National Student Leadership Training Programme at Nadiad, Gujarat - 2012

Nadiad, Gujarat May 19 :

Introduction: The NSLTP in Hindi was held at Pastoral Centre, Nadiad, Ahmadabad Diocese, Gujarat from 13 to 17 May 2012 for the regions of Bijhan, Orissa, UP, MP, Delhi and MG. All together 68 students were present. Those were 16 students from MG, 2 students from delhi,8 students from Bijhan, 2 students from MP, 7 students from Gujarat, 15 students from Odisha, 9 NTA/EXCO’s,  Animators:  Br. Geo from Delhi, Sherine and Cecilia from UP, Roshan  and Anju from Bijhan, Sr. Julie from Odisha, RYD of MG Fr. Philip, Leo Joseph and the National Chaplain.

13th May 2012

The participants arrived at the venue by morning. After registration Fr. Charles briefed them about the program dynamics and geography of the venue. At 11 am we had the inaugural mass. Fr George was the main celebrant and he gave the message on love, that it is eternal, selfless and it binds one another.Officially the program started with an inaugural function. Fr Lawrence, the Director of the Pastoral Centre was the chief guest. Fr Titus, former Youth Director of Ahmadabad Diocese, Fr. George the resource person of the program, Fr. Charles the national chaplain, Fr Philip RYD of MG and Jovita the national secretary were present on the dais. Alice Anthony mastered the inaugural program ceremony.

The Orissa region welcomed the dignitaries and the students with a welcome song and then Jovita, the National Secretary welcomed the gathering officially. The lighting of the lamp which marks the significance was lit up followed by the prayer. The chief guest of the program  Fr. Lawrence declared the NSLTP open. Fr Titus in his message mentioned that we need to have keen observation and we must not act in haste.  We need to See, Judge and Act as our methodology teaches us. Divya led the pledge of YCS/YSM and was followed by the vote of thanks in Hindi by Laranzia the national Exco of Tamil Nadu. That followed icebreaking session by Fr. Titus.After lunch the students were divided into groups and were given information about the exposure visit. The dynamics of the visitation was clarified to them. In the evening the students were sent for the exposure in 5 groups in the surrounding area of the Pastoral Centre which included slums, poor houses, vegetable market, dumping yard and railway station. We were to observe the reality and find the causes and consequences of the reality. We came back at 6.30 pm and prepared the report through various means like chart, reporting ad acting out. After evening prayer and supper we went to rest.

14 May 2012
We started the day with the holy mass which was conducted by the second group, and the mass was offered by Father Philip. The message he conveyed during the Eucharistic celebration was about ‘love’, and to love one another as God has loved us. After the breakfast we had the first session in which the first day report was presented by Binju followed by the Exposure visit reports by the each group secretaries. It touched upon the social reality and the analysis of the situation. The structural reality also was touched upon and analyzed further to make known to the students why we still reel under these problems in the society. Then the session was followed with exposure visit experience sharing.

The second session was led by Father George about YCS/YSM history and spirituality. In which the students got to know more deeply about the movement and mainly about the methodology “SEE, JUDGE and ACT”. And they got to know about the aim as Building a New Society, and the objective as Change Self- Change Others. The third session included the skits based on the exposure visits by all the groups. Everyone performed according to their potential. In the evening they had the recreational games. Around 7.30 in the evening we had the rosary which was conducted by the second group. Later we had the Cultural Program. Students of each region participated in this program. A small talk was given by father Charles for the improvement needed to be done by the students. Then there was a group discussion on it and we ended our day with small prayer.

15th May 2012
The day started with the holy mass and was conducted by the third group and the mass was offered by Fr Charles. In his message he talked about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and told that the Holy Spirit works within us as it had worked with the disciples. After the break Harshal from group 6 presented the report of the previous day. Soon after that there was a session by Fr. Charles on Cell Meeting. Students were divided into groups and given the topic to be dealt with in the cell meeting which made them aware of the facets of the cell meeting.

Fr. Charles welcomed Mr. Francis, the resource person of the day. He explained what is leadership? through various video clips. He focused on various points like nothing is impossible for a leader and when we do team work it helps us to achieve the goal. He helped the students to know themselves and about personality formation to be a leader. In the third session Fr. George conducted some games in which the students learnt not to imitate others but to have their own identity. He elaborated on the leadership roles and made us aware which one to imbibe with. In the evening some outdoor games were organized for the students through which we could elicit values for the personal growth. Then there was a workshop by Mr. Francis on leadership traits and then we had the rosary. At the end there was a small video presentation on “Introducing YCS/YSM” by Mr. Leo Joseph and we ended the day with evaluation done by Miss Cecilia.

16th MAY 2012
The day began with the mass and it was conducted by the fourth group offered by Fr. George and the theme he focused on was about self confidence. Never to give up in life and to have a positive approach towards it will win the race, he said. After breakfast the previous day report was represented by group 2. The first session was continued by Mr.  Francis based on previous day topic on leadership, where he elaborated on the types of leadership which will make what we are. Some will be like a slipper, some like a tree and some like the boots; and the kinds of leaders we will meet and turn out to be. This followed a short tea break and on returning we began with action songs to make the participants enthusiastic and energetic.

Then again Mr. Francis continued with the basic leadership skills through video clips which made us understand the importance of it. In the afternoon Fr. George dealt with the leadership roles for the transformation of the society.  Leadership in the family, school and society is clarified in the form of several activities. Then in the evening students were blindfolded and taken to a ride which made each one us understand how it so important to take care of others and exercise our leadership traits. It really was a wonderful activity to feel for the people at need.

In the evening some outdoor games got rid of the fatigue of sitting in the hall for the whole day. Then we conducted the quiz on the topics dealt with. After supper each one was given a chance to prove their talents during recreation. With evaluation we went to rest.

17 May 2012
The mass was offered by Fr. Philip and in his message he asked us to put into practice whatever we have learnt during these few days. After breakfast the previous day’s report was presented by group 5.This followed a session on self appreciation. All were to take a piece of paper and write and others were to write the qualities of the person they met during the programme which made all feel good and worth. After tea break we had the evaluation of the programme. The topics we understood, the topics which were difficult to understand and the suggestions were given so that the next programmes would be a better one. We prepared the action plan for our unit and diocese which will be followed on the way back and put things into action. Everyone felt that it was a good programme where we understood the various facets of leadership which is so important for us in dealing in the society at large.Concluding programme was conducted by the Exco members where Fr. Lawrence distributed the certificates and mementoes to all the participants and pleaded them to perform some actions in their life which will make each one of us do something worthy of life. Some participants expressed their feelings on the said programmes which were real and touching. All felt sad to leave the venue due to the bonding of the past 5 days. Fr. Charles thanked all the participants, animators, resource persons and the director of Pastoral Centre for making this programme a success.