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