Mangaluru: The students of St. Aloysius B.Ed College, Mangaluru had an unique opportunity to experience, live and learn about the aspects of life in villages as part of their Rural Immersion Programme.

This initiative was undertaken with an objective to sensitise the students to the hardships faced by the villagers and also with a spirit of bringing to life the Aloysian ideal of being men and women for others.

St. Aloysius B Ed College conducted a six-day Rural Immersion Programme for its teacher trainees in Mundgod Taluk of Uttara Kannada District and Hanagal Taluk of Haveri District under the following objectives- to inculcate human values, to develop management abilities, to internalise discipline, to imbibe environmental conscience, to understand the diverse cultural practices, to lead a simple life and to develop an attitude of cooperation and adjustment.

The students were sent to eighteen remote villages in these taluks in groups of five. They stayed in the village houses to learn their lifestyle and work with them. The students spent time with the children and the people of villages. They also provided services in different schools by teaching subject matter, songs and conducting games. They also collected data regarding the school and role of women.

This programme which was conducted with a theme of “Education of the Heart” helped the students in experiencing the reality faced by the vast number of villages of North Karnataka, problems of the farmers, variety of agricultural crops grown in these villages, food habits, social restriction faced by them on the basis of caste and gender, the customs and practices, educational facilities, transportation and employment.

Students expressed appreciation about the village immersion programme as it touched them and instilled in them a strong commitment to the poor.

Fr. Francis Balaraj SJ, Director, Loyola Vikas Kendra (LVK) Mundgod Taluk and Fr. Jerald D’Souza SJ, Director, LVK, Hangal Taluk made all the arrangements in allotting villages and houses for the students. Santhosh Furtado, Jerome D’Souza, Joshna B and Sandhya (faculty members) accompanied the students. Fr. Eric Mathias SJ, Director of the College, Dr. Farita Viegas, Principal, and Delna Lobo, Vice Principal visited the villages.