ACTIVITY REPORT
2005 - 2006
Introduction:
Joan of Arc Community College, Angel Nagar, Mannarpuram has been organized and is operated by JACID (Joan of Arc Centre for Integral Development), a Charitable Trust. Trustees include: Reverend Francis Ravi, Managing Trustee; Reverend Herbet Rex Lumine, Finance Trustee; Reverend Jackson Arul, Trustee, Reverend Edward J., Trustee; Mrs. Hema Raja, Trustee/Administrator of the College. The college was established June 1, 2005 in a remote area of India and serves more than fifty impoverished villages in its proximity. The campus consists of 15 acres of land.
Aim:
The aim of the college is to empower the uneducated and downtrodden youth of its service area.
Motto:
The motto of the college is based on the age-old proverb:
“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day
Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a life time”
The college provides value based and job oriented education as a way to provide a stepping-stone for its student’s productive futures.
Courses Offered:
The College is affiliated with Tamil Nadu Open University (T.N.O.U) and provides the following one-year Diploma Courses:
1. Diploma in Catering Assistant (DCA)
2. Diploma in Pre-School Teacher Training (DPTT)
3. Diploma in Heath Assistant (DHA)
4. Diploma in Desk Top Publishing (DTP)
Comprehensive idea about knowledge:
The college imparts value based and job oriented education, in English. The students are exposed to the very idea of Knowledge, as a vast, unrestrained resource with which to mold their futures.
Dedication of the College building:
The college building was dedicated on July 24, 2005. The Most Rev. Ivan Ambroise, Bishop of Tuticorin, blessed the building. Eleven delegates from the United States under the leadership of Msgr. Armand A. Pedata honored the function by their presence. Msgr. Pedata cut the ribbon to the College building.
A) Seminar:
At the start of the academic year 2005-2006, resource persons from various fields of life were invited to the College and gave motivational speeches to the students.
· November 8, 2005, Mr. Pandian, founder and Director of “CAST” Institution, Cheranmadevi, instructed the students about discipline. Mr. Mugugan and Miss Seetharaj spoke about the problems facing adolescent pupils. In the evening Mr. Muthuselvam delivered a talk on “Sympathy towards AIDS patients.” The “CAST” conducted a cultural program addressing hygienic problems.
· November 9, 2005, Mr. P. Velusamy M.A., M.Ed, Head Master of Holy Redeemeers Hr. Sec. School, Tisaiyanvilai, stressed the duties of a student, while Sr. Benita, the Headmistress of Stella Maris girls High School, Tisaiyanvilai, presented a demonstration on medication.
· November 10, 2005, Fr. Jegadish gave a talk on “Awareness about civil law.”
· November 11, 2005, Mr. Palanisamy M.A., B.G.L. Inspector of Police, from Tisaiyanvilai gave a talk to the students about how to approach the police when needed.
Apart from the above seminars, the teachers participated in seminars conducted by T.N.O.U and M.C.R.D.C.E at Chennai. The Principal, Mr. Soosairaj participated in a seminar sponsored by M.C.R.D.C.E at Chennai from October 7th to October 11, 2005. Mrs. Latha, instructor for Montessori participated in a one-week seminar from May 5th to May 9, 2006 conducted by T.N.O.U.
B) Skills for Life:
Man is a social animal, he cannot live alone. He needs language to convey his ideas to others and exposure to various life situation. Thus, are the students of JACID taught.
C) Basic Computer Knowledge:
The twenty-first century may be called the age of computer and the students should have at least a basic knowledge of computers. Here at the College we have 25 computers and all the students irrespective of their courses are given basic knowledge in the computer.
D) Practicals:
There are four laboratories, one for each course. There is a well-equipped laboratory and a model hotel for the Catering students. Twenty-five computers are in the computer lab. A nursing lab is here to cater the needs of the nursing students and one workshop for DPTT students. Theory classes are conducted in the morning and Practical classes are conducted the afternoon.
E) Internship Training:
In addition to the practical classes the students underwent internship training for three months. We have arranged a program with the following schools, hospitals, hotels and etc. to have hands on experience.
Hotels:
1. Hotel Sangamam, Madurai
2. Hotel Park Plaza, Madurai
3. Hotel Chenthoor, Madurai
4. Hotel North Gate, Madurai
Hospitals:
1. Chithambaram Clinic – Tisaiyanvilai
2. Shanthi Hospital – Tisaiyanvilai
3. Karpakam Clinic – Tisaiyanvilai
4. Rajan Hospital – Tisaiyanvilai
5. Paulkani Hospital – Tisaiyanvilai
6. Rose Hospital – Tisaiyanvilai
Schools:
1. Daniel Thomas Metric School – Tisaiyanvilai
2. Jeya Rajesh Metric School – Tisaiyanvilai
3. Nalantha Metric School – Vallioor
4. Francis Xavier Metric School – Nanguneri
5. Henry Memorial Metric School – Sathankulam
Printing Press:
1. Little Flower Press – Vallioor
2. J.A.C. Lovdy Cards – Vallioor
3. J.V.I. Printers – Vallioor
F) Placement:
The following is a list of students who studied during 2005 – 2006 and where they are being placed now. Out of 71 students, 68 were placed in different jobs or went for higher education. The percentage is 96%.
1. Diploma in Catering Assistant (DCA)
· 16 students went onto Hotels
· 5 students went onto Higher Education
2. Diploma in Health Assistant (DHA)
· 13 students went onto Nursing
· 1 student went onto Higher Education
3. Diploma in Pre-School Teacher Training (DPTT)
· 12 students went onto Teaching
· 10 students went onto Higher Education
· 2 students undecided
4. Diploma in Desk Top Publishing (DTP)
· 5 students went onto Desk Top Publishing
· 7 students went onto Higher Education
G) Innate Talents:
Every student has some talents buried within him/her. We have to find them out and cultivate them. There is a literary association in the College. Monthly meetings are being conducted. The students perform dances, dramas, speeches and other crafts at these meetings.
H) Religious Tolerance:
In India there are many religions and the students should be given training in religious tolerance. For those festivals like Deepavali, Pongal and Christmas are celebrated every year. Sweets, cakes and sugar cane are distributed to the students.
I) The Spirit of Nationalism:
On August 12, 2005, Independence Day was celebrated. Thiru. D.R. Sabapathy, the secretary of T.D. M.N.S. College, Kallikulam hoisted the National Flag and presided over the meeting. January 26, 2006, Republic Day was celebrated under the president ship of Thiru. Thangavelu the Village Administrator. These functions were celebrated with a view to inculcate the spirit of patriotism in the minds of the students.
J) Care for Backward Students:
Special classes were conducted for backward students from 4:00 to 5:00 PM every day. These special classes were very useful to them to cope with other students. No extra fees were collected for the class.
K) Students affected by Tsunami:
The College paid special care to Tsunami affected students. Two students Luxey
and Jeniva were given a scholarship by M.C.R.D.C.E, Chennai.
· Non-Formal Education
A) Tailoring:
With an aim of giving training in tailoring to rural girls, a tailoring unit was started on April 6, 2006. Ten power machines and five ordinary sewing machines were used to give training for twenty students in two sessions.
B) Free Eye Camp:
Fee eye camp conducted on May 2, 2006 on the College campus. More than three hundred people from neighboring villages benefited. The JACID Charitable Trust paid for eyeglasses for ten people and eye surgery for another person.
- Visiting Sponsors from the United States:
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Finelli from St. Joan of Arc Parish in Marlton visited the college on February 21, 2005 for a week. They were able to meet with the female students who came back to welcome them. At the time of the Finelli arrival all students were away at their particular internship program.
During the Finelli’s travels in India they visited two of the hotels that the boys were interning. Mr. Finelli was able to hear the feedback from the hotel managers about the boys and was able to speak to the boys himself. He spoke about workmanship and how important a job that they were undertaking. He also spoke of how proud the parishioner’s of St. Joan of Arc are of them.
The Finelli’s are planning on a return visit in February 2007.