Friday, August 1, 2014

Fr. Joe conducts a Seminar on Identifying Dependence Among Students @ Pushpanjali College of Education, Vasai.


On 30 July 2014,Pushpanjali College of Education, Papdy, Vasai organized  a seminar on the theme ‘Identifying Chemical Dependence Among Students’. This seminar was coordinated by PUSHPADEEP (Pushpanjali’s Department of Extension Education Programmes) in collaboration with the Diocesan Board of Education, Vasai.  Fr Joe Pereira, the resource person, interacted with about sixty school teachers, who participated in the seminar. He emphasized that there is the dire need to restore, in children, the sense of being loved. They need to be empowered with a feeling of self worth. Fr Joe helped the participants to realize various factors that lead to addiction and said that addiction often arises due to genetic predisposition. ‘A healthy family ethos’, he said ‘is instrumental in nurturing a healthy human being’. Reminding the participants of their responsibility towards tackling the issue of addiction he said that one should not shirk away from responsibility. Ensuring that youth in our neighbourhood are free from vices is our responsibility. Fr Joe interspersed several anecdotes, life experiences and research findings to elucidate that addiction needs to be understood and not condemned. He elucidated the holistic Kripa Model used in the de addiction programme. Testimonies rendered by two youth undergoing rehabilitation gave the participants insight to what drives youth to addiction. Queries from the participants were answered. Fr Thomas Lopes, Director of Diocesan Board of Education explained the significance of organizing the seminar and urged the participants to share with their colleagues what they had learned during the seminar.

Bosco D'Souza of Kripa Foundation supported he seminar through a PowerPoint Presentation. Dr Mariamma  Joseph, Principal of Pushpanjali College of Education felicitated Fr Joe by honouring him with a shawl and a shriphal( a coconut presented as token of respect). Sr Sushila D’Silva (Manager) along with Ms  Angelina Nunes, Dr Helen Jadhav and Dr Cynthia D’Costa(members of the faculty at Pushpanjali College of Education)  supported the seminar with appropriate arrangements 

Contributed by
Ms. Cynthia D'Costa
Pushpanjali College of Education

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