A National Students Leadership Training Camp was organized by YCS Kolkata from the 26thof October to the 30th of October, 2015 at St. Anthony’s High School, Market Street. There were participants from both Kolkata as well as North-East India for the 5 days of the camp. The event was also blessed by the presence of Father Chetan Machado, the national chaplain of YCS/YSM India. The camp included various sessions, group dynamics, exposure visits and outdoor activities, which were organized and planned by the Diocesional Executive Committee of YCS Kolkata. All the activities in the camp showed a foresight to the methodology of YCS/YSM i.e. See, Judge and Act. The first day witnessed an orientation by Father Chetan, where he introduced the YCSer’s to the basics of the movement. This also included a quiz among all the participants which made them test their knowledge about the movement. Mass was celebrated on a daily basis. A session was taken by Mr. E.N. D’Cruze who spoke on the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death. He also highlighted the reasons as to why the catholic children of the present society are supporting the wrong doings rather than fighting against it.
On the second day, Ms. Angelus Mondol held a session on Social Analysis and Relationships. Participants were divided into four groups and were taken to Shishu Bhavan and St. Joseph’s Old Age Home as a part of their Exposure Visit. There was also a group discussion and a presentation by each group In view of the methodology- See, Judge and Act, basing their presentation on the exposure visit to Shishu Bhavan and St. Joseph’s Old Age Home. This brought the participants to the reality of life and the hardships faced by the old and young homeless people.
The third day had Mr. Sunit Justin Kujur, talk about Adolescent Psychology, where he stressed upon the fact that all of us are growing and are no longer children. He emphasized that all of us should behave matured and not fall back on others with our problems; and that if we needed help, God is always there to answer our questions and help fight our desires. Another session was taken by Mr. Gaurav Ray, who spoke on Religious Plurality. Mr. Ray, though being a Brahmin, has a strong belief in Christ and his real life examples and proofs from the Rig Veda, the Guru Granth, and the Quran kept the participants indulged in respect and brotherhood among all religions. There was also a Workshop after the session where present social issues were discussed among the four groups.
The forth day had Mr. Amit Runda and his team, take a session on Witness to Life- Mission vs Ambition. In this session, a real life situation was given to each group and they had to follow the review of life to deal with the situation. This practice of the methodology, gave an insight into solution to every problem faced by teens in the present society. The Camp also had Mr. Frank Felix giving his views and highlighting a few important sections of the Constitution followed by YCS/YSM India, after which, an orientation was taken by all the animators present for the camp who gave their view and what they expect of the Young Christian Student’s within the movement. There was also a bourne fire organized, which gave the participants some time to reflect back on the past few days. This also included a few games and camp fire dance where the participants got more familiar with each other.
The last day of the camp was blessed by the presence of his grace, Archbishop Thomas D’souza , Archdiocese of Kolkata, who celebrated mass for all the YCSer’s. Two participants shared their view of what they learnt during the camp. The concluding programme for the camp included a few words by his grace and also all the other fathers and animators present. With this the camp had come to an end and the participants from the North-East were then taken for a tour in Kolkata, where they got to see Princep Ghat, Victoria Memorial, Mother’s House, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Indian Museum.
- Angus Dion Makhal, YCS Kolkata DEXCO Secretary.