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REPORT OF
‘YOUTH SENSITISING & AWARENESS
CAMP’
Date
: 09th to 11TH JULY
2011
Participants :
NSS
Unit, Smt. Kamala Mehta College, Andheri & Bal Bharthi
College,
Kandivali.
Venue :
Montfort Empowerment Park, Gorai Village,
Borivili (W), Mumbai – 91
CSSS in collaboration with ‘Montfort
Empowerment Park’, Gorai, organized a three day ‘Youth
Sensitizing & Awareness Camp’. There were 52 NSS
volunteers from Smt. Kamala Mehta VWA College of
Commerce, Andheri (W) and Bal Bharthi College, Kandivali
participated in the three day camp. Staff from CSSS,
Montfort Empowerment Park, Kamala Mehta College, and Bal
Bharthi College also participated in the camp.
Day 1
The participants from both the college
had reached the venue by 9.00 am. After having the
breakfast the registration for the three day camp was
done by Shri Sarath B Mekal from CSSS. All the
registered participants received workshop kit which
contains study materials, copy of Indian Journal of
Secularism, recent booklets published by CSSS, CSSS
brochure, note book, pen, programme schedule etc.
Participants’ contact details
 had
been collected for follow up activities.
The camp began with Introduction and
icebreaking (10.00 am) which was formally inaugurated by
the Parish Priest of Gorai village. Br.Chandy, head of
Montfort Empowerment Park gave a brief description about
Montfort and its activities. Mr. Riyas V.M introduced
CSSS and its programmes to the participants. The
rationale and objectives of the workshop was discussed
with the participants by referring the programme
schedule. After the introduction about the centre and
programme, the participants were randomly made pairs and
each one introduced the other one in the pair to the
rest of the participants. They were given 10 minutes
prior to the exercise. The exercise was helpful to make
the participants mentally prepared for the process of
learning and to create a learner friendly atmosphere.
By 11.00 am Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer
started with his session on ‘Secular values and youth’.
He clarified the concept of ‘secularism’, it’s origin in
the history, difference in the meaning in European and
Indian contexts, what secularism means in ones day to
day life, how secularism is indispensable
concept/practice in a democratic society etc. to the
participants in a very simple language and with lots of
examples from day to day life. In his second session
‘Culture, Religion and Politics and role of youth’, his
focus was on sensitizing the participants how culture
and religion being mixed up with politics
 by
right wing politicians for their vested interests. For
that he approached culture and religion from a social
science point of view and convinced the participants
that even culture and religion itself is not one and the
same. There were doubts and questions from participants
regarding what he spoke on the two sessions, which lead
to live discussions on many currents issues. All
together participants learned from and liked both
sessions, which they have mentioned in the feedback
form. There were suggestions to give more sessions for
Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer too. Though there were also
suggestions to make the session more interactive and
discussion mode.
After the lunch break the first session
was group activity for encouraging the participants to
take up responsibilities throughout the camp, make clear
about the expectation from the participants to achieve
the goal of the camp, to ensure the effectiveness and
active participation in the succeeding sessions. The
participants were randomly divided in to four groups,
and they selected a leader for their group, and
 find
out names for each group. The groups were named as
‘Unity’, ‘Jai Ho’, ‘Twelve Stars’ and ‘NSS Warriors’.
Vijaya R Diwakar, Bheda Jay R, Maya L Thombre, and Kamal
Raval were selected as the leaders respectively. Groups
were given the assignment to document and present the
previous day’s report before the beginning of every
day’s sessions. The fourth group had to present a brief
report of three days programme in the valedictory
session.
This was followed by screening of the
film, ‘Road to Sangam’. The film
is ‘a
simple story of God fearing, devout Muslim Mechanic
named Hashmat Ullah, who has been entrusted the job of
repairing and old ford Engine, not knowing the historic
significance that it once carried the ashes of Mahatma
Gandhi which were immersed in the holy river ‘Sangam’.
He is caught in a complex situation after a powerful
explosion rocks his town leading to the arrest of
innocent Muslim youths of his locality. A strike to work
is called by the prominent Leaders of his community to
protest against the unjust treatment meted out to those
arrested youths by the police. Hashmat Ullah get caught
in between ‘supporting the protest by abandoning the
repair work’ and his desire to get Mahatma’s work done.
The film is a journey through Gandhian values and
principles.’
Day II
The day started with previous day’s
reporting by ‘NSS Warriors’ group. The group briefed up
the major points discussed in the 1st days
lecture, group activity and in the film. The report was
presented in the form of TV reporting.
Next two sessions were by Adv. Irfan
Engineer on ‘Concept of multiculturalism’ and
 ‘Multiculturalism
in Indian Society’. He began the session by asking the
participants to identify certain unique features by
which one can identify the other ones religion. By
counter questioning the answers by participants such as
dress, food, cloth, language etc. the session gradually
developed in to a discussion regarding cultural
diversities within same religion and religions within
same culture. The cultural diversities in India,
Constitutional provisions to treat all of them equally,
need for respecting each other’s culture in a pluralist
society etc. were discussed in the session in an
interactive way.
After the lunch the Mr. Mohammed
Wajihuddin from ‘Times of India’ talks on ‘Role
of Media and Youth’. The role media can play for a just
society, how the civil society can
 make
use of media, what role youth can play, how they can get
into career in media etc. were the main points
discussed. The questions from participants lead to a
discussion on the degradation in media sector such as
‘over sensitizing issues’, lack of ethics, corruption in
media etc. The question answer session went long since
participants had lots of questions and criticism
regarding media.
This was followed by group discussion
based on the film screened on the first day, moderated
by Mr. Riyas V M. Discussion took place in four groups
and each group presented five things they have
leaned/liked in the film and three criticism about the
film which their group find out. Diverse views came up
in the presentations and the discussion helped the
participants to have a deep understanding about the
movie and to develop a serious approach towards viewing
movies.
Day III
The third day of the workshop started
with 2nd day’s report by ‘Twelve Stars
group’. All the sessions and activities, participants
learning, comments etc. were covered in the report.
Dr. Ram Puniyani interacted with the
participants through two sessions, ‘Impact and values of
freedom struggle’ and ‘Roots of violence in Indian
Society and quest of peace’. It was a new experience for
youth to see the history from different perspectives
other than what they have learned from class rooms. He
explained Rulers greed for power and money, and how
later their deeds has been portrayed as religiously
 motivated
one, by the current politicians again for their goal to
achieve power. He also discussed in detail roots of
communal violence and the politics behind it.
After lunch it was a group activity for
self awareness and motivation by Riyas V M. The
objective of the activity was to motivate the
participants to work in the society to make it a better
one, with the inputs they have received from the three
days camp. The activity concluded with a message that
each and every member of the society has a role to play
to ensure justice in the society. It was helpful for the
participants to realize their strength, weakness, and
aim in the life.
In the valedictory session Br. Chandy
distributed certificates to the participants. ‘Jay Ho’
Group presented the report of the third day and ‘Unity’
presented a brief report of
 three
days activities. Participants representing Kamala Mehta
College, Bal Bharathi College and ‘Montfort children’
performed musical drama, dance and other arts in the
valedictory session. Prof. Utham Katarmal gave the vote
of thanks.
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