Shimoga Diocese

Report of YCS/YSM Village Exposure Camp

YCS/YSM Diocese of Shimoga had organized Diocesan level village exposure camp from 9th to 12th April at Padanbail, Jog Falls. There were 80 student delegates and from 10 parishes and 2 schools. The entire program was organized towards the methodology (Awareness, Reflection and Action). The students were given different opportunities to work like cleaning cowsheds, manuring areca nut farms, collecting dry leaves from forest and collected firewood and filing them. The students learnt by working and they came to know the difficulties faced by the villagers. They learnt the culture, lifestyle and hard work of the villagers. They had fun by playing at the river side. The students were accommodated in different houses of villagers.

The DEXCO (Diocesan Executive Committee) team had arranged inspiring and useful sessions in the afternoon from different resource persons. Mr. Roshan Lobo (NEXCO), Miss. Jovita D’Souza (Former NEXCO), Fr. Clarence Dias (Diocesan Communication Director), Mr. Vincent D’Mello (Social Activist), Sr. Maria UFS (Lawyer), Mr. Rajesh(Animator), Mr. Alwyn, Miss. Joswin Lasrado (DEXCO member Mangalore) (Diocesan and Fr. Ronald Veigas Diocesan Youth Director were the resource persons. It made the students to reflect the present situations and the problems with the students faced at their young age. The DEXCO team had done group dynamics like action songs, games etc.

Most Rev. Francis Serrao SJ, the Bishop of Shimoga had arrived for the concluding program and he also gave an inspiring message to all the participants and he distributed the certificates to all the participants. This program made the students to learn about YCS/YSM and facilitated to go through the process of YCS/YSM methodology of Awareness – Refection and Action. After each work Schedule there was intensive evaluation. There was a cultural fest program on the last day of the camp and it was concluded with the Camp Fire.