of the human body through which she also enlightened about different pre cautions to avoid some diseases. The best and correct way of cooking was also taught by her. She gave some common tips to avoid the subtle ailments like head ache, stomach upsets and fever. There was also request and

invitation to come to Jyothiyagam and make use of the medical facilities for chronic and perpetuated illnesses. It was a wonderful day for the people who benefitted a lot about their health and simple acts to maintain healthy life.

Final Day : 28 01 2012 Competitions and Valedictory Function

The social work trainees arranged for some sports competitions for the children on the final day of the social rural camp. With the help of the faculty the trainees divided the children in to three groups for the convenience of the competitions. The Competitions were started around 04.30pm. Frag Race, Balloon breaking and running race were some of the competitions held on the day. The first three competitors were given prizes. There was a game also conducted for the adults of the village. The winners were awarded prizes. The Valedictory function started around 06.30pm on 28th January. The chief guests were Mr. Peter Raj the principal of Bishop Ambrose college and Rev. Sr. Pauline the director of RHYTHEM. The principal gave good advice for the children about the importance of education. He also appreciated the staff and trainees of the social work department for conducting a wonderful social camp. Rev. Sr. Pauline in her address spoke about role of women in the development of society. She encouraged the children and specially the involvement children parliaments in helping the society. There were also some young ones who gave good evaluation about the camp. At last the children thanked the college for conducting a valuable camp in their village. They also expressed that the camp has helped a lot in updating their knowledge on child rights and other issues. The guests gave away the prizes for the winners of the sports competition. Thus the six day rural camp came to an end.

Professional Skills Learned by the Trainee

The social rural camp played a vital role in the learning process of the social work trainee. The trainee learned about the basic operating levels and structures of the village
9

The divisions and their impacts on the lives of the people also noticed by the trainee The trainee learned to conduct different programmes for the common people The trainee acquired the techniques of interacting with the village people The trainee also learned about conducting programmes in collaboration with the other colleagues The importance of teamwork was very much felt On the whole it was beneficial experience for the trainee in his profession in the community organization.

Observations
The preparations for the camp was done in advance Selection of the village was a good choice The faculty members were very much helpful for the social work trainees in the camp The programmes and activities were very much needful and relevant to the people of the village The children are very talented and very interested in learning The role of the children parliaments was very good and appreciated The staff from RHYTHEM and some of the village people were very co operative and helpful The village people were not so much interested in attending the programmes The prevalence of the negative effects of the television was felt very much Accessibility of transport was a problem in reaching and leaving the village on time The college management gave good co operation and support

Suggestions
The rural camp should be a residential

10

The on and off presence did not do good in observing the village and the people Interaction with the village people has to be done well by the trainees Social work trainees should be given an orientation about the concept of the rural camp in advance The part of publicity to the programmes should be improved The preparation for the camp need little more systematic and advance of time

Conclusion
Thus the social work trainee of the department of social work from Bishop Ambrose college had a useful and needful experience through the social rural camp at Kondayampalayam village. The camp was well organized with benevolent guidance and help of the faculty members and the management of the college. The involvement of the trainees was also very good and well appreciated. The support of the RHYTHEM organization also played vital part in the success of the camp. The social work trainees thank the principal of the college, the head of the social work department and others staff members who made this social rural camp as valuable learning experience in their career.

11